Bridge Bread
Bridge Bread Bakery is a St. Louis nonprofit social enterprise bakery that employs people experiencing homelessness as artisan bakers, providing restorative employment, housing incentives, and wraparound support alongside hand-crafted breads, bagels, and pastries sold across retail, grocery, church, and catering channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bridge Bread does
Bridge Bread Bakery is a St. Louis-based nonprofit social enterprise bakery founded in 2011 by Fred and Sharon Domke as a Federal 501(c)(3) organization. The company employs people experiencing homelessness as bakers, pairing restorative employment with a housing incentive program (move-in support up to $1,500, monthly rental subsidies up to $375 in months 2–6 and $300 ongoing) and wraparound services including case management, dental and health referrals, and transportation support. Approximately two-thirds of bakers who have worked at Bridge Bread remain housed and employed long-term, and as of 2024 all current bakers are housed.
The core product portfolio spans hand-crafted artisan baked goods: sourdough loaves (White, Wheat, Everything), brioche loaves, sliced sandwich loaves, dinner rolls, classic and Awesome Cinnamon Rolls, hand-made kettle-boiled New York-style bagels (trained by Master Baker Abby Schwent), creme and Gooey Butter cakes, brownies, artisan cookies, scones, Danish and turnovers, donuts, and a specialty item called Day-Nuts. Technical differentiators include a proprietary natural plant enzyme formulation for the Awesome Roll line (extending shelf life without artificial additives) and moisture-barrier packaging that allows products to be frozen and thawed without quality degradation. All products are made without high-fructose corn syrup or nuts. The company operates three retail points (Cherokee Street pickup, Bridge Bread – The Loop at 616 N. Skinker Blvd, and Soulard Farmers Market), distributes through 14 Schnucks supermarket locations and 45+ St. Louis-area church consignment partners, runs a wholesale business to restaurants and commercial accounts, and offers corporate catering and $1,200 team-building Baking Day events.
The revenue model is a hybrid of commercial product sales (the majority of revenue, covering baker wages, ingredients, and packaging) and tax-deductible charitable donations and grants (covering administrative staff, utilities, building costs, insurance, and the housing incentive). Bridge Bread receives no government funding. Catering pricing runs from $21 to $48 per tray, retail bagels are $6 for a four-pack, and the team-building Baking Day event is $1,200 for 12 participants. 2024 net income was $30,694 on a 9% sales decline caused by loss of several commercial accounts; kitchen productivity improved from $24 to $37 per labor hour over the same year.
Bridge Bread firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bridge Bread
- Legal name
- Bridge Bread Bakery
- Website
- https://bridgebread.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Bridge Bread Bakery is a St. Louis nonprofit social enterprise bakery that employs people experiencing homelessness as artisan bakers, providing restorative employment, housing incentives, and wraparound support alongside hand-crafted breads, bagels, and pastries sold across retail, grocery, church, and catering channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bridge Bread industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisan Bakery
- NAICS
- Retail Bakeries (311811), Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181), Baked Goods Retailers (445291), Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing (3118)
- SIC
- Bakery Products (2050), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail Bakeries (Bread & Daily Bakery) (THAFAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAC), Bread & Rolls Wholesale (AFAIAFAA), Cafe-Bakeries (Bakery + Coffee/Foodservice) (THAFAFAG)
Keywords
Where Bridge Bread is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Bridge Bread business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Baked Goods): The majority of Bridge Bread revenue comes from selling baked goods — breads, bagels, cinnamon rolls, cookies, brownies, scones, pastries, donuts, and specialty items — through retail, wholesale, catering, online orders, and consignment church sales. This revenue covers baker wages, ingredients, packaging, and a portion of mortgage/utilities.
- Donations and Grants: Donations fund operations including administrative staff salaries (Operations Manager, Director of Development), utilities, building repair, mortgage, insurance, and the Baker's Housing Incentive. Bridge Bread receives no government funding. Donations are tax-deductible via Federal 501(c)(3) status. The organization raised $75,000 at its inaugural 2023 Gala.
- Catering and Events: Catering orders for corporate offices, churches, and conferences generate revenue. Team-building Baking Day events at $1,200 per session (12 people) and Bridge Bread Day group orders also contribute.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catering Sweet Roll Trays |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catering Cookie Trays |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catering Brownie, Scone, Pastry, and Day-Nut Trays |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catering Bagel, Donut, and Other Items |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retail Bagels |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Donation Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bridge Bread Baking Day Team Event |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale Delivery Minimums |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels12 records
Bridge Bread product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bridge Bread Bakery is a non-profit social enterprise that produces and sells hand-made artisan baked goods through retail, wholesale, catering, online ordering, church consignment, and grocery distribution channels. The organization directly employs people experiencing homelessness as bakers and operates a comprehensive housing incentive program covering move-in costs and ongoing rental subsidies for employed bakers.
