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5 Generation Bakers' bread giveaway marks sale of millionth loaf
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Scott Baker, of 5 Generation Bakers, embraces a smiling Ada Fiscus of McKees Rocks. -
Scott Baker arranges balloons at the checkout lines in the Shop 'n Save in Kennedy.
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A simple trip to the grocery store turned Thursday into a very lucky day for Ada Fiscus of McKees Rocks, who won money and a lot of bread.
Cheers and applause erupted in the Shop 'n Save in Kennedy last week just as Ms. Fiscus began checking out.
"Is it me? Oh my God!" she gasped, as Scott Baker handed her a check for $300 and told her she had won a one-year supply of Jenny Lee cinnamon swirl bread.
Mr. Baker is president of 5 Generation Bakers in McKees Rocks. He started the business three years ago with three employees. The company now has 12 employees and marked a milestone last Thursday, selling its 1 millionth loaf of bread.
"It took us three years to reach 1 million," Mr. Baker said, which is why the buyer of that loaf got $300. "We expect to sell our 2 millionth loaf later this year."
5 Generation Bakers was founded in 2009. The predecessor, Jenny Lee Bakery, closed in 2008 after 70 years of operation by the Baker family, including Scott's grandfather, Paul Baker, and his father, Bernie Baker.
Customers did not have advance notice about the celebration, "though we teased it on our Facebook page," Mr. Baker said. He "guesstimated" that the 1 millionth loaf would be sold shortly after 11 a.m. at the Shop 'n Save on Pine Hollow Road.
Five employees stood by with giant mylar balloons while Mr. Baker watched shoppers. "Three women picked up a loaf of bread at about the same time," Mr. Baker said. The first woman through the checkout won in what he called "kind of a photo finish."
As other shoppers congratulated her, Ms. Fiscus was gracious in victory, saying she loves Jenny Lee bread, shops regularly at the Kennedy store and added, "This is awesome!"
She'll have her choice of six products: cinnamon swirl, cinnamon raisin swirl, cinnamon apple swirl, cranberry cinnamon swirl, pumpkin nut cinnamon swirl and whole wheat cinnamon swirl.
Each week 12,000 to 14,000 loaves are baked at the Island Avenue bakery in McKees Rocks. The bread is sold in 18 states, including at Shop 'n Save stores, Kings Family Restaurants, independent Giant Eagle, Foodland and Kuhn's grocery stores, and at specialty markets and stores.
First Published February 28, 2013 12:00 am
