Hewn
Hewn is an independent, women-owned artisan bakery in Evanston, Illinois, operating three Chicago North Shore retail locations (Evanston, Libertyville, Winnetka) that produce naturally leavened sourdough breads, pastries, sandwiches, and espresso drinks using organic, stone-milled grains sourced from local Illinois and Wisconsin farmers, serving local consumers and catering clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersEvanston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hewn does
Hewn is an independent, women-owned artisan bakery founded in 2013 and headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, operating three retail locations across Chicago's North Shore (Evanston Bakehouse as the primary production facility, plus Outposts in Libertyville and Winnetka). The bakery produces naturally leavened sourdough breads using a 20-hour fermentation process and stone-milled organic grains sourced directly from Illinois and Wisconsin farmers (Janie's Farm and Mill, Meadows Lark Farm and Mill, and Hazzard Free Farm). Its product portfolio spans over 20 daily-rotating bread SKUs (including heritage varieties such as Turkey Red, Red Fife, Evanston Red, and Spelt), a pastry line (croissants, brioche, scones, Danish, kouign amann, galettes), hot and cold sandwiches, and an espresso bar featuring Ruby Coffee. Co-owners Ellen King (Director of Baking Operations) and Julie Matthei (Director of Business Operations) operate the business as Hewn, LLC with no external funding.
Hewn generates revenue through four primary streams: walk-in retail sales of bread, pastries, and sandwiches across its three locations; catering services for meetings and events (48-hour notice); the Middle Child sub-brand of shelf-stable pantry goods (pancake mix and granola) launched in 2026; and cookbook royalties/sales from Ellen King's Heritage Baking (Chronicle Books, 2018). Distribution is omnichannel: direct retail at three storefronts, same-day online ordering via Square for pickup, and holiday/event pre-orders via Tock. The company relies on a tightly localized supply chain — all grain, dairy, and produce partners are Illinois or Wisconsin farms, and even retail fixtures are constructed from reclaimed wood sourced regionally. Marketing is conducted through Instagram, Facebook, email newsletter, and earned food media coverage (Food & Wine, Thrillist, Food Network). The company employs 11-50 people, offers full benefits to full-time staff, and operates with no institutional investment or outside shareholders.
The business model is craft-driven and capacity-constrained: every loaf is hand-shaped, every pastry laminated by hand, and production is gated by physical bakehouse throughput at the Evanston location. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and was adjusted upward in 2026 to reflect rising input costs for stone-milled flour, European butter, and labor. The recent Middle Child launch represents the company's first attempt to escape bakehouse capacity constraints by extending its heritage-grain sourcing story into shelf-stable CPG, while the Baker's Dozen Club loyalty program (launched July 2026) signals a focus on increasing visit frequency within the existing footprint rather than geographic expansion.
Hewn firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hewn
- Legal name
- Hewn, LLC
- Website
- https://hewnbread.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hewn is an independent, women-owned artisan bakery in Evanston, Illinois, operating three Chicago North Shore retail locations (Evanston, Libertyville, Winnetka) that produce naturally leavened sourdough breads, pastries, sandwiches, and espresso drinks using organic, stone-milled grains sourced from local Illinois and Wisconsin farmers, serving local consumers and catering clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hewn industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisan Bakery
- NAICS
- Retail Bakeries (311811), Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181), Commercial Bakeries (311812), Baked Goods Retailers (445291)
- SIC
- Bakery Products (2050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Artisan & Specialty Bakeries (Sourdough, Heritage Grains) (THAFAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retail Bakeries (Bread & Daily Bakery) (THAFAFAA), Grain-Based Mixes & Doughs Manufacturing (pancake/waffle mixes, baking mixes, dough bases) (AFAKABAF)
Keywords
Where Hewn is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Evanston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Hewn business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retail Bread and Pastry Sales: Primary revenue stream from walk-in sales of artisan breads, pastries, and sandwiches at three physical locations. Breads are baked daily and pastries are made fresh each morning. Products include naturally leavened sourdough loaves, croissants, brioche, scones, muffins, and seasonal items.
- Catering Services: Catering for meetings and events with 48 hours notice required. Menu includes sandwiches, pastries, and bread selections tailored for groups.
- Cookbook Sales: Sale of Heritage Baking cookbook by Ellen King, published by Chronicle Books in 2018. Available in bookstores, online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and autographed copies at the bakery.
- Middle Child Pantry Products: Line of pantry goods including pancake mix and granola sold at bakery locations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Hewn product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hewn is an independent artisan bakery that bakes naturally leavened sourdough breads, hand-rolled pastries, and seasonal savory items using organic, stone-milled grains sourced from local Illinois and Wisconsin farmers. Every loaf is hand-shaped and fermented for approximately 20 hours without commercial yeast, preservatives, or additives, with the bakery operating across three Chicago-area storefronts that also serve espresso drinks and prepared sandwiches.
