It’s the hot bread everybody loves
THE Hot Bread Kitchen was born out of an idea in the 70s in Australia by Dr Mere Samisoni and her late husband Dr Jimione Samisoni.
The couple saw a similar bread shop in Brisbane and decided to start their own chain in Fiji The first Hot Bread Kitchen (HBK) opened in Sunderajee's Building, Harbour Centre, in Suva in 1982 and success followed.
Today HBK shop strategically opened at every corner to meet the consumer demand.
HBK continues to maintain its unique quality and service standards amid increased competition — and has maintained its 40 per cent market share.
It expanded to 26 bakeries around Fiji and employing more than 600 people.
The company’s headquarter located at Wailada, Lami serves the outlets to support the strategic business plan operating six business departments — finance, business development, corporate support, operations, legal and audit.
HBK brand is one of the most recognised in Fiji's consumer market. A distinctive part of the country's social and commercial life. HBK bread and pastries have grown to much wide variety perfect with a cup of tea, milo or coffee.
Dr Mere Samisoni the founder
Dr Mere Samisoni, a self-made entrepreneur is one of the founders of HBK. Dr Samisoni's humble beginnings began in Lomaloma, Lau.
She also spent part of her childhood in Levuka, Ovalau. In Lomaloma, bread was not on the menu. The villagers occasionally had pancakes when flour was available: yams,
uto and vudi filled the gaps.
Dr Samisoni's first experience with the baking business began in Levuka with her mother, Merelevu (Big Mere).
Dr Samisoni was often sent to the bakery in Vulcan Lane that belonged to Jack and Annie Chan. The bakery was well known for long loaves and buns glazed with sugar and water.
The bakery served local shops and delivered bread and buns by bicycle.
Dr Mere Samisoni was trained as a nursing administrator in New Zealand and Australia for eight years but fate had her choose to go into the HBK business and she found that she had an instinctive sense of entrepreneurship.
The academic qualifications she acquired later provided her with extra professional indepth knowledge and discipline.
She has a special interest in indigenous rights and market diversity and is a former Member of Parliament representing the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) Party now known as the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA.)
"She was like my first university" says Dr Samisoni. "She's my role model".
"My dear mum could make something out of nothing. Give her a pile of leftover rags and she could make a good dress out of them. She was way ahead of her time with the environment sustainable concept of "reduce, reuse, and recycle.
"She taught me about hard work, sharing the workload, playing fair, supporting right over wrong and good over evil, helping and empowering those in need."
In March 2015, HBK was chosen as Westpac & Fiji's Women in Business (WIB) organisation, Employer of Choice for Women. Dr Samisoni has twice won the accolade in Fiji of Business Women of the Year.
The company's commitment to assisting more women to advance in the commercial economy is helping to close Fiji's national gender gap.
Dr Samisoni believes a country can only reach its ultimate promise when women have opportunities to go beyond their traditional roles.
HBK strives to be the region's leading bakery by providing excellent products and outstanding customer service.