Companion Baking expands into retail outlets across the country

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Companion Baking expands into retail outlets across the country

1 Nov 2021

Joanie Spencer

Since 2008, Joanie Spencer has covered the retail and wholesale sides of the baking industry.
Serving associations such as the American Society of Baking (ASB) and BEMA, Joanie is also in demand as an industry presenter on bakery operations and trends. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Rockhurst University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

When she’s not running or playing soccer, Joanie spends her time with her husband and 11-year-old son.

ST. LOUIS, MO — Specialty bread and pastry manufacturer Companion Baking, which supplies products to retail and foodservice, has expanded its retail presence to approximately 120 outlets throughout the Midwest and beyond.

The company now offers bread pudding in five grocery chains, including Fresh Thyme Market in seven states, Strack & Van Til Food Market in Indiana, Pete’s Market in the Chicagoland area, Cosentino’s Market in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and Price Chopper stores in Missouri and Kansas.

Companion’s award-winning bread is already available in more than 400 restaurants, grocery stores and businesses, and the bread pudding’s launch is a result of the momentum that began in the bakery’s two local café locations.

“We’ve always made bread pudding from our leftover bread,” said Josh Allen, Companion Baking founder. “We typically sold it in our cafes as a breakfast special, and it always had a good following, so we ran it in some local retailers where we delivered fresh product. Last year, we approached some of our regional and national partners, and they were very excited about it. It’s really launched us into exposure to people who didn’t know our brand before.”

“We’ve always made bread pudding from our leftover bread,” said Josh Allen, Companion Baking founder. “We typically sold it in our cafes as a breakfast special, and it always had a good following … It’s really launched us into exposure to people who didn’t know our brand before.”

Companion Baking’s bread pudding is available in those select retail outlets in the frozen or refrigerated sections and packaged in bake-in trays for consumers to bake off at home. Allen noted that some retailers are selling it at ambient temperature and in the hot bar or fresh deli case in the store perimeter.

“We’re seeing it go in several directions,” Allen said. “And we’re happy to support it in all the different ways, depending on the store layout and where they think the opportunities are.”

Companion is known for its customized bread programs, but this new retail offering takes many consumers down memory lane while also supporting a platform of sustainability by transforming leftovers that could otherwise go to waste.

“It’s certainly nostalgic,” Allen said. “And people remember those times in their childhood when families used bread pudding as a way to use bread that was staling or had already gone stale.”

Because the bakery creates many hand-crafted breads, the operation lent itself well to commercially produce the bread pudding, a process that might tax a fully automated or continuous operation.

One pillar of the Companion Baking brand is a focus on the creative process of bread baking, which is conducive to innovative product development.

“We like taking a spin on traditional items and developing relationships with retailers for items that are out of the ordinary.”

Rollout for the new bread pudding begins in mid-November.

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