Product overview
Hewn is an independent, women-owned artisan bakery with three locations (Evanston Bakehouse, Libertyville Outpost, Winnetka Outpost) specializing in naturally leavened sourdough breads and pastries made from organic, stone-milled grains sourced from local Illinois and Wisconsin farmers. The core product portfolio includes over 20 bread varieties (Country Bread, Blonde Country, Whole Wheat Seeded, Turkey Red, heritage grains like Red Fife and Evanston Red, and seasonal specials), fresh daily pastries (croissants, brioche, scones, Danish, muffins, galettes, kouign amann), hot and cold sandwiches, and espresso beverages featuring Ruby Coffee. The company also offers a sub-brand called Middle Child for pantry goods (pancake mix and granola), catering services, take-and-bake items with printable instructions, gift cards, and a published cookbook 'Heritage Baking' by co-owner Ellen King.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Middle Child: A line of pantry goods including pancake mix and granola, described as 'problematically delicious' and made for those who go against the grain. Currently featuring pancake mix and granola as the initial product offerings.
Products and services
- Artisan Sourdough Breads Rotating daily selection of naturally leavened sourdough breads made with organic, stone-milled grains from local Illinois and Wisconsin farms; varieties include Country Bread, Blonde Country, Whole Wheat Seeded, Turkey Red, Evanston Red, Spelt, Challah, Cheddar Country, Picholine-Olive Country, Rye with Oats, Cranberry Walnut, Holmenkollen Rye, Red Fife, Ciabatta, Baguette, Durum, Midwest Blend, Spent Grain Beer Bread, Parmesan & Garlic Country, Polenta Pumpkin Seed & Rosemary, Roasted Heirloom Potato & Rosemary, and rotating seasonal loaves. Baked fresh daily and sold by walk-in retail or pre-order at all three locations.
- Pastries Hand-rolled laminated dough pastries made fresh each morning with high-fat European butter; lineup includes plain, chocolate, and almond Croissants, Brioche (including Cinnamon Brioche), Morning Buns, daily Scones, fruit and savory Danish, Muffins, seasonal Galettes, Kouign Amann, and assorted brownies and cookies.
- Hot and Cold Sandwiches Daily prepared sandwiches served on Hewn's own artisan breads; hot options include Breakfast Sandwich, Reuben on Country, Turkey Avocado Melt, Turkey Chipotle Melt on Ciabatta, Chicken Apple and Cheddar on Ciabatta, and Cubano; cold options include Classic Veggie on Ciabatta, Italian on Seeded Torta, Turkey and Ham and Cheese on Country, Roast Beef on Brioche Bun, and Tuna Salad on Ficelle.
- Espresso Bar and Coffee Service Full espresso bar serving all standard espresso drinks and fresh brewed coffee using Ruby Coffee Roasters beans, plus seasonal drink specials such as Raspberry Danish Latte, Dark Chocolate Cherry Latte, and Salted Caramel White Mocha. Available at the Evanston Bakehouse.
- Catering Services Catering platters of sandwiches, pastries, and bread selections for meetings and events, available from all three locations by phone with 48 hours notice.
- Middle Child Pantry Goods Sub-brand line of pantry goods from Hewn featuring pancake mix and granola, made with simple ingredients and bold flavor; sold at bakery locations and online.
- Take & Bake Items Take-home baked goods sold with printable baking instructions for customers to finish at home, including Brie en Croute, Morning Buns, Cinnamon Rolls, and Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Heritage Baking Cookbook Book of 45 foolproof recipes for rustic breads and pastries baked with artisanal flour, written by co-owner Ellen King and published by Chronicle Books in 2018. Sold at bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and as autographed copies at the bakery.
- Baker's Dozen Club Loyalty Program Customer loyalty program available at all three locations; customers earn 1 point per visit with a $10 minimum purchase and receive a free loaf or pastry on their 13th visit.
- Hewn Gift Cards Physical and digital gift cards redeemable at any Hewn bakery location, available for purchase in-store or online for self-use or as gifts.
Companies that use Hewn
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hewn technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Hewn partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Janie's Farm and MillcoreJanie's Farm and Mill grows certified organic grains in east central Illinois. Through crop rotation and cover cropping, they restore soil health, improve water absorption, reduce erosion, and sequester carbon. Their grains are milled gently at cool temperatures, preserving nutrients and flavor. This is a primary flour supplier for Hewn.
- Meadows Lark Farm and MillcoreMeadows Lark Farm and Mill provides freshly milled flour that retains much of the bran and germ. Their bolted flour keeps more flavor and nutrition than conventional white flour. Their whole wheat flour contains nearly the entire grain.
- Hazzard Free FarmcoreHazzard Free Farm grows heirloom and open-pollinated grains without treated or GMO seeds and without chemical pesticides or herbicides. Their grains are stone milled to avoid high heat that can dull flavor. They are committed to adapting ancient grains to local soil over time.
- Kilgus FarmsteadsupportingMulti-generational Illinois dairy that pasture-raises Jersey cows and bottles its own milk. Supplies dairy products to Hewn.
