Lots of excitement surrounding Kamloops bakery giveaway, but few entries so far

This giveaway is attention-grabbing, groundbreaking, innovative and the first-of-its-kind in Canada.

However, the contest that costs $1,000 to enter to win Erwin's Fine Baking & Delicatessen in Kamloops has generated few actual entries in two months.

The goal is 500 entries.

“We’ve received hundreds of enquiries from people expressing excitement and interest about participating in the contest, including people coming to visit Erwin’s directly to see the bakery for themselves which we’ve been really pleased to see,” said Robyn Haley, co-owner of Erwin’s Fine Baking & Delicatessen.
“We’re hoping that by extending the deadline it gives even more people the opportunity to enter.”

Erwin's expects more entries to come in after everyone is finished with their busy summer.

The original deadline for entries was Aug. 22 and that's now been extended to Sept. 22.

In the entry guidelines, there's also the option for Erwin's to push the deadline to Nov. 22 in an effort to get the maximum amount of entries.

Anyone interested in becoming the new owner of Erwin's for free has to enter at www.ownabakerycontest.ca with an essay outlining why they want the business, including details about their baking, business and management experience and submit the $1,000 entry fee.

While the contest winner essentially gets the bakery at 419 Mount Paul Way for $1,000, the current owners of Erwin's -- Robyn and Shawn Haley -- would collect $500,000 from the 500 entries to retire.

Rather than simply sell the business, the Haleys feel a contest giveaway would be a creative way to pass the bakery on debt-free to someone deserving and still build a retirement nest egg for themselves.

"We didn't know what people would think about the contest, but the community has been so supportive and excited about it," said Robyn.

"We've extended the deadline as we wanted to give people more time to enter the contest and allow more aspiring entrepreneurs to take advantage of this unique opportunity."

If the minimum number of 500 entries isn't met, the contest will close and all entry fees will be refunded.

This process has all been legally laid out as a skills-based contest and two independent judges have been hired to handle the contest.

With this being a Canada-wide contest (except Quebec), the owner could be someone who already lives in Kamloops or could be anyone who wants to move to Kamloops for the entrepreneurial lifestyle of owning and operating Erwin's.

The hope is the new owner will continue with the Erwin's name and legacy, which started 52 years ago.

However, the new owner will be their own boss and could change the name and tweak the business concept.

The concept is bakery at its core with a specialty in fresh-made breads, pastries, cookies and pies.

There's also a deli with meats and cheeses, specialty groceries and ready-made foods and meals.

The business handover would come with Erwin's well-known name and reputation, recipes, procedure manuals, bakery equipment, store fixtures, the website with e-commerce and two weeks of hands-on training with the Haleys.

The Haleys do not own the building that Erwin's is in.

So, the contest winner and new owner will also have to be vetted by the building owner/landlord and if approved will have to continue to pay rent for the location.