LOS ANGELES — Western Bagel began its journey in 1947 when the company opened the first bagel bakery in LA and has since grown into 11 locations throughout Southern California, with retail locations across the state and wholesale accounts throughout the world. Along the way, it’s become a global leader in the bagel space, offering low-carb and protein-rich options that transform the way many think about the classic bread product.
While Western Bagel’s products are known as the “bagels that won the West,” founder David Uston grew up on the East Coast. His father, Louis Uston, settled in the Bronx after escaping the Russian Revolution in the early 20th century. The family bakery he opened was where David got his start, counting bagels in the back of a delivery truck on the weekends, learning how to bake the perfect bagel, and getting important lessons in business leadership … ever since age nine.
One day while working at the bakery, David heard a union representative say there were no good bagels in California. With his entrepreneurial spirit, David moved to California and opened up shop under the Western Bagel name.
With more than 70 years of experience in the bagel world, much of the company’s success lies with its dedicated focus on customers, a value the company operationalizes by digging deep into what customers are really looking for in bagel products. This approach helped them develop its most popular product: The Alternative Bagel.
Released in early 2002 to meet the growing health concerns of consumers, The Alternative Bagel was designed to be a healthy, reduced carbohydrate bagel that didn’t sacrifice taste. The bagels were launched in Country White and Roasted Onion varieties … and they took Southern California by storm. This success led to two new varieties, Sweet Wheat and Cinnamon Space. Soon after, The Alternative Bagel gained nationwide distribution and was made available to order directly through the company’s website.
Fast-forward to today, Western Bagel has seen a spike in consumers wanting healthier options, especially when looking to buy online. The company’s Alternative and Perfect 10 bagel lines are now trending.
Western Bagel started with a simple dream: to provide good bagels to a bagel-barren West Coast. Now the sky is the limit for a company that listens to consumers who increasingly seek out foods that taste — and make them feel — good.
Photos via Western Bagel
