Retail Bakers Month – Jan. 1, 2027

Retail Bakers Month
Categories:
Tags:
AppreciationCareers
Where:
United States
Date change rule:
Every January
Holiday emoji:
🍞

Retail Bakers Month celebrates the dedicated professionals who craft and sell delicious baked goods directly to customers throughout January. Take this opportunity to visit your local bakery, try a new treat, and appreciate the artistry behind every loaf and pastry. Support these community pillars and their passion for baking!

Want to sponsor Retail Bakers Month? Learn how

Expected Retail Bakers Month Deals

Throughout Retail Bakers Month, expect local bakeries to offer special promotions, new seasonal items, and loyalty rewards. Many small businesses, like Great Harvest Bread Co. or Panera Bread, might highlight their artisan methods. Look for independent bakeries to host tasting events or offer discounts on bulk orders for office events. Major baking ingredient brands such as King Arthur Baking Company or Fleischmann’s Yeast may partner with local shops for co-promotions or recipe contests. Keep an eye on your favorite neighborhood spots for unique monthly specials and ways to celebrate their craft. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as January approaches.

Platform Guide for Retail Bakers Month

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #RetailBakersMonth. Share mouth-watering photos and videos of your favorite bakery treats, showcasing the skilled work of local bakers.

LinkedIn

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #RetailBakersMonth. Share insights into the retail baking industry, highlight successful local bakeries, or discuss career opportunities.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #RetailBakersMonth. Create a community post asking followers to share their favorite local bakeries and what makes them special.

Social Media Tips for Retail Bakers Month

Individuals

Make it a goal to visit a different local bakery each week of January. Try new pastries, breads, or cakes and share your discoveries with friends and family.

Creators

Film a 'day in the life' video with a local retail baker, showcasing the early mornings, the craft, and the passion that goes into their daily work. Highlight their signature items.

Brands

Run a 'Support Your Local Bakery' campaign. Partner with several local bakeries to offer special discounts or host a giveaway featuring their products, driving traffic to their stores.

Partners & Brands for Retail Bakers Month

  1. Retail Bakers of America (RBA)

    Founded in 1918, the RBA is a national non-profit trade association dedicated to the success of the retail baking industry. It provides education, networking, and resources to retail bakeries across the US.

  2. King Arthur Baking Company

    America's oldest flour company, established in 1790, King Arthur Baking Company is a leader in baking ingredients, tools, and education. They support both home and professional bakers with high-quality products and resources.

  3. Dawn Foods

    A global leader in bakery ingredients and solutions, Dawn Foods has been serving the baking industry since 1920. They provide a wide range of mixes, bases, fillings, and glazes to retail and commercial bakeries worldwide.

  4. BakeMark

    BakeMark is a leading manufacturer and distributor of bakery ingredients, products, and supplies. With a history spanning over 100 years, they serve independent bakeries, foodservice operators, and grocery stores across North America.

  5. Cargill

    A global food and agriculture corporation, Cargill provides essential ingredients like flour, oils, and sweeteners to the baking industry. They work with bakeries to develop innovative and sustainable solutions.

  6. Rich Products Corporation

    Founded in 1945, Rich Products is a family-owned food company known for its non-dairy whipped toppings and frozen bakery products. They offer a wide array of solutions for foodservice and retail bakeries.

  7. American Bakers Association (ABA)

    The ABA is the national voice of the wholesale baking industry. While primarily focused on commercial baking, their advocacy and industry insights often benefit the broader baking community, including retail segments.

Retail Bakers Month Hero

Charles Fleischmann

Charles Fleischmann (1835-1897) was a Hungarian-American businessman who revolutionized baking in the United States. In 1868, he introduced compressed yeast to America, making consistent, high-quality bread baking accessible to both commercial and retail bakers. His company, Fleischmann's Yeast, became a household name and significantly contributed to the growth and professionalization of the baking industry.

History of Retail Bakers Month

Baking has been around for a large part of human history. The oldest ovens known to us were found in Croatia in 2014, and are thought to be about 6,500 years old. The first time yeast was used as a leavening agent was as far back as 2600 B.C. in Ancient Egypt. One of the first known baker’s guilds was founded in 168 B.C. in Ancient Rome. The Pistorum, as it was called, recognized bakers as skilled artisans. Bakers even had a patron goddess known as Fornax, the oven goddess.

Baking in the Middle Ages was largely reserved as a service of the wealthy. The ability to bake bread with refined flour was a source of social mobility. The poor could only afford bread made from grains like rye. After the European colonization of the world began, the influx of new spices into the Western world transformed the practice of baking. Future economic growth in the 16th and 17th centuries led to the inculcation of decedent forms of dairy in baked goods, along with an increased ability to access baking ingredients for the general population. The Industrial Revolution made baking even more accessible to more people through technological advancements. By 1747, the semi-closed oven had been invented and “The Art of Cookery” was published. These made baking tools and ideas more accessible to the average person. The invention of baking powder made it easier to make the fluffy cakes we know and love today.

Today, baking is both a hobby for budding bakers and a source of livelihood for bakers across the world. Retail Bakers Month is celebrated to support their hard work and the love they put into their craft, especially the small-time bakeries that provide everyone with delicious breads and pastries every day at any time.

Retail Bakers Month timeline

6,500 years ago
The First Ovens

The first-known ovens are used in Croatia.

2,600 B.C.
Yeast

Yeast is used as a leavening agent in Ancient Egypt.

168 B.C.
The Pistorum

The Pistorum, Rome’s bakers' guild, is formed.

1747
“The Art of Cookery”

“The Art of Cookery” is published.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Retail Bakers Month

Local businesses, particularly cafes, grocery stores, and restaurants, can actively participate in Retail Bakers Month. Consider partnering with a local bakery to feature their specialty breads or pastries on your menu, giving them a special shout-out. Run a ‘Baker of the Week’ social media series, highlighting the stories and creations of different local artisans. Offer a small discount to customers who show a receipt from a local bakery, encouraging community support for these vital small businesses. Bakeries themselves can host open house events, offer baking classes, or create limited-edition items to draw in new customers.

Retail Bakers Month FAQs

When is Retail Bakers Month?

In 2027, Retail Bakers Month will again be observed for the entire month of January, providing ample opportunity to support and appreciate the artisans in your community.

How many retail bakeries are in the U.S.?

The retail baking sector continues to be a vibrant part of the food industry, with thousands of independent and small-chain bakeries serving communities nationwide. This includes a growing number of specialized bakeries catering to diverse dietary needs.

What is the difference between a retail and commercial bakery?

The primary distinction lies in their business model: retail bakeries are direct-to-consumer, emphasizing a personalized experience and often custom orders, whereas commercial bakeries operate on a wholesale model, prioritizing volume and efficiency for broader market supply.

What types of products do retail bakeries sell?

Beyond traditional offerings, many retail bakeries now specialize in gluten-free, vegan, or other dietary-specific options, alongside artisanal sourdoughs, international pastries, and unique seasonal creations that cater to evolving consumer tastes.

Retail Bakers Month Activities

  1. Support your local bakery

    Find the closest retail bakery. Buy a few baked goods to enjoy and show your support.

  2. Look up the history of baking

    Baking has a wonderful and interesting history. Learn about it this month.

  3. Talk about your favorite retail bakery on social media

    Help support your favorite retail bakery. You can do so by recommending it on social media.

5 Interesting Facts About Baking

  1. Betty Crocker isn’t real

    She is actually a fictitious person created by the Washburn Crosby company.

  2. The choco-chip cookie disaster

    The chocolate chip cookie was actually a mistake — the initial intention was to create a pure chocolate cookie.

  3. No refrigeration

    Though common, refrigerating baked goods makes them go stale faster.

  4. The etymology of cookie

    ‘Cookie’ comes from the Dutch ‘koekje,’ which means “little cakes.”

  5. Baking soda

    Baking soda was invented in 1846.

Why We Love Retail Bakers Month

  1. It’s an excuse to eat baked goods

    We absolutely love all things baked. Retail Bakers Month is a perfect excuse to eat some delightful breads and pastries.

  2. It appreciates the craft of baking

    Baking is a very precise craft. Retail Bakers Month is a great opportunity to appreciate the art of baking.

  3. It appreciates retail bakers

    Retail bakers pour a lot of time and dedication into honing their abilities. Retail Bakers Month is a good way to appreciate them.

Retail Bakers Month dates

Year Date Day
2027 January 1 Friday
2028 January 1 Saturday
2029 January 1 Monday
2030 January 1 Tuesday
2031 January 1 Wednesday