From a small family business to grocery store shelves across the country, Bakehouse Bread Company has built its legacy one loaf at a time. What began in 1996 as a cozy Tucson bakery founded by Nancy and John McKearney has since grown into a household name, with their sweet breads now sold nationwide. At the heart of their success is family tradition, centered around Nancy’s mother’s handwritten zucchini bread recipe, which remains their best seller and a favorite of customers everywhere.
The Journey
The McKearneys’ story began after they moved from Michigan to Tucson, ready to take on a new challenge: starting their own business. Nancy’s childhood memories of baking, combined with the growing artisan bread movement, inspired the couple to open a bakery. Their vision became a retail bakery called Village Bakehouse in 1996, a small shop that quickly became a local favorite.
The beginning wasn’t easy. “I had never touched a piece of dough in my life; I couldn’t bake you anything,” John said. Even his college roommate, a third-generation bakery owner, thought the plan was crazy. But Nancy’s love of baking provided a solid foundation. She connected with the Bread Bakers Guild, traveled to France for training, and brought in a San Francisco company to help with building, equipment, and staff training.
“We were down to our last penny; we had spent everything we had,” John said. “We decided we needed to stop training and open.” Once they did, business quickly picked up. The bakery became a community favorite, opening a second location and supplying breads to local restaurants, including the Metropolitan Grill. A meeting with Trader Joe’s managers soon led to their breads being sold in both Tucson and Phoenix stores, an important step toward reaching a wider audience.
Transitioning to Wholesale
“We worked with U of A and had delivery trucks on the road seven days a week,” John said. “We quickly decided that we didn’t want to be in retail and wanted to be in the wholesale business instead.” Village Bakehouse was sold, and Bakehouse Bread Company was born. What began as a five-year plan has now grown into nearly 30 years of success.
A family friend who managed a Fry’s store suggested they sell their bread there. While it seemed like a big goal at the time, a growing demand for sweet breads landed Bakehouse products on Fry’s shelves. Around 2000, the McKearneys made a strategic decision to stop producing artisan breads and ended their partnerships with Trader Joe’s and local restaurants. They focused entirely on sweet breads, like pumpkin, zucchini, and cinnamon swirl, which quickly became popular.
Growing Nationally
The Fry’s partnership became a stepping stone for further growth, leading to deals with Smith’s, Safeway, and Albertsons. Within a few years, Bakehouse bread was available nationwide through Kroger stores. “We’ve become this company that started as a small retail bakery and now we sell our breads throughout the country,” John said.
For John, seeing their breads on shelves in Michigan is especially meaningful. Visiting friends and family, he can walk into Kroger and buy a loaf of Bakehouse bread, a reminder of how far they’ve come.
Commitment to Quality
Quality remains important to Bakehouse Bread. Ingredients are fresh and sourced from trusted suppliers to ensure every loaf tastes the same across the country. Their top-selling zucchini bread, made from Nancy’s mother’s recipe, continues to be a favorite. The original handwritten recipe still sits in Nancy’s office, a symbol of the family tradition that started it all.
Even as Bakehouse gained national recognition, the McKearneys have never lost sight of their community, supporting local food banks and schools.
Looking Ahead
The McKearneys are committed to thoughtful growth. They recently hired a national sales manager to expand their reach, meeting with new companies and introducing products to new markets. “We have a fantastic team that makes sure every loaf of bread is consistent and tastes the same across the country,” John said, highlighting the dedication behind every product.
Looking ahead, the McKearneys plan to keep growing while staying true to the values that inspired them to start the business. They aim to continue introducing new products while maintaining the quality and care that has defined their brand from day one.
For those curious to learn more, Bakehouse Bread Company’s website offers a behind-the-scenes look at their products including flavors like Cranberry Orange, Pineapple Coconut, and Wild Maine Blueberry along with their history and ongoing commitment to quality.