What Great Harvest Bread does

Great Harvest Bread Co. is a privately held, for-profit artisan bakery franchise operating in the United States. The company runs a direct-to-consumer retail bakery model, with four company-operated storefronts in Northern Virginia (Herndon as the flagship and production hub, plus Vienna, Burke, and Lorton as satellites that receive daily fresh-baked deliveries) and a fifth location scheduled to open in Pensacola, Florida in May 2026 as part of the Savoy Marketplace development. Products are made from scratch daily using whole wheat flour milled on-site from Montana wheat, with traditional long-fermentation recipes applied to breads, sourdoughs, specialty loaves, seasonal items, baked goods (cinnamon rolls, scones, cookies, bars, bread pudding), made-to-order sandwiches, and coffee/beverages.

The underlying "technology" is process-based rather than digital: proprietary on-site daily fresh milling of 100% whole grain flour, time-tested artisan recipes, and a hub-and-spoke production and distribution model in which Herndon produces and Vienna, Burke, and Lorton retail the output. There are no disclosed digital platforms, apps, APIs, or AI/ML systems; the business is community-led, relying on foot traffic, weekly local donations, farmers-market attendance, and word-of-mouth rather than digital marketing channels.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through point-of-sale retail transactions at owned storefronts; no pricing, subscription, wholesale, or contract revenue mechanics are disclosed. The primary customer segments are local community consumers seeking fresh, from-scratch baked goods and multi-generational families that have patronized the Herndon bakery for decades. The company has operated continuously for over 30 years, is unfunded by external institutional capital, and exhibits measured geographic growth into a single new market in Florida.

Name

Great Harvest Bread

Legal name

Great Harvest Bread Co.

Website

https://darngoodbread.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Great Harvest Bread Co. is a privately held artisan bakery franchise operating four retail storefronts in Northern Virginia with a fifth location opening in Pensacola, Florida in May 2026, serving local communities with daily fresh-milled whole wheat breads, baked goods, sandwiches, and seasonal specialties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Bakery

NAICS

Retail Bakeries (311811), Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Bakeries (Bread & Daily Bakery) (THAFAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAC), Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused) (AFAKAAAG)

Keywords

• Artisan bakery
• Fresh milled bread
• Whole wheat loaves
• Sourdough bread
• Bakery cafe

Headquarters

HQ city

Herndon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Bakery Sales: Direct retail sales of freshly baked bread, sourdough, sandwiches, pastries, cookies, scones, and seasonal specialties to walk-in customers at physical store locations.
2. Baked Goods & Specialty Products: Sale of goodies including cinnamon rolls, bread pudding, Savannah bars, scones, cookies, and seasonal items like Hot Cross Buns and Honey Bunnies.
3. Sandwich and Prepared Food: Made-to-order sandwiches, salads, and other prepared food items sold at retail locations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Great Harvest Bread operates neighborhood bakery storefronts that bake and sell made-from-scratch breads (daily-milled whole wheat loaves, sourdough, specialty and seasonal breads) along with baked goodies (cinnamon rolls, scones, cookies, bread pudding, bars), made-to-order sandwiches, and coffee/beverages. All bread is produced daily at company facilities using Montana wheat milled on-site and traditional long-fermentation recipes, and is sold directly to walk-in retail customers.

