Simple Kneads

What Simple Kneads does

Simple Kneads, operating under the legal entity SHILOH'S FIVE LOAVES, INC., is a privately held specialty food company that produces and distributes gluten-free, artisan-style sourdough bread. Founded by Tristaun LeClaire in 2016 (per company history; 2014 per firmographics) after his son Shiloh developed a gluten allergy, the company operates from Burlington, North Carolina, and employs 11-50 people. The product line comprises four core SKUs — Sourdough, Quinoa Power Grains, Pumpkinickel, and Cinnamon Raisin — all built on a true-sourdough fermentation process using natural wild-yeast cultures and lactobacillus (no commercial baker's yeast), formulated from five whole ancient grains (buckwheat, quinoa, millet, sorghum, teff). The products are USDA Organic, Non-GMO Verified, Gluten-Free Certified, Vegan, and Top 9 Allergen-Free; the bread was reformulated in 2024 to incorporate extra virgin olive oil and natural citrus fiber for improved texture and a heart-health positioning.

The commercial model combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify storefront (selling 4-loaf combo packs in the $42.99–$46.99 range, with a subscription/auto-ship program offering a 10% discount and a money-back guarantee) with wholesale distribution to grocery, health-food, and natural-food retailers across the United States. As of late 2024 the company reported distribution in 3,000+ retail stores (3,405 store-locator results) and has accumulated 41,287 verified reviews at 4.8/5 stars on Shopper Approved. The company has raised approximately $1.34M cumulatively across five Regulation CF securities offerings on Republic between 2014 and 2024, the most recent two raises (2023 and 2024) explicitly designated for retail expansion and new product development.

Go-to-market execution is content-led, anchored by the 'Simple Truths' educational blog, an Instagram presence, a weekly trivia engagement mechanic with discount-code rewards, and a content partnership with Australian health educator Barbara O'Neill. Customer adoption is heavily corroborated by testimonial evidence from individuals with celiac disease, multiple food allergies, and gluten sensitivity, validating the brand's positioning around digestive health and allergen inclusivity. Distribution is currently US-only with no disclosed international operations.

Name

Simple Kneads

Legal name

SHILOH'S FIVE LOAVES, INC.

Website

https://simplekneads.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Simple Kneads is a privately held, Burlington, North Carolina-based specialty bakery producing USDA Organic, gluten-free, top 9 allergen-free artisan sourdough bread from five ancient grains, selling through a Shopify e-commerce storefront and over 3,000 US retail stores to consumers with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and multi-allergen dietary needs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Gluten-Free Bakery

NAICS

Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing (3118), Commercial Bakeries (311812), Baked Goods Retailers (445291)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused) (AFAKAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gluten-Free & Specialty Grain-Based Foods Manufacturing (GF pasta/cereals, ancient grains) (AFAKABAK), Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAC)

Keywords

• Gluten-free bread
• Artisan sourdough bread
• Ancient grain bread
• Allergen-free bread
• Organic bakery products

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales through their Shopify storefront where customers purchase bread loaves and combo packs. Orders are baked fresh and shipped directly to customers' doors. They offer subscription/auto-ship options for recurring revenue.
2. Wholesale/Retail Distribution: Sales to retail grocery stores and food service operators. The company has expanded to 3000+ stores and continues to pursue retail distribution partnerships.
3. Reg CF Securities Offering: Crowdfunding investment opportunity through Republic platform to raise capital for retail expansion and new product development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Simple Kneads manufactures and sells four artisan gluten-free sourdough bread varieties (Sourdough, Quinoa Power Grains, Pumpkinickel, Cinnamon Raisin) made with five whole ancient grains and fermented using natural wild yeast cultures rather than commercial yeast. The breads are USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Gluten-Free Certified, vegan, and Top 9 Allergen-Free. Products are sold directly to consumers via a Shopify storefront with subscription/auto-ship options, and through wholesale distribution to retail grocery and health food stores (3,000+ stores).

