When Pigs Fly Bakery is an American manufacturer of bread products located in York, Maine. It produces around 25 varieties of bread, sold in supermarkets and its own chain of stores throughout the New England region. When Pigs Fly was founded in 1993 by Ron Siegel, who ran it with his brother Andrew for 29 years. Since 2021, the company has been run by brothers Grant and James Broom as CEO and president, respectively.
| Company type | Bakery |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 1993 |
| Founder | Ron Siegel |
| Headquarters | York, Maine, United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people |
|
| Website | sendbread |
History
editWhen Pigs Fly Bakery was started by Ron Siegel, a former restauranteur, in Wells, Maine, in March 1993. At the time, there were no local bakeries, and Siegel saw a business opportunity. He took the name from the adynaton "when pigs fly"; Siegel's daughter had a poster that contained the phrase,[1] and Siegel's family told him that pigs would fly before he made a successful career baking bread.[2] Siegel's father loaned him US$5,000 for a dough mixer, and he worked 17–20 hours a day.[1] On its opening day, When Pigs Fly produced 83 loaves of bread.[3]
Ron's brother Andrew was impressed by the bread's taste and moved from California in 1994 to join the company.[2] Andrew began handling When Pig's Fly's business, while Ron managed the bakery. In an interview with Inc., Andrew recalled that he and Ron sometimes worked more than 24 hours straight during When Pigs Fly's early days: "not only mixing, rolling, baking, and packing the bread, but then doing deliveries ourselves when the delivery person would not show up."[3] They hired their first employee in late 1994. Ron was initially the sole delivery man and brought bread to stores in his 1987 Toyota pickup truck; by 2004, When Pigs Fly had 11 delivery trucks.[1]
By 2017, When Pigs Fly had moved to a larger facility in York, Maine, and was producing 12,000 bread loaves a day with 80 employees.[3] The bakery is 25,000 square feet.[1] Ron and Andrew decided to step aside from day-to-day operations in 2021; they hired Grant and James Broom, brothers from New London, New Hampshire, as CEO and president, respectively. The Brooms had been When Pigs Fly fans since childhood and became acquainted with the Siegels through a private equity firm. The Siegels remain owners. Andrew felt it was fitting that two brothers were taking over the company, noting the Brooms were around the same age as the Siegels when they started When Pigs Fly.[2]
Products and distribution
editWhen Pigs Fly sells about 25 bread varieties,[3] including unconventional varieties such as chocolate, lemonade, spinach ciabatta, and tomato.[2] The breads are sold in supermarkets throughout New England,[4] as well as in New York and New Jersey;[2] the company also sells products online.[1] As of October 2023, over 500 stores, including Costco, Hannaford, Market Basket, Shaw's, and Whole Foods Market, carry When Pigs Fly products.[5] When Pigs Fly also operates its own chain of stores, with four locations in the Greater Boston area.[6] Other locations are in Newburyport, Massachusettes and Kittery and Portland, Maine.[4][5] The Kittery location contains a restaurant that primarily produces pizza.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Nolan, Susan (December 29, 2004). "Siegel brothers soar to success with bakery craft at When Pigs Fly". The Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Sullivan, Max (September 15, 2022). "When Pigs Fly Breads: Meet the brothers that look to bring York-based company to new level". The Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "When Pigs Fly". Inc. 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c Hurwitz, Mark (October 30, 2021). "Beyond Bread: When Pigs Fly in Kittery, Maine, Is a Pizza Lover's Paradise". New England Cable News. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b St Pierre, Ariana (October 16, 2023). "When Pigs Fly Breads closes Freeport store to relocate to Portland". WGME-TV. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Hurwirz, Marc (November 8, 2022). "When Pigs Fly to Open in Lexington". NBC Boston. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Further reading
edit- Gunst, Kathy (November 5, 2019). "When Pigs Fly". Down East. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- McDermott, Deborah (July 4, 2011). "Bread co. tries its hand at pizza? When Pigs Fly". The Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved September 20, 2024.