Product overview
Bridge Bread is a non-profit social enterprise bakery that provides a diverse portfolio of artisanal baked goods alongside a restorative employment program for individuals experiencing homelessness. The core product portfolio includes hand-crafted breads (sourdough, brioche, sandwich loaves, and dinner rolls), sweet rolls (classic cinnamon rolls and enzyme-enhanced Awesome Rolls in multiple flavors), cakes (creme cakes and Gooey Butter cakes), hand-made kettle-boiled bagels (in five varieties), cookies, brownies, scones, pastries (danish and turnovers), donuts, and DAY-Nuts (fried danish with glaze). Products are made with simple, wholesome ingredients including unbleached flour, fresh milk, eggs, butter, and kosher salt, with no high-fructose corn syrup and no nut products. The company operates as both a commercial bakery generating revenue for baker wages and a charitable organization funded by donations to cover administrative costs, utilities, and housing incentives. The business model integrates product sales with social impact through its unique housing incentive program that provides move-in expenses and rental subsidies to employed bakers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sourdough Loaves Hand-formed sourdough bread loaves in White, Wheat, and Everything varieties, sold through retail, wholesale, catering, online orders, and church consignment.
- Brioche Loaves Rich, buttery bread loaves available in Light Brioche, Garlic Herb, and Big Braided varieties.
- Apple Cinnamon Loaf Sweet bread loaf with apple and cinnamon flavors, sold as a standalone retail item.
- Sliced Sandwich Loaves Pre-sliced sandwich breads available in White, Wheat, Artisan Grain & Seeds, and Sourdough varieties, formulated with the proprietary natural plant enzyme system.
- Bakery Rolls Assorted dinner rolls including Brioche, Hotel White, Hotel Wheat, and Hotel Garlic Herb varieties.
- Classic Brioche Cinnamon Rolls Traditional cinnamon rolls made with brioche dough and topped with buttercream icing.
- Awesome Rolls (Cinnamon, Cinnamon Apple, Cherry Pie, Cranberry Orange) Premium cinnamon rolls made with proprietary natural plant enzymes for enhanced texture, sweetness, and extended freshness. Available in Cinnamon, Cinnamon Apple, Cherry Pie, and Cranberry Orange varieties.
- Creme Cakes and Gooey Butter Cakes Cake offerings including Chocolate Creme Cake, White Creme Cake, and 8oz and 24oz Gooey Butter Cakes.
- Classic Artisan Bagels Hand-made New York style kettle-boiled bagels crafted from scratch using traditional hand mixing, kneading, rising, boiling, egg washing, and baking. Available in Classic, Cinnamon, Everything, Blueberry, and Pretzel varieties.
- Brownies and Pan Brownies Brownies made from a 1950s recipe using butter rather than oil, without frosting or nuts.
- Artisan Cookies Hand-crafted cookies sold in trays of 24 individually wrapped cookies. Available in Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Chip, Gooey Butter, Oatmeal Raisin, and Sugar varieties.
- Scones Slightly sweet scones available in Chocolate Chip, Apple, and Blueberry (with buttercream icing) varieties.
- Danish and Turnovers Flaky pastries including Apple Danish, Cheese Danish, Strawberry Danish, Apple Turnovers, and Cherry Turnovers.
- Donuts Cake donuts with Vanilla, Chocolate, or Glaze with Cinnamon Sugar toppings, and yeast-raised donuts including glazed rings and iced long johns.
- DAY-Nuts Flaky danishes fried like donuts and topped with a generous amount of glaze.
- Bakery Catering Services Catering service for churches, offices, and conferences providing assorted baked goods in tray quantities including sweet roll trays ($36–$42), cookie trays ($42), brownie trays ($48), scone trays ($21), pastry trays ($24), DAY-Nut trays ($27), bagel dozens ($27), and donut dozens ($15). Subject to 15% delivery fee.
- Bridge Bread Baking Day Team-Building Event Corporate team-building experience conducted at the bakery facility in which 12 participants (3 teams of 4) make approximately 60 loaves in about 4 hours for $1,200 per session, including instructor and all materials. Participants take home 60 loaves total.
- Restorative Employment Program Bake shop employment and housing assistance program for people without safe and stable housing, offering job skills training, case management, wraparound services, and a comprehensive housing incentive program covering move-in costs and ongoing rental subsidies.
