Dough it yourself

IN BUSINESS, sustainability – ensuring that profits are continuous and steady – is a basic commercial concept. More and more charities are adopting the commercial model rather than relying on donations and subsidies. For many, their preferred outlet is the food industry.

The new Legislative Council and Tamar Park complex houses two new outlets – iBakery Gallery Café overlooks the park and serves salads, burgers, pasta and coffee; and iBakery Express is a quickservice stand with outdoor seating and a harbour view. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Jockey Club Rehabilitation Complex is part of the local charity Tung Wah Group of Hospitals.

Florence Chan devised and opened the first iBakery in Kennedy Town in October 2011. It is attached to the central bakery, where all the chain’s baked goods – from ciabatta to palmiers – are made. These are distributed to the other iBakery outlets, as well as to institutional and corporate customers. A bakery concept was ideal, she says, because “the production process can be divided into small procedures. Those who can master more can learn the whole process, while those who have limited abilities can focus on a small part.”

More than half of iBakery’s employees are disabled. While the rehabilitation complex trains and matches people with employers, Chan says, “there is still a group who may not be able to get a job in the open market”. That is what sparked the idea of starting their own business.

Good Kitchen, a Cantonese restaurant that soft-opened in February, has a similar philosophy. Run by Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, it employs socially disadvantaged such as women who have lost manufacturing jobs, at-risk youth and those recovering from substance abuse, besides the mentally and physically handicapped. Skills training is on the agenda, but the secondary goal is to encourage people to eat better and live healthier lives. The menu advocates fresh seasonal produce, and uses healthy cooking methods. Staff are quick to remind diners that no monosodium glutamate is used in any dishes. The decor is recycled wood, and small shelves selling social enterprise products line the walls.

The New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association has a series of projects that employ those recovering from mental illness. Under the Cafe 330 brand, it operates cafeterias at Prince of Wales Hospital and Chinese University. Like iBakery, the aim is to increase employability and reduce the “social stigma of people in recovery from mental illness,” says Kris Wong, New Life’s general manager of social enterprise.

Says Chan,”Connection with the community is what we want to do, apart from providing job opportunities. We still want customers coming for our products, though. A quality product is the key for sustainable operation, we believe.”