Special Touch Bakery

What Special Touch Bakery does

Special Touch Bakery is a Rochester, New York-based 501(c)(3) commercial bakery that produces wholesale pies and baked goods for in-store bakeries, retail grocery, and foodservice distributors under a mission-driven integrated employment model. Founded in 2017 under parent organization Holy Childhood and operational since 2018, the bakery operates a 20,000 sq. ft. SQF Level 2 and Kosher certified facility equipped with a state-of-the-art Comas pie manufacturing line from Italy capable of producing pies in 4", 6", 8", 9", and 10" sizes. The product portfolio spans six core lines — Traditional, Natural Juice, Sugar-Free (Stevia), Dessert, Cream, and Gourmet Fruit — covering more than 20 wholesale SKUs.

Revenue is generated primarily through B2B wholesale distribution to regional and national retailers and foodservice operators, with secondary streams from private label and co-packing services, pie fundraising programs (minimum 50 pies at wholesale pricing) for schools and community organizations, and tax-deductible donations supporting the mission. Distribution combines company-employed delivery drivers running routes across Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo with a regional broker channel operating through a dedicated wholesale portal. Named retail relationships include Wegmans (inherited through the March 2026 acquisition of Lanovara Specialty Foods), alongside a long tail of local and regional retailers.

In March 2026 the bakery acquired Lanovara Specialty Foods, Inc., a 100-year-old Rochester food manufacturer, formalizing a decade-long vocational partnership and expanding the product range beyond pies into cookies, cannoli, cakes, and specialty desserts. The transaction is expected to potentially double the integrated workforce and is being supported operationally by a new Director of Operations hired in June 2025. The bakery is led by President and CEO Donna Dedee and operates without external equity funding as a wholly controlled subsidiary of the Holy Childhood nonprofit foundation.

Name

Special Touch Bakery

Legal name

Special Touch Bakery

Website

https://specialtouchbakery.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Special Touch Bakery is a Rochester, NY-based 501(c)(3) wholesale bakery producing pies and baked goods for regional retailers, foodservice distributors, and community fundraising programs under an integrated employment mission for people of all abilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Bakery (Wholesale Pies and Baked Goods)

NAICS

Commercial Bakeries (311812), Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing (3118)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

Wholesale / Commercial Bakeries (B2B Supply) (THAFAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Frozen Bakery Products Manufacturing (AFAKAAAF)

Keywords

• Wholesale commercial bakery
• Pie manufacturing
• Private label baked goods
• Foodservice dessert supplier
• Fundraising pie programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Pie Sales: B2B wholesale distribution of pies to regional retailers, grocery stores, and foodservice partners. Products sold through in-store bakery departments and retail outlets.
2. Fundraising Programs: Pie fundraising programs for schools, clubs, community organizations, and businesses. Organizations sell pies at retail prices while purchasing at wholesale rates.
3. Private Labeling and Co-packing: Custom private labeling solutions and co-packing services for business partners seeking customized pie production
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting the mission of inclusive employment for individuals with developmental disabilities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Special Touch Bakery is a not-for-profit commercial bakery that produces and wholesales premium pies and baked goods in multiple sizes (4"–10") to regional grocery retailers, foodservice distributors, and in-store bakery operators. Beyond its own brands, it offers private label and co-packing manufacturing services and runs pie fundraising programs for schools, clubs, and community organizations. The integrated employment mission, providing meaningful work to people of all abilities, is embedded into its production operations.

