Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe

Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Bakery
Founded	1957
Founder	Lloyd Martin and Lois Martin
Headquarters	Chambersburg , United States
Area served	Global
Key people	Tony Martin (President), Jim Martin (former President)
Products	Potato rolls, bakery products

Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. is a privately held bakery operated by a family and based in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Their renowned potato roll has earned acclaim from prominent culinary figures such as Danny Meyer and David Chang, becoming widely recognized as a top-tier choice for hamburger and sandwich buns.

History

The origins of the company trace back to the 1950s when Lloyd Martin, together with his wife Lois, began producing potato rolls from their home in Chambersburg, distributing them to nearby shops and markets. After officially incorporating in 1957, the business evolved into Martin's Family Restaurant by 1967, merging restaurant services with bakery production. By 1978, growing demand exceeded the restaurant’s capacity, leading to a move to a more spacious facility located on Potato Roll Lane.

The selection of Martin’s potato rolls by Chef Danny Meyer for Shake Shack in 2004 greatly enhanced the company’s visibility and expanded its global market reach. Confronted with rising competition in the restaurant sector, then-president Jim Martin shifted focus toward concentrating on core bakery products and expanding grocery store distribution.

In 2007, construction commenced on a new 220,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Valdosta, Georgia, with plans for an additional 170,000-square-foot expansion; production operations started by late 2008.

A visitor center named the "Golden Roll," highlighting the company’s history and heritage, was inaugurated near Chambersburg in 2012.

Leadership changed hands in July 2021 when Jim Martin handed over the presidency to his son Tony Martin. Jim continues to play an active role in strategic decision-making alongside other family members holding senior positions.

Controversy

In 2022, disclosures from campaign finance records revealed that the Martin family had donated more than $125,000 to Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, including a $110,000 contribution from Jim Martin in 2021—exceeding twice the amount contributed by any other donor. This revelation triggered calls from customers for a boycott due to Mastriano's positions on former President Donald Trump, his rejection of the 2020 presidential election outcome, advocacy for a complete abortion ban, and opposition to LGBT rights.

Chef and food author J. Kenji Lopez-Alt publicly announced he would no longer use products from Martin's and discouraged patronage of businesses that continued to do so. Philadelphia-based chain Federal Donuts switched its potato roll supplier from Martin's to Baltimore’s Schmidt Baking Company. Meanwhile, Shake Shack maintained its partnership with Martin's but clarified that the donations did not represent Shake Shack’s values and pledged to maintain dialogue with the bakery.

Martin's responded by stating that these contributions were personal choices made by individual family members and reaffirmed their dedication to delivering high-quality products, exceptional customer service, and supporting their community.

See also

• List of bakeries