When the Diez family established JD Bakery in 1975, it instantly became one of Iloilo’s favorite bakeshops. They were the pioneers in making quality breads with longer shelf life. While they opened branches in key parts of the cities, their biggest transformation was in 1993 when the family decided to add popular Ilonggo dishes in their menu. JD Bakery and Café became the “go-to” place for affordable, sumptuous Ilonggo cooking. While their stores were traditionally stand-alone outlets, the family saw the fast-changing lifestyle of their customers. People started to gravitate to the mall as a place to spend quality time with their family. “Opening a branch in SM Iloilo helped our brand stay relevant,” says Tyrone Diez. The family’s ability to adjust to the winds of change is what makes JD Bakery Café continue to grow strong.
With Iloilo City being one of the first cities outside NCR to declare ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), JD Bakery Café was quick to respond to another disruption by immediately offering delivery services. During times of crisis, Tyrone admires the Filipino people’s fighting spirit to rise above challenges life brings. “We learned that we Filipinos are very creative in adapting and very resilient,” expresses Tyrone. Amidst challenges, Tyrone always remains optimistic and keeps his eyes on the ball. “We hope to bring JD Bakery Cafe to other cities outside Panay. We believe people from other regions would love our food,” exclaims Tyrone.
In navigating through the Covid-19 pandemic, Tyrone values the support that SM extended them. “SM gave a huge helping hand,” shares Tyrone. SM continues to help its MSME partners to bounce back stronger through various initiatives. For more information about JD Bakery Café, visit its Facebook page @JDBakeryCafeIloilo.
