SuperMum, Super Bakery

We are constantly awed by the amazing, dedicated Malaysians we meet. A year ago we jumped at a friend's, Bernie's, invitation to visit SuperMum Bakery in Petaling Jaya - a short LRT ride from Kuala Lumpur. SuperMum trains single mothers to bake breads and cookies with the goal of setting up their own businesses.

I still drop by to watch the business grow. It is a hive of activity. Workers gather around a table kneading, shaping items, and chatting. Trays of treats to be baked or packaged surround them. Neighbors pop in to shop and visit. It is time to introduce SuperMum to others in Kuala Lumpur.

The food: No matter how worthy the project the breads and cookies must be good. We have sampled most of the 7 cookies, Usually we buy muesli or walnut-raisin bread, pretzels, scones and cookies. (I am a creature of habit. We have yet to remember to try the herb wholewheat bread with rosemary, thyme, parsley and black pepper.) The bakery maintains a tight inventory, and freshly baked cookies are available for spur of the moment purchases. Also readily available are muesli, wholemeal, pumpkin wholemeal, black sesame wholemeal, walnut and raisin wholemeal, lemon milk wholemeal, sweet potato wholemeal, multi-grain walnut and  soft buns. The target market for the buns are children who stop by after school. (On my last visit I had an onion bun - it could become addictive.)

At our first visit we couldn't resist the freshly baked pretzels.They aren't the doughy, salty pretzels sold on the streets of NYC, which we drench with mustard. These were sweeter, wheatier and covered with seeds - a healthy, tasty alternative. We usually toast the breads, which aren't overly sweet. In my opinion they hold there own without butter or jam.

Clare - putting the last touches on the pretzels

Kumar next to kneading machine (very impressive equipment)

The workers: After retiring Clare and Kumar took baking courses at the Malaysian Institute of Baking (MIB) and opened a home bakery. In December 2012 the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya (RCPJ) appointed them to run the SuperMum bakery. SuperMum is Clare and Kumar's business where they give training single mothers to develop their skills and self confidence. Equipment and space are donated by the Sun and Petaling Jaya's local government (MBPJ) respectively. 

One piece of equipment donated by Sun newspapers

Potential trainees walk in and ask about the project. If they are keen, they negotiate with Clare on their training days and times. After training the bakery may offer skilled, involved trainees with part-time work with a small allowance. Currently, 5 mothers with them

Claudia getting ready to work

The project Prior to opening the bakery the Rotary club sent single mothers to MIB for training, but the trained women lacked the self confidence to launch their own business. The SuperMum bakery, with its hands-on training, gives the MIB graduates the knowledge, support, and self confidence to go out on their own. The bakery is a joint project of the Rotary Club of PJ, Petaling Jaya's local government (MBPJ) and the Sun newspaper. A short review of the project shows the effort it takes to launch a project, and the challenges of working with women who face daily challenges in managing their lives.

Lessons Learned: A community project requires flexibility and persistence. Bringing sponsors, resources, and program participants together is a learning process. False starts are inevitable requiring organizers to identify problems and make needed changes. Coordinating with other organization is helpful The large group training offered by MIB and SuperMums' individualized training worked best in conjunction with each other. MIB provides the foundation and SuperMum helps women transition into managing their own business. 

After one year the organizers have learned that mothers with older children have more control over their schedule and can make the extensive time commitment baking requires. Mothers with young children may drop out because of frequent conflicting demands. To date the trainees have not gone on to start their own businesses. One issue is working by themselves for long hours. Amarjit, who along with Claudia has been with the project since the start, said that now she does all her family's baking. The project has given her something to do outside her home and work with other women. In the long run SuperMum may end up training women to work independently in a bakery or restaurant instead of starting one-woman businesses. A year is not enough time to see how the women use their training. I'll check back next year.

Location and ordering: SuperMum is at Gelanggang Skuasy Jalan SS24/1, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya Telephone 03-78030482. Open Tue-Sat 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sun 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ignore Google Maps. It is an easy walk from the Kelana Jaya LRT station. At station take the bridge over the highway. Turn right, walk past the shop houses and a block of residences to Jalan SS24/1. Turn left and walk about  600m. The bakery is in the park on the left, facing the traffic light junction, and with the Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Megah a further 300m away on it’s left. Special orders and large orders, best to call two to three days in advance.

Here is a  partial price list so you can plan your trip

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