Franz Bread Co. is a family-owned and operated bakery that has been producing high-quality bread and baked goods for over a century. In this blog post, we will explore the history of Franz Bread Co. and how it has grown and evolved over the years.
The company was founded in 1906 by Engelbert Franz, a German immigrant who settled in Portland, Oregon. Initially, Franz sold bread from a horse-drawn wagon, delivering fresh loaves to homes and businesses throughout the city. The demand for his bread grew quickly, and he soon opened his first bakery, where he continued to bake bread using traditional methods and high-quality ingredients.
In the 1920s, Franz introduced a new type of bread that would become one of the company's signature products: Old Fashioned White Bread. This bread was made with a secret family recipe that included high-protein flour, pure cane sugar, and natural butter flavor, giving it a distinctive taste and texture that would become popular with customers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Over the years, Franz Bread Co. continued to expand, opening new bakeries and adding new products to its lineup. In the 1940s, the company began producing sliced bread, which was a relatively new innovation at the time. This helped to make bread more convenient and accessible to customers, and quickly became a popular product.
In the 1950s, the company introduced a new line of bread that would become one of its most successful products: Honey Wheat. This bread was made with honey and whole wheat flour, giving it a sweet, nutty flavor and a hearty texture that would appeal to health-conscious consumers.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Franz Bread Co. continued to innovate, introducing new products like English Muffins, Cinnamon Swirl Bread, and Bagels. The company also expanded its distribution network, delivering its bread and baked goods to more customers throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Today, Franz Bread Co. is still family-owned and operated, with the fourth generation of the Franz family continuing to carry on the legacy of their founder. The company has continued to innovate and introduce new products, such as gluten-free bread and organic bread, while also maintaining its commitment to using high-quality ingredients and traditional baking methods.
In conclusion, Franz Bread Co. is a company with a rich history and a strong commitment to quality and innovation. From its humble beginnings as a horse-drawn bread delivery service to its position today as a leading producer of baked goods, Franz Bread Co. has remained true to its roots while also adapting to changing tastes and trends. Its success over the past century is a testament to the dedication of the Franz family and the quality of its products.