Country Style offers donuts and much more

Country Style offers donuts and much more

Country Style, the Canadian donut and sandwich franchise now
making its mark in Indonesia, knows a rigid menu should not
dominate breakfast, lunch and dinner, or any culinary diversions
taken in between.

It recognizes that variety is the spice of life in keeping
consumers happy and coming back for more of their old-time
favorites, plus new items to tickle their taste buds.

Founded in Toronto in 1964, Country Style does offer an array
of that time-honored snack and breakfast staple, donuts,
including the melt-in-your-mouth indulgence of a sour-cream
variety.

But its 11 Jakarta outlets, set up in the past year, also
offer many more delights for the choosing, including selections
of bagels, muffins, croissants, heaping sandwiches, cakes and
soups.

Sweet-toothed consumers can take their pick from chocolate
cake, tiramisu, Taiwan cheese cake, English bread, banana bread,
fruit pie, mocha cake, opera cake and many more.

For diners wishing to sit down to heartier fare, sandwiches
may fit the bill.

Fillings such as roast beef, tuna, chicken, seafood and egg
arrive piled upon breads such as French baguettes, original
Country Style croissants and thick slices of white or brown
bread. There is also the welcome presence of the bagel.

All menu items are prepared fresh each day in three staggered
shifts at Country Style's commissary.

In its four full stores at Arteri Pondok Indah, the Jakarta
Stock Exchange building, Plaza Indonesia and Bank Panin Pusat
building in Senayan, diners can while away a relaxed lunch while
poring over a magazine, or sneak a late-afternoon snack in the
comfort of a low-key atmosphere.

"We are gradually building our brand-name first, showing
people that we are much more than just donuts," said Daniel
Harris Ishak, Country Style general manager from master franchise
holder PT Intimas Lestari Nusantara.

Taking pride of place at Country Style is its "Superb" coffee,
which lives up to its name in a smooth blend of specially
prepared Colombian Arabica beans.

"In Canada, we are best known for our coffee," Daniel said.
"About 50 percent of our sales there are from coffee."

The high standard of the java is maintained through strict
adherence to a company policy to discard ground coffee after 30
minutes.

Daniel said the company was maintaining gradual growth through
a prudent plan of expansion and sourcing some ingredients
locally. Flour, in particular, is one important item the company
continues to import to conform to its franchise-policy standards.

Country Style is getting the word out about what it has to
offer through regular in-store promotions, he added.

"This is part of our effort to build customer loyalty," Daniel
stressed. "We intend to show people that Country Style means
quality and variety."

Backed by 35 years of experience of its franchiser, Country
Style is keeping sensible targets, with plans to open another
nine outlets, making a total of 20 outlets by the end of the
year.

"We look at all the factors in making our expansion, such as
keeping standards," Daniel said. "But a major concern for us is
always the location and whether it will suit our store needs in
reaching our consumers."

-- Bruce Emond