Picture this: it’s Saturday morning, and the smell of fresh sourdough and coffee drifts through a busy suburban shopping strip. Families are lining up for celebration cakes, commuters grab muffins on the go, and a local bakery is the heart of the community. For many Australians, bakeries and cake shops aren’t just about food — they’re about connection and tradition.
The bakery and pastries products market in Australia was valued at USD 10.7 billion in 2024 and is forecasted to reach USD 14.0 billion by 2033, a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% from 2025 to 2033.(IBIS-World) This steady growth reflects increasing consumer demand for fresh, high-quality baked goods, including healthier, organic, and wholegrain options.
This is where owning a bakery franchise, cake franchise, or cake shop franchise in Australia can make all the difference. Franchising offers entrepreneurs access to trusted brands, proven business systems, effective marketing channels, and comprehensive training that enables franchisees to focus on building a loyal customer base and delivering exceptional bakery experiences.
Whether interested in artisan breads, specialty cakes, or café-style baked treats, bakery and cake shop franchises provide a scalable and rewarding business model aligned with Australia’s growing bakery market trends.
Let’s now dive into the list of top bakery franchises in Australia.
Bakers Delight was founded in 1980 by Roger and Lesley Gillespie in Hawthorn, Victoria. Known for its fresh daily-baked artisan breads and a wide product range including specialty cakes, Bakers Delight is a top choice for those seeking a proven cake shop franchise in Australia.
It has grown into Australia’s most successful bakery franchise with over 700 bakeries operating globally (around 540 bakeries across Australia and New Zealand).
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The Cheesecake Shop began in 1991 in Rozelle, Sydney, founded by brothers Robert and Warwick Konopacki. Starting from a single family-owned cake shop, it quickly grew into a highly successful cake franchise and cake shop franchise in Australia. The brand is famous for handcrafted, freshly baked cakes made daily in-store, including cheesecakes, tortes, gateaux, mud cakes, and a wide range of eggless, vegan, and gluten-free options.
The Cheesecake Shop boasts over 250 franchise bakeries employing more than 2,000 people, with nearly all stores independently owned and operated. The company continually innovates product offerings to attract new demographics and launched a fresh brand identity in 2023 featuring open kitchens to enhance the customer experience.
The Cheesecake Shop also supports community initiatives, including a national partnership with Make-A-Wish to grant wishes to sick children, reinforcing its strong community connection.
Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses is a proud family-owned bakery franchise with a storied history dating back to the early 1900s. Originating from two separate family bakeries founded by the Fergusons in 1901 and the Plarres in 1911, the businesses merged in 1980 to form Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses.
Known for its cakes, slices, pies, and pastries, the brand has built strong recognition across more than 80 stores. Unlike many bakeries, Ferguson Plarre operates with a centralised baking model — products are baked in a large facility and delivered fresh daily to stores. This removes the need for franchisees to bake overnight, making the model more accessible for new owners.
Brumby’s Bakery has been a staple in the Australian bakery franchise sector since its founding in 1975. Originating from Camberwell, Victoria, Brumby’s grew to over 250 locations throughout Australia and New Zealand.
It’s widely known for fresh daily-baked breads, pastries, and other traditional bakery items made using scratch baking methods. Brumby’s is part of the Retail Food Group (RFG), one of Australia’s largest multi-brand franchise operators, sharing ownership with other brands like Michel’s Patisserie and Donut King.
In FY2024-25, RFG reported a statutory net loss after tax of AU$14.9 million, with Brumby’s Bakery one of the underperforming brands. RFG confirmed the bakery no longer aligns with its growth strategy and is now exploring divestment options, though there is no guarantee of an acceptable offer.
Founded in 2002 by Simon Ip and his brother Kenneth, Breadtop is an Australian bakery franchise known for its unique fusion of Asian and Western-style baked goods. Breadtop offers a wide range of freshly baked products, including buns, cakes, pastries, and various breads.
Its innovative self-serve store design and broad appeal have helped it expand rapidly, with over 70 stores nationwide in major cities across Australia and New Zealand, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, and Darwin.
Banjo’s Bakery Café, founded in Tasmania in 1984, is a bakery café franchise known for its handcrafted breads, cakes, savouries, and café fare. It has grown steadily: as of mid-2025 it has about 50–51 stores around Australia, mostly in the eastern states. The brand emphasises fresh on-site baking, café seating, and community orientation.