Product overview

Great Harvest Bread Co. is a bakery chain offering made-from-scratch breads and baked goods through multiple retail locations. The product portfolio includes freshly milled whole wheat breads (Honey Whole Wheat, Dakota, Multigrain Sourdough, Woodstock, Hi-5 Fiber), classic white and sourdough varieties (Old Fashioned White, Rustic Sourdough), specialty breads (Cheddar Garlic, Popeye, Challah, Extreme Cinnamon Swirl), seasonal breads (Irish Soda Bread, Hot Cross Buns, Honey Bunny), and sweets/goodies (Cinnamon Rolls, Scones, Cookies, Bread Pudding, Savannah Bars, Fruit Bars, Pumpkin Spice Loaf). The company operates four Virginia locations (Herndon, Vienna, Burke, Lorton) and has a new location opening in Pensacola, FL. All breads are made daily using freshly milled whole wheat flour and traditional baking methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Honey Whole Wheat Bread Hearty, nutty whole wheat bread naturally sweetened with honey, made with 100% whole wheat flour milled fresh daily at the Herndon bakery. Sold to walk-in retail customers at all four Virginia locations.
• Old Fashioned White Bread Traditional white bread loaf with soft, pillowy crumb and light golden crust, made with unbleached-unbromated white flour, honey, yeast, and salt. Sold to retail customers seeking a classic white sandwich loaf.
• Rustic Sourdough Bread Artisanal sourdough with balanced tang, open airy crumb, and bold golden crust, slow-fermented using traditional long-fermentation methods. Sold to retail customers seeking authentic, naturally leavened bread.
• Multigrain Sourdough Bread Grainy, seedy twist on classic sourdough with additional millet, oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, wheat bran, and oat bran. Sold to retail customers seeking a hearty, fiber-rich sourdough.
• Dakota Bread Grain bread packed with sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame seeds alongside toasted millet, providing a crunchy, hearty texture. Sold to retail customers seeking a seed-forward, hearty loaf.
• Cheddar Garlic Bread Flavorful bread combining cheddar cheese and garlic with chives, black pepper, and potato flakes. Sold to retail customers seeking a savory specialty loaf.
• Popeye Bread Nutritious bread made with spinach, roasted red peppers, provolone and parmesan cheeses, and roasted garlic. Sold to retail customers as a savory vegetable-and-cheese specialty loaf.
• Challah Bread Traditional Jewish bread with soft, tender texture from eggs, hand-braided in a classic long loaf and baked to golden finish. Sold to retail customers for Shabbat, holidays, and special occasions.
• Lightly Sweet Dinner Rolls Soft, pillowy dinner rolls crafted with a touch of golden honey for subtle natural sweetness. Sold to retail customers for dinners and gatherings.
• Extreme Cinnamon Swirl Bread Soft, fluffy bread with layers of sweet, aromatic cinnamon swirled throughout. Sold to retail customers seeking a sweet, breakfast-style loaf.
• Hi-5 Fiber Bread Highest fiber bread with 5 grams of fiber per slice, made with freshly ground whole wheat flour, honey, flax seeds, oat bran, millet, sunflower seeds, and wheat bran. Baked every Saturday and sold to retail customers seeking a high-fiber whole-grain loaf.
• Woodstock Bread 100% whole wheat bread packed with pecans, walnuts, sunflower, and flax seeds. Sold to retail customers seeking a hearty, nut-and-seed whole wheat loaf.
• Irish Soda Bread Traditional Irish bread with hard crust, dense texture, and hint of sour tang, made with baking soda and milk. Sold as a seasonal St. Patrick's Day offering.
• Hot Cross Buns Soft, lightly sweet rolls filled with warm spices and plump raisins, marked with a traditional cross. Sold as an Easter seasonal item.
• Honey Bunny Hand-shaped Easter bunny made from signature honey whole wheat dough, soft, wholesome, and slightly sweet. Sold as an Easter seasonal item.
• Cinnamon Rolls Classic cinnamon rolls the size of a hand, made with cinnamon, dough, and icing. Sold to retail customers as a signature bakery treat.
• Bread Pudding Warm dessert often made with seasonal breads, featuring rich, indulgent flavor. Sold to retail customers as a signature bakery dessert.
• Savannah Bar Fresh fruit bar combining the flavors of southern indulgence. Sold to retail customers as a signature bakery bar.
• Oat Crunch Bar Snack bar with hearty oats and a satisfying crunch for on-the-go energy. Sold to retail customers as a grab-and-go bakery item.
• Fruit and Cream Bars Bars featuring butter, baker's choice fruit, and cream cheese icing. Sold to retail customers as a sweet bakery bar.
• Cinnamon Chip Scones Tender, buttery scones with sweet cinnamon chips that melt during baking. Sold to retail customers as a signature scone variety.
• Blueberry Cream Cheese Scone Scone combining plump blueberries and velvety cream cheese in a tender, flaky pastry. Sold to retail customers as a signature scone variety.
