La Brea Bakery

What La Brea Bakery does

La Brea Bakery is a U.S. artisan bread producer founded in 1989 by Nancy Silverton, operating as a flagship brand within the Aspire Bakeries parent group. The company manufactures par-baked and frozen artisan breads — including sourdough loaves, baguettes, ciabatta, rye, ciabatta rolls, take-and-bake items, and a newly launched Pretzel product line — built around an original sourdough starter continuously cultivated since founding. Products carry Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan, and Kosher certifications and target both retail consumers and foodservice operators.

The core technology stack is deliberately traditional: long-fermentation sourdough biology combined with par-baked/frozen manufacturing that yields a 9-month freezer shelf life, allowing operators to finish baking on-site with minimal labor and waste. The proprietary element is the original starter culture, now over 35 years old, which functions as an intangible biological asset that competitors cannot replicate.

La Brea Bakery operates a two-channel revenue model. The primary channel is B2B foodservice distribution through all major U.S. broadline distributors — Sysco, US Foods, Gordon Food Service, PFG, DOT, and Reinhart — supported by a territory-based direct sales force covering all 50 states and serving nine named verticals (B&I, Catering, C&U, C-Store, Fine Dining, Full-Service Restaurants, Healthcare, Lodging/Casino, and QSR). The secondary channel is retail/consumer, via grocery retailers and the company's own bakery cafes, supported by a 'Where to Buy' locator and an extensive recipe content library. Wholesale pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through distributor and sales-rep relationships.

Name

La Brea Bakery

Legal name

La Brea Bakery

Website

https://labreabakery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Bakery / Artisan Bread

NAICS

Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181), Commercial Bakeries (311812), Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing (311813)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Bread & Rolls Manufacturing (AFAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Frozen Bakery Products Manufacturing (AFAKAAAF), Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused) (AFAKAAAG), Bakery & Desserts Distribution (CRAOABAE), DTC Bakery & Desserts Delivery (AFAIANAF)

Keywords

• Artisan bread manufacturing
• Sourdough bread products
• Foodservice bakery supplies
• Par-baked frozen bread
• Wholesale bakery distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

San Leandro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foodservice B2B Sales: La Brea Bakery generates revenue primarily through B2B foodservice sales to restaurant operators, hotels, healthcare facilities, universities, and other food service businesses. Products are sold through a network of major food service distributors including Sysco, US Foods, Gordon Food Service, PFG, DOT, and Reinhart. The company offers par-baked and frozen bread products that foodservice operators finish in their own kitchens.
2. Retail Consumer Sales: La Brea Bakery also generates revenue through retail sales of consumer-packaged bread products sold through grocery retailers and their own bakery cafes. Products include fresh and take-and-bake artisan breads available for home consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

La Brea Bakery manufactures and sells artisan bread products built around an original sourdough starter cultivated since 1989. The company produces fresh and par-baked frozen loaves, baguettes, ciabatta, rolls, and pretzel products, distributed through major foodservice distributors (Sysco, US Foods, Gordon Food Service, PFG, DOT, Reinhart) to restaurants, hotels, healthcare, and other operators, as well as through retail grocery and direct-to-consumer take-and-bake offerings.

Product overview

La Brea Bakery is an artisan bread company that offers a diversified portfolio of breads and bakery products primarily for retail consumers and foodservice professionals. The core product line consists of traditional artisan breads centered on sourdough fermentation using an original starter dating back to 1989. The product portfolio includes: (1) Fresh artisan loaves (Country White Sourdough, French, Jalapeño Cheddar, New York Rye, Olive, Pecan Raisin, Roasted Garlic, Rosemary Olive Oil, Sourdough, Three Cheese Semolina, Toasted Sunflower Honey, Tuscan, and Rustic 8 Grain); (2) Flat loaves and ciabatta; (3) Baguettes and batards in various styles; (4) Rounds including Italian Round and Rosemary Olive Oil Round; (5) Take-and-bake products (Ciabatta Rolls, Everything Rolls, French Dinner Rolls, French Sandwich Rolls, Rustic Ciabatta Loaf, Torta Rolls, Tuscan Loaf, and Twin Pack French Baguettes); (6) Pretzel Buns and Baguettes (new 2025 product line); and (7) A comprehensive foodservice/wholesale division serving restaurants, catering, healthcare, lodging, QSR, and other segments with products like Plant-Based Brioche Buns, Focaccia, Multigrain Sliced Sandwich Bread, and XL Loaves. Products are distributed through retail channels and foodservice distributors including Sysco, US Foods, Gordon Food Service, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Artisan Bread Loaves A core line of fresh artisan loaves sold through retail grocery and foodservice channels, distinguished by a sourdough starter cultivated since 1989 and traditional long-fermentation methods.
• Baguettes and Batards Classic hearth-baked French baguettes and sourdough baguettes, plus demi baguettes and batards, with crusty exteriors and open cell structure from long fermentation with levain.
• Flat Loaves and Ciabatta Flat-style artisan loaves including Ciabatta Loaf, designed with an airier, chewier crumb for sandwiches and panini.
• Take and Bake Bread Products Par-baked take-and-bake offerings for retail consumers including Ciabatta Rolls, Everything Rolls, French Dinner Rolls, French Sandwich Rolls, Rustic Ciabatta Loaf, Torta Rolls, Tuscan Loaf, and Twin Pack French Baguettes.
• Pretzel Buns and Baguettes Handcrafted artisan-style soft pretzel products with a golden-brown crust and soft interior, sold to retail consumers and foodservice operators for use in burgers, sandwiches, sliders, and sausage applications.
• Foodservice Wholesale Sandwich Rolls and Buns Wholesale sandwich rolls and specialty buns for foodservice professionals including Ciabatta Sandwich Rolls and Plant-Based Brioche Buns designed for vegan, vegetarian, or meat-based sandwich builds.
• Foodservice Sliced Breads and Multigrain Sandwich Bread Pre-sliced wholesale sandwich breads for foodservice operators including Multigrain Sliced Sandwich Bread packed with whole grains, seeds, and nuts.
• Foodservice Focaccia Quarter Sheet Versatile quarter-sheet focaccia infused with extra virgin olive oil for foodservice use as sides, sandwich bases, or pizza foundations.
• Foodservice XL Loaves Large-format artisan loaves such as Country White Sourdough XL designed for high-volume foodservice kitchens.

