The Bread Business Blog

   Posted by Melissa Seith, RD, LD

In my last post I described the best way to get our needed 600 IU per day of vitamin D. However, if you can’t be outside to soak in some sun or just don’t have the time, you’ll want to take a supplement or consume foods high in vitamin D.

   Posted by Sara Goodwin Brown, Great Harvest Burlington, VT owner and guest blogger

I am frequently asked by customers at the counter, "Do you still eat the bread?"  As if after all these years I would become immune to its charms.  The answer is "Yes.  Every day.  And lots of it."  My tastes have changed over time, I usually overlook the sweet breads for anything savory. Santa Fe Cornbread with melty cheese can really get my heart pumping.  However, if there is Almond Babka on the board, and I can think of any reason that I might deserve a treat, I'll cut myself a slice.

  Posted by Scott Molyneaux

In addition to wonderful hot loaves of bread baked every day, Great Harvest locations stock a variety of fresh ground mixes that are blended and packaged on site.  Our pancake mix is one of the best of these products, consisting of our freshly milled whole wheat flour and some rolled oats for added texture.   This recipe utilizes the pancake mix to create a wonderful, comforting one pan meal.  With its home-filling aromas of cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg, and apples this easy to make dish will become not just a breakfast favorite, but a dinner time treat the whole family will crave.  It’s sweet and sticky, but with the goodness of whole grains. It also eliminates the extra steps and mess of cooking individual pancakes for a crowd. If you really feel like spoiling yourself, top it with vanilla ice cream.

  Posted by Mike Ferretti

As this gets published I am sitting on a plane headed for what, in all likelihood, is the next to last marathon of my life.  I have run 26.2 miles 5 times but only once in an official marathon.  After this weekend, I think the only other marathon I would do is New York, because, well, it is New York.  I am in the last class of people guaranteed entry under the three strikes and you are in policy, so I am guaranteed entry in either, 2012, 2013 or 2014.  After that, I am done.  Running is not like swimming or cycling.  It really takes work so I will cut back to 13 miles and less.  But, in no way does that mean I quit exercising.  That is a life long pursuit for me.

   Posted by Melissa Seith, RD, LD

Today the sun is shining brightly throughout the little town of Dillon, MT a place Great Harvest Franchising offices calls home. Anyone with a shade of skin similar to my own rather pale hue may be a

  Posted by Mike Ferretti

No.  Of course the answer is depends but I am going with no.  The nearby pie chart reflects a study one of my co-workers told us about recently.  It was part of a presentation at our annual franchisee convention on what makes our best bakeries, well, our best bakeries.

  Posted by Scott Molyneaux

This is a fabulous time to be in the bread business, arguably the best in history.  We have never had a more food-educated public in the United States than now and they are demanding hand crafted, wholesome products just like what we produce at Great Harvest. Artisan baking is seemingly everywhere these days, gracing the covers of two of the best known food publications that appeared in my mailbox this month.  The Saveur Magazine article, entitled “American Bread” states “the artisan bread movement has changed the course of baking in this country,” and speaks of bread epiphanies and of an “almost mystical revelation that bread could be this good.”  It even talks about a couple of “innovative” bakeries that are installing stone mills on site for fresher flour.  Great Harvest has had fresh ground whole wheat flour from on-site mills at every bakery for over thirty years.  Couple this with the rediscovered appreciation and growing popular opinion towards the power of a diet based on whole grains and we have a winning combination propelling us to the next level of sales and customer satisfaction.  Excited for the future?  You bet I am!

  Posted by Bonnie Harry

The food market today is incredibly competitive. There are more “one stop, buy all you need” stores popping up. Convenience is a big deal in our busy lives. In order to do well, specialty stores have to be over the top in appeal to get customers to make the extra stop.

  Posted by Melissa Seith, RD, LD

Continuing on with the theme of my last blog post about sodium, increasing your magnesium, potassium, and calcium intake (whole grains can help) while lowering your overall sodium consumption can have you on your way to preserving your health. Follow these tips below to reduce sodium in your diet: