Schwebel's Bakery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bakery, Food manufacturing |
| Founded | 1906 in Campbell, Ohio, United States |
| Founder | Joseph Schwebel, Dora Schwebel |
| Headquarters | Youngstown , United States |
Area served | Regional (Ohio, Pennsylvania) |
| Products | Bread and baked products |
Number of employees | Approximately 1000 (as of 2019) |
Schwebel's Bakery is a regional manufacturer of bread and baked products, founded in Youngstown, Ohio during the early 1900s.
History
Joseph and Dora Schwebel launched the Schwebel's brand by baking bread in their home kitchen located in Campbell, Ohio in 1906. They quickly expanded their sales efforts to the nearby city of Youngstown, officially establishing Schwebel's Bakery. By 1914, the founders entered the retail market through collaborations with local family-owned stores, creating more lucrative sales opportunities. To accommodate growing demand, they hired additional bakers and extended their distribution area beyond Youngstown, initially relying on horse-drawn wagons.
In 1923, Schwebel's purchased its first fleet of six trucks and invested $25,000 to construct a modest bakery facility with an attached retail space. At this point, daily production reached 1,000 loaves. Despite these advancements, the company encountered difficulties during the late 1920s and into the 1930s.
Crisis and renewal
Following the sudden passing of Joseph Schwebel in 1928 at age 46, Dora assumed full responsibility for managing the business and raising their six children alone. Despite doubts regarding female leadership in the bakery sector, Dora maintained control and guided the company through the economic turmoil of the 1929 stock market crash.
Committed to preserving operations amid the Great Depression, Dora secured critical agreements that ensured the company's survival. In 1936, she oversaw construction of a new bakery that doubled production capabilities and improved operational efficiency, with additional expansions completed in 1938 and 1941.
Demand increased significantly by the late 1940s as returning World War II veterans and the baby boom generation drove consumer needs upward.
1950s and 60s
In 1951, Dora and her children relocated to a new facility on Midlothian Boulevard in Youngstown, outfitted with modern baking equipment that enhanced production efficiency.
The 1960s introduced involvement from the third generation of the family, who contributed innovative approaches that accelerated growth beyond Youngstown. By 1967, Schwebel's Golden Rich Bread achieved nationwide recognition, supported by a licensing program that expanded across the United States.
Expansion
During the late 1970s, Schwebel's broadened its distribution reach to become a significant presence in Cleveland, Canton, and Pittsburgh markets. The company also implemented automation on its bread and bun production lines during a major bakery expansion that doubled output capacity.
The period spanning the 1980s and 1990s was characterized by exceptional growth driven by strategic acquisitions. Schwebel's established distribution centers in Columbus and Buffalo while securing baking contracts with Stouffer Corporation, Pillsbury Company, and Disney’s Epcot theme park.
Closures
In 2013, Schwebel’s ceased operations at its Cuyahoga Falls facility, transferring some production to Solon. Between late 2018 and early 2019, outlet stores located in Austintown, Warren, and Meadville were closed. In March 2019, the company announced plans to shut down its Solon bakery in May, resulting in the elimination of 204 positions and reducing total staff to approximately one thousand employees.