Baking a Better Future: Empowering Bakeries for Growth in Northeast Syria

In 2019, Adnan* and his family embarked on a remarkable journey by opening a bakery in Raqqa city, located in northeast Syria. Their establishment quickly gained popularity among the locals, becoming a neighborhood favorite renowned for its delectable pastries, sweets, and an array of bread varieties. The bakery's success was attributed to its commitment to sourcing high-quality ingredients locally and providing valuable employment opportunities to members of its community.

As demand soared and the bakery's reputation flourished, Adnan set his sights on expansion to cater to an even wider customer base.  He was even approached by wholesalers interested in the bakery producing high-demand and commonly imported products – such as gluten- and sugar-free baked goods. These specialized items were particularly sought after by Syrians with specific dietary needs, including those with diabetes who struggled to find bread without added sugar.

However, the bakery’s growth prospects were hampered by operational inefficiencies that limited the quality and scalability of production. Adnan’s bakery is not a unique case: many local businesses in Syria suffer from similar operational challenges when trying to expand and scale-up their operations.

In 2023, experts from USAID’s Economic Management for Stabilization (EMS) project stepped in to improve the bakery’s production capacity by working with management and production staff via workshops and training sessions that introduced improved baking production procedures. Notably, they implemented detailed machine and temperature settings for each baking stage, from the initial preparation to the final product. Additionally, they aided in establishing stringent quality control checks.

This collaboration bore fruit as new recipes were developed and original ones were fine-tuned, leading to the creation of sugar- and gluten-free products. These innovations ensured that baked goods, considered staples, became more accessible to Syrians with specific dietary requirements. With support from USAID, Adnan’s bakery expanded its inventory to include cornbread and gluten-free breads. The bakery's production capacity surged from 36 to 144 tons per month, resulting in the creation of 18 new jobs. Furthermore, waste was significantly reduced from 10 to 3 percent per batch. As a result of working with USAID's advisors, Adnan's bakery emerged as one of the region's most prominent industrial bakeries.

“We have benefited immensely from USAID expertise,” said Adnan. “Not just in bread manufacturing, but also regarding quality systems, which was something new—not only for us, but also for the northeast Syrian baking industry. It gave our facility procedures that produce better quality and can be easily transferred to new employees.”

“I have joined this work after searching for jobs for a long time,” said a newly hired employee at the bakery. “As a new employee, having a fixed salary and gaining bakery experience, I can provide for my family what they need—from school supplies to amenities.”   

In northeast Syria, USAID‘s EMS program is supporting 70 local businesses like Adnan’s bakery to improve business operations, attract private sector investment, and create an enabling environment for economic growth. This is often centered around developing new and/or improved management processes within businesses that remove constraints to scalability and long-term growth. These efforts are vital ingredients for stability, job growth, and reducing dependency on foreign assistance in non-regime-held areas of northeast Syria.

*Name changed to protect identity.