Kneaders Bakery & Café has opened its 50th store in Phoenix. Kneaders is dedicated to the communities it serves, and this community support has helped drive the company's growth plans over the last 19 years.

The Phoenix store marks the 16th in Arizona and the 50th in the western U.S. Salt Lake City-based Kneaders is known for making substantial and significant contributions to strengthen the health, social, educational, and cultural fabric of each community it is located in. Kneaders' 50th store will continue the company's tradition of donating all unsold bread at the end of each day to a local organization to support the community and minimize food waste. 

"We are pleased to announce our 50th store opening and even more excited to bring Kneaders to this thriving community," says James Worthington, CEO of Kneaders. "Kneaders is a family-founded and community-focused company, and we have worked hard to continue our growth throughout the country in a sustainable way. We look forward to continuing this growth in our 50th store and serving the outstanding families, businesses, and community organizations that make each location so special."

By the end of 2016, Kneaders plans to continue to advance its growth strategy by having a total of 55 stores around the country.

"It's important to us to grow at a sustainable level in order to maintain the quality service our customers expect and the level of service we've provided since the opening of our first store in 1997," Worthington says.

Known for creating scratch-made artisanal European hearth breads, fresh, made-to-order sandwiches, and a warm and inviting atmosphere, Kneaders serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Like its other locations, the Phoenix store will also include a retail shop, which offers custom-made and themed gift baskets, as well as a variety of home décor, online ordering capabilities, and drive-thru service.