- Mick Klug FarmssupportingFamily-run fruit and vegetable farm supplying Chicago markets for decades. Provides seasonal produce to Hewn for pastries and lunch items.
- Ruby Coffee RoasterscoreHewn features Ruby Coffee at their espresso bar, serving a full range of espresso drinks and fresh brewed coffee. Featured in seasonal drink specials like Raspberry Danish Latte.
- Evanston Rebuilding WarehousesupportingSalvaged and created lathe on front of counters and wood on wall behind counters in Evanston location. Exterior lights were also reclaimed from this source.
- Horrigan Urban Forest ProductssupportingWorked with Horrigan to obtain repurposed wood for shelves and counters from fallen trees that would otherwise be turned into mulch. All shelves and counters in Evanston are from an old White Oak tree cut down in Wilmette. Shelves in Libertyville created from fallen trees in Lake County area.
- Bee's WrapminorHewn sells Bee's Wrap bread wraps at their store. Bee's Wrap is noted as a woman-owned business, aligning with Hewn's values.
- The Spice HouseminorListed as a business Hewn is proud to work with in the community.
- Nichols Farm & OrchardminorListed as a business Hewn is proud to work with in the community.
- The Talking FarmminorListed as a business Hewn is proud to work with in the community.
- Mighty VineminorListed as a business Hewn is proud to work with in the community.
- B&E's TreesminorListed as a business Hewn is proud to work with in the community. Provides maple syrup featured with Middle Child pancake mix.
- Few SpiritsminorListed as a business Hewn is proud to work with in the community.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hewn competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Publican Quality Bread: Chicago-based artisan bakery from the One Off Hospitality group producing naturally leavened breads with regionally sourced grains. Closest geographic and operational comparable to Hewn, with similar wholesale/retail hybrid model.
- Metropolitan Bakery: Philadelphia artisan bakery with multiple retail locations producing naturally leavened breads, pastries, and sandwiches. Comparable multi-location craft bakery model serving an affluent urban/suburban market.
- Amy's Bread: NYC artisan bakery producing hand-shaped breads and pastries for both retail and wholesale accounts. Comparable multi-channel model (retail + wholesale + catering) with similar craft positioning.
- Bien Cuit: Brooklyn-based artisan bakery specializing in naturally leavened sourdough with regional grain sourcing. Comparable craft-driven model with similar heritage-grain emphasis and retail/wholesale hybrid.
- Standard Baking Co. Portland, Maine artisan bakery producing naturally leavened breads and pastries with regional grain sourcing. Comparable craft model, retail/wholesale hybrid, and heritage-grain emphasis.
- Levain Bakery: NYC-based artisan bakery famous for hand-shaped cookies and pastries that has scaled to multiple locations. Comparable craft-driven brand that has successfully expanded from single to multi-location while maintaining premium positioning.
- Tartine Bakery: Iconic San Francisco artisan bakery famous for naturally leavened country loaves and laminated pastries. Highly comparable craft model, multi-location footprint, and cookbook-driven brand authority.
- Bread Furst: Washington DC artisan bakery run by James Beard-recognized baker Mark Furstenberg, focused on naturally leavened breads with regional grain sourcing. Highly comparable heritage-grain and craft model.
Broad incumbents
- Pain Quotidien: International bakery-cafe chain offering organic, artisanal breads and pastries in a full-service cafe setting. Operates at much greater scale with similar artisan positioning but more standardized production.
Others
- Janie's Mill: Hewn's primary flour supplier (Janie's Farm and Mill), producing certified-organic stone-milled heritage grains in Illinois. Listed as a thematically adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hewn social profiles
Digital presenceHewn financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hewn leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Hewn funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hewn M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hewn
What does Hewn do?
Hewn is an independent artisan bakery that bakes naturally leavened sourdough breads, hand-rolled pastries, and seasonal savory items using organic, stone-milled grains sourced from local Illinois and Wisconsin farmers. Every loaf is hand-shaped and fermented for approximately 20 hours without commercial yeast, preservatives, or additives, with the bakery operating across three Chicago-area storefronts that also serve espresso drinks and prepared sandwiches.
Is Hewn a public or private company?
Hewn is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hewn founded?
Hewn was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hewn based?
Hewn is headquartered in Evanston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hewn make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Bread and Pastry Sales are the primary driver. The others are catering Services, cookbook Sales and middle Child Pantry Products.
Who are Hewn's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Publican Quality Bread, Metropolitan Bakery, Amy's Bread, Bien Cuit, Standard Baking Co., Levain Bakery, Tartine Bakery and Bread Furst. Pain Quotidien is listed as a broad incumbent. Janie's Mill is listed as an others.
Does Hewn have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hewn.
What industry is Hewn in?
Hewn's product category is Artisan Bakery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAFAD, Artisan & Specialty Bakeries (Sourdough, Heritage Grains), with a secondary code of THAFAFAA, Retail Bakeries (Bread & Daily Bakery). Its NAICS code is 311811 and its SIC code is 2050.