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