Product overview

Simple Kneads is a gluten-free artisan sourdough bakery offering four signature bread flavors (Sourdough, Quinoa Power Grains, Pumpkinickel, and Cinnamon Raisin) made with five ancient gluten-free grains (buckwheat, quinoa, millet, sorghum, and teff). The products are certified gluten-free, non-GMO verified, USDA organic, vegan, and top 9 allergen-free. All breads are naturally cultured using traditional sourdough fermentation methods with no baker's yeast added. The company offers individual loaves, combo packs, and bundle options with subscription services for recurring orders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sourdough A naturally cultured gluten-free sourdough bread that is moist and light in flavor with an artisan-style crust, made with ancient grains including millet, sorghum, teff, quinoa, and buckwheat flour. Formulated for consumers with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, wheat allergies, or those seeking allergen-free and vegan bread options.
• Quinoa Power Grains A naturally cultured sourdough bread with a slightly nutty flavor, moist texture, and topped with quinoa seeds. Made with five ancient gluten-free grains and an oil-free recipe. Targets gluten-free, vegan, and allergen-conscious consumers seeking a nutritious, seed-topped sandwich or toast bread.
• Pumpkinickel A naturally cultured gluten-free bread topped with pumpkin seeds for a bold rye-style twist, featuring caraway seeds and carob powder. Made with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil. Intended for consumers wanting an earthy-sweet, allergen-free rye-style loaf suitable for both sweet and savory spreads.
• Cinnamon Raisin A naturally cultured sourdough bread described as a sweet variation with cinnamon and raisins in every bite. Made with the company's five ancient gluten-free grains and extra virgin olive oil formulation. Targets gluten-free, vegan, and allergen-conscious consumers seeking a sweet-style allergen-free bread.
• SK Bundle Basket A bundled offering of four loaves in various flavor combinations — including the 4-in-1 combo of all four flavors and mixed 2+2 combos — with savings versus single-flavor 4-packs and availability as both one-time purchase and subscription via the direct-to-consumer storefront. Designed for households and gift buyers seeking variety, value, and recurring delivery of the brand's gluten-free artisan bread.
• Subscribe and Save Auto-Ship Program A subscription/auto-ship program available on all 4-loaf combo packs and mixed combos, providing a 10% discount on recurring monthly orders with free shipping. Targets existing gluten-free, vegan, and allergen-conscious consumers seeking predictable, recurring delivery of Simple Kneads bread.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.8/5 star rating with 41,287 verified reviews on Shopper Approved
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Barbara O'NeillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian naturopath and health educator Barbara O'Neill is a longtime friend and content partner of Simple Kneads CEO Tristaun LeClaire. She endorses and recommends Simple Kneads bread and has participated in video interview series discussing bread, health, and nutrition.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Udi's Gluten Free: Long-standing gluten-free bread and baked-goods brand with national distribution and broad portfolio across loaves, bagels, muffins, and pizza crust. Direct competitor at the shelf but a much larger, broad-line incumbent.
• Dave's Killer Bread: Large-scale better-for-you bread brand owned by Flowers Foods. Not exclusively gluten-free but competes in the premium, ingredient-credentialed bread shelf segment relevant to Simple Kneads' positioning.
• Schar: European-headquartered gluten-free CPG leader with extensive bread, pasta, and snack portfolio. Operates in U.S. retail and represents a large established incumbent in the gluten-free bread category.

Direct peers

• Three Bakers: Gluten-free bread and snack company producing whole-grain sliced breads distributed through natural and grocery channels. Closely comparable in product mix and channel strategy.
• Canyon Bakehouse: One of the largest U.S. gluten-free bread brands, owned by Flowers Foods. Competes head-to-head with Simple Kneads in sliced gluten-free loaves across mainstream grocery and natural food channels.
• Against the Grain: Specialty gluten-free bread and baked-goods maker focused on natural ingredients. Competes in artisanal gluten-free sliced bread, similar to Simple Kneads' premium positioning.
• Katz Gluten Free: Long-time gluten-free baked-goods maker covering breads, muffins, cookies, and donuts. Direct competitor in allergen-friendly baked goods for the same celiac and allergy-driven shopper.
• Little Northern Bakehouse: Gluten-free bread brand offering seeded, classic, and cinnamon varieties in similar retail channels. Closely aligned in product positioning, certifications, and target shopper.

Emerging players

• Base Culture: Better-for-you, gluten-free bread and bakery brand with natural ingredient positioning sold through DTC and retail. Comparable clean-label, grain-focused product narrative.
• Bread SRSLY: True sourdough gluten-free bakery emphasizing fermentation-based bread. Shares Simple Kneads' core technical differentiation (wild yeast/long fermentation) on a smaller, more artisanal scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/simplekneads_gf
• Xx.com/SimpleKneads_GF

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Simple Kneads