MILWUAKIE, ORE. — Dave’s Killer Bread has unveiled plans to distribute its bread products across the United States, up from the 25 states it currently serves. The maker of U.S.D.A. organic and Non-GMO Project Verified bread previously only sold its products in Western states, but distribution will expand into Midwest and Southeastern states by this winter, the company said.
Dave’s Killer Bread offers a line of hand-crafted/seed-encrusted bread containing protein, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber from seeds and organic ingredients such as amaranth, barley, spelt, blue cornmeal, quinoa and pumpkin. According to the company, an average slice has up to 5 grams of protein, as much as an egg. Dave’s Killer Bread’s Thin-Sliced varieties have the same nutrition as the brand’s regular deli slices, with as few as 60 calories, the company said. Signature products include 21 Whole Grains and Seeds, Good Seed, Blues Bread and its growing family of Thin-Sliced bread.
“From day one, we’ve taken risks and done things differently that today are really disrupting the bread industry,” said John Tucker, chief executive officer of Dave’s Killer Bread. “We power pack our breads with distinct taste and texture, seeding our breads all the way around and all the way through. It’s not easy, but it’s the ‘DKB way.’ In fact, we’ve been ahead of the curve in trends — we’ve always been G.M.O.-free, have always baked using only organic ingredients, and have a deep understanding of the importance of using quality ingredients you can pronounce. Today, knowing that people from Canada to the Carolinas enjoy our bread, we’re even more inspired to never settle until we’ve ‘killed it’ in everything we do.”
Mr. Tucker first outlined the company’s national ambitions earlier this summer in an interview with Baking & Snack, saying Dave’s Killer Bread was partners with two co-manufacturers but was looking to possibly link up with others in an effort to take its regional brand to a national level. He noted at that time that the company was keeping its options open and may explore building a bakery to better serve the eastern half of the nation.
“The key to expansion from an operations standpoint is finding good co-manufacturers with a willingness to deliver the quality of products that we produce in our facility,” Mr. Tucker explained.
He indicated that because the nutritionally power-packed loaves sell for about $5 a loaf, going national does not mean the brand will blanket the country or be sold in every retailer or every market.
Rather, Mr. Tucker noted the company would be analyzing consumer trends and compiling demographic, household consumption and supermarket scanning data to highlight opportunities and identify what he called “white spaces” in the market.
Dave’s Killer Bread is available at most major retailers, including Kroger, Ralph’s, Safeway, Von’s and Whole Foods, as well as in club at Costco and on-line at Amazon.