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Classic cookies with golden brown, chewy texture and rich raisins, available in jumbo or regular size. Sold to retail customers as a signature cookie variety.
• Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate chip cookies with golden brown, chewy texture and rich, gooey chocolate chips, available in jumbo or regular size. Sold to retail customers as a signature cookie variety.
• Salted Caramel Cookies Best-selling cookie combining sweet caramel bits with a touch of sea salt in a chewy, golden bite. Sold as a seasonal offering.
• Blarney Scones Mint chocolate chip scones made annually around St. Patrick's Day and for Celtic festivals. Sold as a seasonal offering.
• Red, White, and Blue Scone Patriotic scone with blueberries, sweet raspberries, and cream cheese in a buttery base. Sold as a seasonal offering.
• Pumpkin Spice Loaf Moist loaf with rich pumpkin and warm spices, available with or without chocolate chips on Thursdays. Sold as a seasonal fall offering.
• Made-to-Order Sandwiches Great-tasting sandwiches made to order with freshly baked bread and simple ingredients at retail bakery locations. Sold to walk-in customers seeking a quick, fresh lunch.
• Coffee and Beverages Coffee, espresso, and smoothies available at bakery locations such as Lorton, supporting on-premise consumption. Sold to retail customers in-store.
• Great Harvest Bakery and Cafe (Savoy Marketplace, Pensacola) Bakery and cafe location in Pensacola's Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood opening May 2026, offering from-scratch bread with Montana wheat milled on-site, sandwiches, salads, and pastries within the Savoy Marketplace development.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Savoy MarketplacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Great Harvest bakery will anchor the Savoy Marketplace development in Pensacola's Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood as part of Rishy Studer's larger mixed-use project. The development aims to contribute to the revitalization of the historically Black neighborhood, envisioned as a downtown destination. The adjacent Savoy Marketplace will feature various vendors including a gelato shop, farm stand, wine bar and yoga studio.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Auntie Anne's: Franchise retail bakery chain with thousands of global locations specializing in pretzels and baked snacks. Comparable franchise-driven retail bakery model in malls and high-traffic venues, though different product category.
• Paris Baguette: International bakery-cafe franchise with hundreds of US locations selling artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches, and coffee. Comparable retail bakery-cafe model with fresh-bake positioning and franchise growth strategy.
• Corner Bakery Cafe: US bakery-cafe chain offering fresh-baked breads, sandwiches, salads, and pastries. Directly comparable product mix and dine-in retail bakery model, though at broader scale.
• Nothing Bundt Cakes: Franchise-based retail bakery chain specializing in bundt cakes with hundreds of US locations. Comparable franchise-driven retail bakery expansion model, though narrower product focus on cakes.
• Kneaders Bakery & Cafe: Regional bakery-cafe chain with multiple US locations offering artisan breads, sandwiches, soups, and pastries. Closely aligned product portfolio and freshly-baked retail format, with comparable community-driven positioning.
• Panera Bread: Largest US bakery-cafe chain with thousands of locations offering freshly baked bread, sandwiches, and soups. Directly comparable category (retail bakery-cafe) but vastly larger scale, broader menu, and national digital infrastructure.

Direct peers

• La Brea Bakery: Artisan bread bakery with retail locations and wholesale distribution to restaurants and grocery. Directly comparable artisan bread positioning, though scaled more toward foodservice and grocery channels.
• Boudin Bakery: San Francisco-based retail/wholesale artisan bakery famous for sourdough breads, with both storefronts and grocery distribution. Closely comparable fresh-bake artisan bread retail model with wholesale channel extension.
• Great Harvest Bread Company (Corporate): The franchisor of the Great Harvest Bread Company brand with which this regional operator is affiliated. Most direct comparable as it operates the same brand, product line, and franchise model nationwide.

Regional players

• Whole Foods Market Bakery: In-store artisan bakery departments within Whole Foods grocery stores offering fresh-baked breads, pastries, and sweets. Comparable fresh-bake artisan offering competing for the same health-conscious customer, though embedded in a broader grocery retail model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BurkeGreatHarvest
• Xx.com/darngoodbread

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Great Harvest Bread