The company is now planning an aggressive expansion, targeting 100 stores nationwide within three years. Recent financials show strong growth in network sales (≈15.4% YoY) and transactions (≈11.3%). It also claims industry-leading cost of goods sold (COGS) between 20–23%.(Inside Retail)
Founded in Sydney in 2003 by Wayne Homschek, Pie Face rapidly expanded nationally and internationally, reaching over 240 locations by 2020, mainly concentrated in Victoria but also spread across most Australian states. The franchise is well-known for its savory and sweet pies, pastries, and coffee, served with a distinctive, playful branding featuring pie faces.
The brand was acquired by United Petroleum in 2017 and revitalized through integration at many United petrol stations. As of late 2024, Pie Face operates close to 300 stores in Australia with a focus on wholesale, retail, and growth in convenience offerings.
Muffin Break is a well-known Australian bakery café franchise established in 1989 with its first store in Coolangatta, Queensland. Owned by Foodco, it operates over 280 stores across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
Muffin Break is recognized for its fresh muffins, artisan bakery treats, and award-winning coffee blend, serving more than 20 million coffees each year. The brand has expanded beyond shopping centres to include locations in airports, train stations, and children’s play centres through partnerships.
Goldsteins Bake Shop, established in 1944, is a well-known family-owned bakery in Queensland’s Gold Coast with a strong reputation for high-quality pies, cakes, and pastries. Often affectionately called “Goldies,” it is renowned for award-winning meat pies and a diverse range of bakery items, including specialty celebration cakes.
With 17 company-owned stores, Goldsteins is now entering franchising to expand its footprint beyond the Gold Coast area. The bakery operates a central production facility, ensuring all products are freshly made and delivered regularly, offering franchisees a streamlined operational model.
Founded in 1936 in Brisbane, Shingle Inn is an iconic Australian café and bakery franchise known for its Tudor-style architecture, classic pastries, and welcoming atmosphere. The brand celebrates its rich history while offering fresh coffee, cakes, meals, and a warm café experience. The original Brisbane City Hall Shingle Inn store was restored in 2013, preserving its heritage and becoming a key tourist attraction.
Shingle Inn combines central production (a bakery that supplies cakes and bakery goods) with café outlets, so franchisees focus more on service, café operations, ambience, and customer experience. The franchise model tends to suit owner-operators interested in boutique café business rather than high-volume bakery production.
The Australian bakery and cake franchise sector remains strong in 2025, driven by consumer demand for fresh, high-quality baked goods, gourmet cakes, and café experiences. Shoppers increasingly value unique flavours, artisanal presentation, and convenience, which benefits both boutique chains like Shingle Inn and Gelatissimo, as well as large-scale franchises like Bakers Delight and Muffin Break.
Franchise opportunities are further boosted by incentives such as franchise fee waivers, reduced royalties, and regional expansion packages. These offers help lower upfront costs and make it easier for aspiring business owners to enter the market.
Many franchises now leverage centralised baking or production facilities. Companies like Patties Food Group supply pre-made bakery and pastry products to retail outlets, reducing operational complexity, ensuring consistent quality, and allowing franchisees to focus on customer service and sales.
Whether choosing a boutique café-style franchise or a high-volume bakery model, prospective franchisees can tap into a growing and evolving market with strong brand support, comprehensive training, and marketing assistance.
Investment varies by brand, location, and store format. Generally, initial costs range from $250,000 to $600,000, with boutique café outlets on the higher end. Royalty fees usually range from 5–7% of gross sales, plus marketing contributions varying 2-5% of gross tales.
Most bakery and cake franchises require full-time commitment, especially during initial months of setup. Boutique café franchises may allow for more flexibility once the business is established.
Most franchisors offer comprehensive pre-opening training lasting from several days to a few weeks, covering operations, food safety, customer service, and marketing. Continuous support is typically available, including refresher courses and regional help.
You must receive a Franchise Disclosure Document and a copy of the Franchise Code of Conduct. Legal and financial advice is strongly recommended before signing any agreement.
Not always. Most chains like Muffin Break and Shingle Inn provide comprehensive training, including operations, staff management, and customer service, making them suitable for first-time franchisees.
