Raiwaqa HBK opens half-day today to meet Easter bun demand

The Raiwaqa Hot Bread Kitchen will open for half a day this Easter Friday to meet strong customer demand for its Easter buns — a rare move for the bakery, which typically closes on the public holiday.

Bread department staff Niumai Vakere said the decision came after the shop received high demand for its three varieties of Easter buns — plain, chocolate chip, and fruit spice.

"We used to close on Easter day but tomorrow since we're having lots of demands, we're opening tomorrow — it's half day in Easter," Ms Vakere said.

"On Easter Monday then we'll be closing."

The Raiwaqa branch has been running its Easter bun sales since March 1, with the competition ending this Sunday.

Staff who meet or exceed their sales target receive a bonus, paid out after June or July.

Plain buns are sold at 50 cents each, or $5 for a dozen — meaning customers get 12 buns for the price of 10. Chocolate chip buns are priced at $1.45 each.

Ms Vakere said sales had been strong, with the branch selling out of plain buns on Thursday.

She added that the quality of the buns keeps customers coming back each year.

"They come after the buns because the quality of the buns is different," she said.

Ms Vakere also shared an Easter message for all Fijians.

"My Easter message is for us to just love one another — all of us. That's the main thing. We have to love each other at work, at home."

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