Case Study:
The Naked Baker Mortdale

From Concept to a Fully Operational, High-Performing Café

When the founders of The Naked Baker set out to open a modern, elevated café concept, they partnered with Coffee Ideology to turn their vision into a fully operational, profitable, and scalable business. Our role covered every stage of the journey — from initial concept work to menu creation, staffing, systems, training, and opening execution.

Our Approach & Solutions

1. Concept Development & Brand Direction

Working closely with the ownership team, we helped shape the overall concept, vision, and customer experience.

This included:

• Defining the brand identity

• Clarifying the food and beverage direction

• Establishing the operational philosophy

• Designing customer flow and service touchpoints

This foundation ensured every decision that followed aligned with a strong, unified vision.

2. Full Kitchen Menu Development

We created a complete café menu designed for high visual impact, strong gross margins, and streamlined execution.

Our work included:

• Recipe development & testing

• Costing and pricing

• Cross-utilisation of ingredients to maximise profitability

• Kitchen workflow design

• Plating guides and SOPs

The final menu offered a balance of signature dishes, high-margin staples, and fast-production items to support both peak periods and consistent profitability.

3. Coffee & Cold Beverage Program

We built a beverage offering that matched the brand’s premium positioning, including:

• Espresso program development

• Cold drinks and signature beverages

• Standardised recipes, cup costs, and portion controls

• Bar workflow and equipment setup

This ensured quality, consistency, and excellent margins across all drink categories.

4. Operational Structure & System Implementation

To support long-term sustainability, we implemented the full operational backbone of the business:

• Daily service procedures (FOH + BOH)

• Opening and closing checklists

• Inventory management systems

• Ordering schedules

• Prep lists and batch workflows

• Waste tracking

• Cleaning and compliance frameworks

These systems reduced labour inefficiencies and created consistency across shifts.

5. Staff Hiring, Training & Onboarding

Coffee Ideology oversaw the full HR setup for opening, including:

• Recruitment support

• Position descriptions and role clarity

• Staff training manuals

• Onboarding systems

• Practical training across FOH and BOH

• Coffee training, workflow coaching, and service standards

This ensured the team opened with confidence, clarity, and strong service execution.

The Outcome

The Naked Baker opened as a cohesive, well-structured, and profitable café with:

• A polished, high-performing menu

• A strong beverage program

• Fully implemented systems for daily operations

• Efficient staffing model

• Consistent customer experience

• Reduced waste and improved labour efficiency

• A scalable foundation for future growth
  
  

The venue continues to grow with a clear identity, strong operational backbone, and a customer experience that aligns with its brand vision.