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately two-thirds of Bridge Bread bakers who have ever worked there remain housed and employed long-term.
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Bridge Bread
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bridge Bread technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Bridge Bread partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Delmar PropertiescorePartnership with Delmar Properties to secure housing for Bridge Bread bakers. Through this partnership, three previously unhoused bakers were housed in 2024. Delmar Properties provides the housing units while Bridge Bread provides the employment and rental subsidy support.
- AB MauriflagshipAB Mauri is a presenting sponsor of the Bread & Butter Gala and has partnered with Bridge Bread since at least 2018. Naomi Lopez from AB Mauri joined the Bridge Bread board in 2024. AB Mauri has also partnered with Chase Park Plaza Hotel on homelessness initiatives.
- Washington University in St. LouiscoreWashington University signed a Letter of Intent to lease property in the Delmar Loop to Bridge Bread for the new artisan bakery location (Bridge Bread – The Loop at 616 N. Skinker Blvd). WashU also provides shuttle transportation options to the Delmar Loop area.
- Chase Park Plaza Hotel / Royal SonestaflagshipChase Park Plaza Hotel (Royal Sonesta) hosts the annual Bread & Butter Gala in the Starlight Room. The hotel's marquee is used for sponsor recognition. Partnership dates back to at least 2018 with AB Mauri for homelessness initiatives.
- SchnuckscoreBridge Bread products are distributed through 14 Schnucks supermarket locations across the St. Louis metro area (expanded from 10 in 2024). Schnucks provides retail shelf space and distribution infrastructure.
- The Gathering UMCcoreThe Gathering UMC is a consignment sales partner at their McCausland location and is a key sponsor of the Bread & Butter Gala (Hope United Church of Christ). Lead Pastor Matt Miofsky delivered the keynote at the 2024 Gala.
- Cregger Family DentistryminorCregger Family Dentistry provides restorative and preventative dental care for Bridge Bread bakers as part of the wraparound support services, contributing to the holistic health of employees.
- Wayne Crull / Gateway to FlourishingminorStrengthened relationship with Wayne Crull and Gateway to Flourishing in 2024, providing additional support resources for the Bridge Bread community.
- Manchester UMCflagshipManchester United Methodist Church has been a Bridge Bread partner for 13+ years. The church significantly increased Bridge Bread purchases in 2024, exceeding $20,000 in product orders. The church also hosts Bridge Bread Day events and bakery tours.
- Soulard Farmers MarketcoreBridge Bread sells products inside the Soulard Farmers Market Grand Hall (730 Carroll St), Wednesday through Saturday 8am–4pm year-round, as a key retail channel for walk-in customers.
- Peter and Paul Community ServicescorePeter and Paul Community Services is one of the intake facilities where individuals experiencing homelessness can be referred to Bridge Bread's baker employment program. Candidates without a caseworker are directed to intake facilities like this one.
- St. Patrick CentercoreSt. Patrick Center is an intake facility serving individuals experiencing homelessness, and one of the referral sources for candidates to become Bridge Bread bakers. Candidates should be assessed by a caseworker at agencies like this one.
- First Alert 4 (KSDK)coreSteve Harris from First Alert 4 served as auctioneer at the 2024 Bread & Butter Gala. Steve Harris will serve as emcee at the 2025 Gala. First Alert 4 provides media coverage of Bridge Bread's mission.
- SJC ApartmentsminorSJC Apartments facilitates acceptance for housing through a relationship with Bridge Bread, helping bakers transition from homelessness to stable housing.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bridge Bread competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bridge Bread social profiles
Digital presenceBridge Bread financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bridge Bread leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Bridge Bread funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bridge Bread 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 Bridge Bread
What does Bridge Bread do?
Bridge Bread Bakery is a non-profit social enterprise that produces and sells hand-made artisan baked goods through retail, wholesale, catering, online ordering, church consignment, and grocery distribution channels. The organization directly employs people experiencing homelessness as bakers and operates a comprehensive housing incentive program covering move-in costs and ongoing rental subsidies for employed bakers.
Is Bridge Bread a public or private company?
Bridge Bread is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bridge Bread founded?
Bridge Bread was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bridge Bread based?
Bridge Bread is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bridge Bread make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (Baked Goods) is the primary driver. The others are donations and Grants and catering and Events.
Does Bridge Bread have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bridge Bread.
What industry is Bridge Bread in?
Bridge Bread's product category is Artisan Bakery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAFAA, Retail Bakeries (Bread & Daily Bakery), with a secondary code of CRAHAGAC, Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores. Its NAICS code is 311811 and its SIC code is 2050.