Dawn Foods: King Arthur Flour deal, new artisans, new managers

This season, Dawn Food Products, Inc., one of the largest independently owned bakery manufacturers and distributors in the business, made several announcements. A new line of par-baked artisan breads and a nationwide flour distribution deal with King Arthur were announced, as were some management promotions bakers may want to know about.

Par-baked artisans
On Nov. 7, launched a complete line of hand-crafted, par-baked breads with European-style taste and texture. According to the company, crusty style bread sales have increased as more affluent, sophisticated consumers demand better flavor choices and higher quality. Specialty breads and rolls account for 25% of sales in retail bakeries and 16% in in-store bakeries.

Dawn cited data from the International Dairy-Deli Bakery Assn. indicating that the overall market for artisan and crusty breads was $2.61 billion in 1999. On average, each consumer ate close to four servings of bread on a daily basis and nearly 65% of all consumers indicated that they purchase artisan hearth or crusty breads.

A no-doubt delicious variety of breads include Sunflower, Rustic Calabrese and Traditional Baguette to Sourdough and Marble Boules, Vienna "White," Wheat & Rye with Herbs, Rustic Mill Grain and hearty, slightly sweet Raisin Muesli breakfast bread. They are reportedly low in fat and made with unbleached and unbromated flour, and par-baked in authentic hearth ovens to provide a "wonderfully crisp crust with a moist, chewy texture and excellent shelf life."

The artisan breads are designed to require no skilled labor—they can be thawed and warmed in a conventional oven.

King Arthur Flour deal
Dawn, through its Dawn Distributors Advantage (DDA) network was named exclusive national distributor to the baking industry of King Arthur Flour, a leading premium bakery flour based in Norwich, VT. The two companies are celebrating by offering bakers a chance to win a free 5-day baking course.

The 210-year-old King Arthur Flour has provided professional bakers with naturally aged flour and related technical support. The company has experienced 30% sales growth in the bakery and foodservice market in the past year. (See our coverage of King Arthur's Jeffrey Hamelman, director of The Baking Education Center, for baguette recommendations by clicking to: How to incorporate baguettes into daily production).

"We are very pleased to have America's oldest flour company joining forces with one of America's oldest baking companies" said Mike Bittel, director, bakery food service for King Arthur Flour, noting "the many similarities and synergies between our two companies," including the high value placed on "outstanding technical support and education."

Three management promotions
On Nov. 6, the company appointed Jim Kingsbury as general manager of its distribution center in Seattle, Washington. Kingsbury was previously general manager at Multifoods, U.S.A., Northwest in Kent, WA.

That same day, the Jackson, MI-based Dawn named Doug Stack as general manager of its Kansas City, MO, distribution center. Stack previously served as a sales manager for Dawn. Stack will oversee distribution operations of Dawn's complete line of bakery products in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

The company also appointed Mary Jo Schaffer as vice president of Food Regulatory Affairs. Since joining Dawn in 1989, Schaffer worked as a technical assistant and most recently, Manager of Food Regulatory Affairs before being appointed to her new position.

Related links:
• Visit multiple listings for Dawn Food Products in our Buyer's Guide.

• Visit the website of King Arthur Flour

• Click here for the latest on Dawn's merchandising aids for retail bakeries.

For further information, please contact Dawn Food Products, Inc., 2021 Micor Drive, Jackson, MI 49203. Phone: (800) 248-1144 or (517) 789-4400. Fax: (517) 789-4465. Or Web site: www.dawnfoods.com.

Edited by Bob Sperber
Managing Editor, Bakery Online