Product overview

Special Touch Bakery is a not-for-profit commercial bakery providing meaningful employment to people of all abilities. The company operates as a single unified product platform offering wholesale pies and baked goods across multiple product lines: Traditional Pies (value leader), Natural Juice Pies, Sugar-Free Pies (sweetened with Stevia), Dessert Pies, and Cream Pies, along with a premium Gourmet Fruit Pies line. Following the acquisition of Lanovara Specialty Foods, Inc. in March 2026, the product portfolio expanded to include cookies, cannoli, cakes, and specialty desserts. The bakery also offers private labeling and co-packing services, and operates fundraising programs for community organizations. Products are available in sizes ranging from 4" to 10" through regional retailers, foodservice partners, and directly to consumers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Pies Value-oriented line of premium-ingredient pies available primarily in 10" size configurations (some in 8") for wholesale grocery, in-store bakery, and foodservice customers. Varieties include Apple Crumb, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, Rumbleberry, Pecan, Strawberry Rhubarb, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, and Two-Crust Apple.
• Natural Juice Pies Premium fruit pies sweetened with natural fruit juices rather than added sugars, offered in multiple sizes for retailers and foodservice operators seeking clean-label options.
• Sugar-Free Pies Premium pies sweetened with Stevia and free of added sugar, available in 4" individual portions (some in 10") for diet-conscious consumers and retail partners. Varieties include Blueberry, Rumbleberry, Cherry, Two-Crust Apple, and Peach.
• Dessert Pies Natural and dairy-based dessert pies featuring classic and modern flavors, available primarily in 10" sizes (some in 5") for foodservice and retail dessert programs. Varieties include Cannoli, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Fudge Brownie.
• Cream Pies Premium cream pies designed for visual presentation and flavor, available in 10" sizes (some in 8"). Varieties include Banana Cream, Chocolate Cream, Key Lime, Lemon Meringue, Coconut Cream, and Strawberry Cream.
• Gourmet Fruit Pies Premium-tier gourmet fruit pies positioned as the bakery's finest offering, featuring exceptional ingredient quality and formulations for high-end retail and foodservice customers.
• Wholesale Pie Catalog More than 20 different wholesale pie varieties spanning traditional favorites, cream pies, and unique flavors, bundled with private labeling solutions for retailers and foodservice partners.
• Private Labeling and Co-Packing Custom manufacturing service enabling grocery retailers and foodservice partners to develop unique flavors and SKUs under their own brand using STB's commercial-grade, SQF Level 2 and Kosher certified facility.
• Pie Fundraising Program Turnkey fundraising solution for schools, sports teams, youth groups, animal rescues, nonprofits, and community groups; organizations purchase pies at wholesale prices and resell at retail to raise funds, with flexible order quantities and flavor selection available year-round.
• Lanovara Specialty Foods Product Line Expanded baked-goods portfolio acquired from Lanovara Specialty Foods, Inc. in March 2026, including cookies, cannoli, cakes, and other specialty desserts, complementing the existing pie offerings and leveraging the Lanovara brand's 100+ year Rochester legacy and Wegmans retail relationship.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% yield on perfect slices
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Holy ChildhoodcoreOthers · 31 March 2026Holy Childhood is the parent organization of Special Touch Bakery, having established the bakery in 2017/2018. The relationship provides the foundation for Special Touch Bakery's mission of integrated employment for individuals with developmental disabilities. Prior to STB's establishment, Lanovara was one of Holy Childhood's earliest work-based vocational partners.
• Lanovara Specialty Foods, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Lanovara Specialty Foods was formally acquired by Special Touch Bakery in March 2026, formalizing a decade-long partnership. The acquisition expands STB's product offerings beyond pies to include cookies, cannoli, cakes, and specialty desserts while strengthening production capacity. Lanovara's founder Bert Salisbury continues as a consultant during the integration period. Lanovara has been a fixture in Rochester for over 100 years.
• WegmanskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWegmans is an established retail partner relationship inherited through the Lanovara acquisition. Special Touch Bakery/Lanovara products are distributed through Wegmans grocery stores in the region. This long-standing relationship strengthens STB's retail distribution network.
• Archer Communications, Inc.minorOthersArcher Communications provides website design and digital communication services for Special Touch Bakery. Located in Rochester, NY, they have supported the bakery's online presence and marketing materials for over 35 years.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hostess Brands: National snack cake and baked goods manufacturer (Twinkies, Ho Hos, CupCakes, Donettes) distributed through grocery, convenience, and foodservice channels. Comparable in packaged baked goods category and broad retail distribution, but focused on snack cakes rather than pies.
• Marie Callender's: Conagra Brands-owned retail and foodservice dessert pie brand with frozen and restaurant-dining heritage. Comparable product category (pies/desserts) and retail/foodservice channels; vastly larger scale and brand recognition versus Special Touch Bakery.
• Edwards Desserts: Schwan's Company-owned frozen and refrigerated dessert pie brand sold through grocery retail. Comparable to Special Touch Bakery in core dessert pie category and grocery retail channel, but operates at national scale with frozen/refrigerated rather than fresh-bake emphasis.
• Sara Lee Desserts: Hillshire Brands / Tyson Foods-owned dessert pie and cheesecake line sold primarily in grocery retail. Directly comparable in dessert pie category and grocery channel; operates as part of a much larger CPG portfolio.
• Bimbo Bakeries USA: Largest U.S. commercial baker (parent Grupo Bimbo) producing breads, buns, cakes, and snack cakes through brands like Sara Lee, Entenmann's, Thomas'. Comparable in bakery manufacturing and grocery distribution, but operates at national scale across broader categories.
• McKee Foods (Little Debbie): Family-owned commercial baker producing Little Debbie and Drake's snack cakes distributed nationally through retail and convenience channels. Comparable in commercial bakery manufacturing and grocery distribution, though category is snack cakes rather than pies/desserts.

Direct peers

• Sweet Street Desserts: Wholesale commercial bakery producing premium pies, cakes, and other desserts for foodservice and retail accounts. Comparable to Special Touch Bakery in B2B wholesale model, dessert category, and co-packing/private label capabilities.
• Table Talk Pies: Regional commercial pie manufacturer based in Worcester, MA, producing shelf-stable and frozen pies for retail and foodservice customers. Highly comparable to Special Touch Bakery in product category (pies), B2B wholesale distribution model, and regional/national independent grocer customer base.
• Cloverhill Bakery: Commercial wholesale bakery producing packaged cakes, pastries, and pies for retail and foodservice distribution. Comparable in B2B wholesale bakery model, packaged baked goods category, and grocery/foodservice channel mix.

Regional players

• Boudin Bakery: West Coast-based artisan bakery chain with both retail cafes and wholesale distribution of breads and baked goods. Comparable in commercial bakery operations and regional brand positioning; differs in geography (California) and retail/cafe mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/specialtouchbakery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-touch-bakery
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialtouchbakery
• Xx.com/SpecTouchBakery

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Special Touch Bakery