Angelic Bakehouse

Angelic Bakehouse
3275 E. Layton Ave., Cudahy
www.angelicbakehouse.com
Year founded: 1969 (purchased by Marinos in 2009)
Product or service offered: A full line of non-GMO, sprouted baked goods. Our goal is to bake the highest quality sliced breads, buns, rolls, wraps, pizza crusts and specialty items that are nutritionally superior, but never sacrifice the taste and pure enjoyment of daily bread.
Leadership team: Jenny Marino, owner, president and CEO; James Marino, owner and COO
Projected 2015 revenue: $10 million
Target clientele: Health-conscious moms and families, households that are focused on nutrition, wellness and fitness, and anyone who wants to know where their food comes from and what is in it. 
Business organization memberships: International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association, FaB Wisconsin, MMAC, Specialty Food Association
What has fueled your company’s growth?
“Our growth has really been twofold. The first piece is that we took a little known company making a great product in the Milwaukee area for almost 40 years, and gave it a major facelift. Re-branding, upgrading ingredient quality, infusing marketing dollars and making key hires have allowed us to grow exponentially in the past six years. Second, the market for what we do is exploding. The consumer’s demand for pure, all-natural, real food with transparent ingredients, in addition to the ever-growing non-GMO and organic movements, continue to fuel our growth.”
What is the biggest obstacle to your company’s growth?
“Our biggest obstacle has been and continues to be capital. We have purposely chosen to grow organically without accepting outside investments that could rapidly accelerate our growth.”
Do you plan to make any changes to your company?
“With the addition of several new branded and private label accounts, we continue to expand our lines and production facilities. Adding new equipment and personnel seems to be the norm these days. On the sales and marketing side, we continue to strive to bring the Angelic brand to all, and will launch a new website this fall. We are now a certified organic plant and are in the process of becoming Non-GMO Project verified as well.”
Who are the business people you admire?
“I have said it before and will say it again: We have always admired entrepreneurs. Hard-working, never say can’t, risk-taking innovators who put faith and will into everything they do.”
What is the outlook for your industry?
“The natural food industry in America continues to explode and is not stopping or going away any time soon. Consumers today are smarter than ever, and demand quality, purity and transparency.”
What is your company’s most important growth strategy?
“Sales, sales, sales…continuing to build a team, and a model that can take us to the next level in all channels: branded, food service and private label. Being deliberate about our partnerships and no longer feeling the need to say yes to every opportunity.”