The Kneaders family marked the close of 2017 with milestone moments that included breaking $100 million in total sales, celebrating 20 years in operations with recognition from various high level elected officials, including the Utah Governor, and a grand prize customer giveaway.
Kneaders’ full-service, on-site working bakeries powered by artisan bakers, continue to be unique within the fast-casual restaurant industry and has been a contributing factor in Kneaders’ impressive 59 store expansion across eight states. In 2017, Kneaders opened four stores in two new markets located in Missouri and Kansas and with stores opening in Idaho, Kansas, and Utah the company is projecting $110 million in sales in 2018 with an estimated 120 new hires across all markets.
Kneaders Co-Founders Gary and Colleen Worthington celebrated the 20th anniversary on December 2, 2017. Citing “their unprecedented entrepreneurial work,” the Worthington’s were honored by Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert and First Lady Jeanette Herbert at the Governor’s Mansion in Salt Lake City, with an official proclamation announcing the milestone date as “Gary and Colleen Worthington Day.”
In addition to being recognized by Governor Herbert, both the Utah County Commissioners and Orem Mayor Richard Brunst issued their own local “Kneaders Day” proclamations recognizing the Worthington’s business alacrity and charitable giving, noting that over the last 20 years, Kneaders has donated more than one million loaves of bread (a donation value of $2,590,000) to organizations serving people in need. Kneaders has also raised $580,000 for cancer research and children’s hospitals to date.
Colleen Worthington, Co-Founder of Kneaders Bakery & Cafe said, “We are so grateful to have been able to serve our loyal customers over the last 20 years. The love and generosity of each one of our communities is what has made Kneaders successful and that is what will continue to carry us forward.”
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Kneaders announced Utah customer, Tazia Moss as the winner of the anniversary grand prize, a paid trip to King Arthur Flour Baking School in Burlington, Wash. Tazia and a friend will attend a two-day baking course with instruction from master bakers, learning how to bake flatbreads of India, Mediterranean breads, rustic spring tarts and cake, followed by a hotel stay in downtown Seattle while taking in the sights of the city. The grand prize is estimated at more than $4,000. Five first prize winners received Kneaders Best baskets, valued at $100. Twenty, second prize winners each received a $20 gift card. Winners were chosen by a random drawing.
Since opening their first store in Orem, Utah in 1997, Kneaders has focused on building loyalty by delighting customers with hand-crafted, scratch-baked, authentic European hearth-breads made with their 200 year old proprietary bread start, based around simple ingredients like flour, water and salt.
