When Pigs Fly Bakery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bakery |
| Founded | March 1993 |
| Founder | Ron Siegel |
| Headquarters | York , United States |
Area served | New England, New York, New Jersey |
Key people | Grant Broom (CEO), James Broom (President) |
| Products | Bread (approx. 25 varieties) |
Number of employees | 80 (2017) |
| Website | whenpigsflybakery |
When Pigs Fly Bakery is a U.S.-based bread producer located in York, Maine. The company manufactures approximately 25 different types of bread, which are sold through grocery stores and its own outlets throughout the New England area. Established in 1993 by Ron Siegel, who ran the business alongside his brother Andrew for nearly three decades, leadership transitioned in 2021 to siblings Grant and James Broom, serving as CEO and president respectively.
History
The inception of When Pigs Fly Bakery occurred in March 1993 in Wells, Maine, founded by Ron Siegel, a former restaurateur. Observing an unmet demand within the local market, Siegel chose the name based on the expression "when pigs fly," inspired by a poster belonging to his daughter and family doubts about his potential success in baking. With a $5,000 loan from his father to purchase a dough mixer, Siegel dedicated extensive hours to bake 83 loaves on the bakery’s first day.
In 1994, Ron’s brother Andrew relocated from California to oversee the operational side of the business while Ron concentrated on baking. The brothers frequently endured shifts lasting over 24 hours as they managed production and deliveries themselves. By late that year, they hired their first employee. Initially, Ron utilized his 1987 Toyota pickup truck for bread deliveries; by 2004, their delivery fleet had grown to include 11 trucks.
By 2017, operations moved into a new 25,000-square-foot facility situated in York, Maine, where the bakery produced 12,000 loaves daily with a workforce of 80 employees. In 2021, the Siegel brothers stepped away from day-to-day management responsibilities, handing over leadership to Grant and James Broom—brothers from New London, New Hampshire who had long admired When Pigs Fly—appointed as CEO and president. The Siegels retained ownership of the company. Andrew Siegel remarked on the meaningful shift to another brother-led team of similar age to theirs when they founded the bakery.
Products and distribution
When Pigs Fly Bakery produces roughly 25 varieties of bread, including distinctive flavors such as chocolate, lemonade, spinach ciabatta, and tomato. Their breads are available in supermarkets throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey, along with online sales channels. As of October 2023, more than 500 retail locations stock When Pigs Fly products, including prominent chains like Costco, Hannaford, Market Basket, Shaw's, and Whole Foods Market. The company also runs four storefronts within the Greater Boston region, plus additional shops in Newburyport, Massachusetts, as well as Kittery and Portland, Maine. Notably, the Kittery store includes a restaurant that specializes in pizza.