Named customers5 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.

• SyscocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSysco is one of La Brea Bakery's primary distribution partners, carrying the French Baguette and other products through Sysco distribution centers nationwide. Sysco is the largest foodservice distributor in North America.
• US FoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS Foods is a major distribution partner for La Brea Bakery, distributing products under both APN and SPC codes through their national distribution network.
• Gordon Food ServicemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGordon Food Service distributes La Brea Bakery products to foodservice operators in their distribution regions.
• Performance Food Group (PFG)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPFG distributes La Brea Bakery products as part of their broad foodservice product portfolio.
• DOT (formerly Darden Restaurant Group)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDOT distributes La Brea Bakery products to foodservice operators.
• ReinhartmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReinhart Foodservice distributes La Brea Bakery products to restaurant and foodservice customers.
• Aspire BakeriesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAspire Bakeries is the parent company of La Brea Bakery. La Brea Bakery operates as a flagship brand within the Aspire Bakeries portfolio. The company contact information references Aspire Bakeries at the same Los Angeles address.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Flowers Foods: Flowers Foods is a top-tier U.S. packaged bakery company (Wonder, Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread) supplying retail and foodservice. Broad incumbent overlap in sandwich breads, artisan loaves, and DSD/foodservice distribution.
• Bimbo Bakeries USA: Bimbo Bakeries USA is the largest U.S. bakery company (parent: Grupo Bimbo) and competes across virtually every bread category, including artisan, take-and-bake, and frozen par-baked. Major competitive threat on shelf space, private-label share, and foodservice national accounts.
• J&J Snack Foods: J&J Snack Foods is a national supplier of pretzels, frozen baked goods, and handheld foodservice items. Most directly comparable to La Brea's new Pretzel Buns/Baguettes line via the Superpretzel and Pretzelmaker brands, with strong foodservice distribution.

Direct peers

• Boudin Bakery: Boudin Bakery is the closest direct peer: a heritage California sourdough brand (founded 1849) that operates a commercial wholesale bakery plus retail cafes. Both brands sell artisan sourdough through foodservice distributors and retail, with par-baked frozen production at scale.
• Aunt Millie's Bakeries: Aunt Millie's is a regional commercial bakery producing branded and private-label breads for retail and foodservice across the Midwest and East. Comparable in scale, channel mix, and distributor-driven B2B go-to-market for sandwich breads and artisan loaves.
• St. Pierre Bakeries: St. Pierre is a UK-based specialty bread maker owned by Stonebridge that sells par-baked baguettes and brioche rolls into foodservice and grocery worldwide. Closely mirrors La Brea's par-bake-to-finish model, product mix, and foodservice go-to-market.
• Eurobake: Eurobake is a North American par-baked artisan bread manufacturer supplying foodservice distributors and QSR chains. Direct overlap on technology (par-bake/freeze), product formats (baguettes, ciabatta, sourdough loaves), and distribution model.
• H&S Bakery (Schmidt Baking Company): H&S/Schmidt is a Mid-Atlantic commercial bakery serving retail and foodservice with branded and private-label breads. Comparable in production scale (1000+ employees), foodservice distributor relationships, and premium/artisan positioning.

Emerging players

• Natural Ovens Bakery: Natural Ovens is a smaller-scale specialty/artisan baker focused on whole-grain, organic, and health-positioned breads for retail and select foodservice. Comparable in artisan credibility and Non-GMO/health positioning, but smaller in scale and channel reach than La Brea.

Regional players

• Maple Leaf Foods (Canada Bread): Maple Leaf Foods operates a commercial bakery business in Canada that mirrors La Brea's par-baked artisan and foodservice model, but serves primarily Canadian markets. Useful comparable for unit economics and category dynamics, with limited direct U.S. overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/labreabakery
• Facebookfacebook.com/labreabakery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-brea-inc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 La Brea Bakery