Hello Everyone!

GoFlour is Pakistan's first-of-its-kind social impact business focused on empowering low-income women to become highly skilled and independent in the restaurant industry. To fund our training program we operate as an artisan bakery and cafe that specializes in breads, pastries, desserts, and a very popular hot kitchen menu focused on healthy and nutritious meals.

GOAL - to provide free training to low-income women and help them either set up their own food businesses, gain employment in quality eateries or be employed by GoFlour in one of our branches.

Our History

5 years ago, Asma Shah (founder and owner) came from London to execute a unique idea of building a social enterprise. As a former small business owner, her philosophy has always been to make businesses sustainable and socially conscious. Women's representation in the food industry is far from ubiquitous and limited to token jobs restricting their growth and success.

Her idea was to open a bakery in Lahore that not only became a learning platform for low-income women but also had profitable revenue streams to sustain the business.

With just one trainee, one baker, and one borrowed oven, Asma started making and selling sourdough which quickly gained popularity and resulted in increased production of multiple artisan-style breads and pastries including Ciabatta, Baguettes, Croissants, Danish, etc.

Soon an entire bread, pastry, and dessert line was introduced at the bakery and GoFlour is now renowned for its retro-style product line. A few months later, by popular demand, a hot kitchen menu was launched which brought in more opportunities for female trainees to add to their skill set and for the business to introduce items from all around the world like Beef Stroganoff, Halloumi Salad, Sourdough Sandwiches, and delicious all-day breakfast items.

Business Profitability, Training Success and Expansion

Within 3 years of its inception, GoFlour had a profitable B2C model and B2B as we started supplying handmade buns, breads and desserts to 30+ restaurants in Lahore.

We have trained over 70+ women in baking, cooking, bar, and restaurant management providing them with skills that have helped them thrive and become financially independent.

Our team has worked hard to instill a sense of self-belief, self-esteem, and confidence in these women as they mainly come from backgrounds carrying the burden of generational misogyny, vulnerability, and lack of self-worth.

We are a female-majority employer, something very rare in the hospitality industry in Lahore.

In 2023 we opened our second branch in DHA Lahore, made up of women who had been trained in our Gulberg training centre.

Success Stories

Sam: Sam is one of our best success stories, starting as a trainee in the hot kitchen with a strong work ethic but very little confidence. After a difficult divorce, her priority was to earn a stable income for her 3 children as a single mother. Her commitment, creativity, and hard work led to her position as head chef at GoFlour, running our 2 kitchens in the city and becoming an inspiring role model for the other trainees. Under her tutelage and nurturing guidance some of our trainees have secured well-paid jobs in some of Lahore’s top-end restaurants.

Shumaila: Shumaila has been with us since the beginning, starting as a trainee in our bakery and now becoming Head of the trainee programme, teaching the girls how to make complex products like sourdough, puff pastry and much more.

OUR NEW PROJECT: Establishing a Mohalla (low socio-economic neighborhood) Bakery in the Walled City of Lahore

Following the success of our Gulberg and DHA branches, we are expanding our reach by launching a Mohalla Bakery in the historic Gali Surjan Singh. This pilot project aims to revive Lahore’s rich culinary heritage, empower local women with baking and culinary skills, and transform the street into a vibrant tourist attraction.

Project Name: GoFlour Mohalla Bakery - Gali Surjan Singh

Location: Gali Surjan Singh, Walled City of Lahore, Pakistan

Objectives:

Revive Heritage Recipes: Reintroduce and preserve traditional Lahore recipes that have historical significance.

Empower Women: Provide training and employment opportunities for local women, enabling them to achieve financial independence.

Boost Tourism: Create a unique culinary destination that attracts both local and international tourists, showcasing the cultural and historical essence of the Walled City.

Economic Uplift: Generate economic opportunities for residents of Old Lahore through increased foot traffic and business activities.

Project Components:

Training Centre:

Backend Bakery Training: Equip women with skills in baking, cooking and traditional recipe preparation.

Front Learning Units: Train women in customer service, bakery and cafe management and entrepreneurship.

Bakery & Cafe Setup:

Equipment: Ovens, dough mixers, chillers, hobs, dough sheeters, ventilation, display units, beverage equipment and other necessary bakery tools.

Renovations and Interior Design of Cafe & Bakery: Aesthetic renovation to reflect the rich heritage and culture of Lahore.

Marketing and Promotion:

Develop a marketing strategy to promote the Mohalla Bakery as a tourist destination.

Collaborate with travel forums, embassies, cultural tours and local guides.

Expected Outcomes:

Budget Allocation:

Equipment Purchase: GBP 10,000

Renovation and Interior Design: GBP 9,000

Training Programs: GBP 8,000

Marketing and Promotion: GBP 1,000

Operational Costs (first 6 months): GBP 12,000

Total Estimated Budget: GBP 40,000

Conclusion: The GoFlour Mohalla Bakery in Gali Surjan Singh represents a blend of cultural preservation, women empowerment and economic development. By bringing heritage recipes to life and empowering local women, this project aims to create a sustainable and impactful community hub that resonates with both locals and tourists.

Call to Action: We invite stakeholders, investors, and community members to support this initiative and be part of a transformative journey that celebrates the rich heritage of Lahore while empowering its people.

Other Projects:

In 2023 we were also involved in a health program for 3 government schools providing them with free protein-enhanced muffins to fight malnutrition.

Visit our social media platforms for more details:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/goflour

Website: www.goflour.com

Help us change women's lives one loaf at a time!