Client Hall of Fame – Jenny Lee Bakery

Jenny Lee Bakery
Allegheny County
www.jennyleebakery.com

Scott Baker doesn't follow the rules and wait until after dinner for dessert – he eats it all day. There's a donut with coffee in the morning, a bun with lunch, and in between meals there's usually a brownie or chocolate chip cookie. Baker figures the decadence is forgivable since it is in the name of quality control.

Baker is vice president of sales and marketing for Jenny Lee Bakery, located in McKees Rocks with stores throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. He's guided by a sweet tooth that he inherited from his family, who have owned the bakery for 129 years.

Over the past century, customer shopping habits have changed dramatically, and Jenny Lee has had to adapt. Customers used to visit a local produce stand for vegetables, a butcher shop for meats, and a bakery for breads and goodies. Nowadays, “one-stop” shopping at a large grocery store is the norm. Baker's vision for Jenny Lee Bakery has subsequently evolved to compete in the new market. He foresees Jenny Lee as a national quality bakery producer and plans to shift the bakery from a fresh, local bakery supplier to a frozen, “thaw and sell” quality manufacturer.

An alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh, Baker was aware of the services provided by the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center, and he contacted them for assistance. Baker was paired with senior management consultant Ray Vargo to develop and implement a new business plan for Jenny Lee Bakery.

Together, they concentrated on writing a business plan with a new, national mission for the established bakery. Vargo assisted Baker with researching, analyzing and locating resources needed to move the strategic plan into operation.

“My consultant knew the right people to contact to assist us with our expansion,” Baker says, “I don't think that we could have succeeded so quickly without the SBDC's assistance.” To fund an expansion, Vargo assisted Jenny Lee in securing a financial package of $695,000 in investment capital from commercial banks, state loan programs and other programs. He also helped locate opportunities to increase revenue and capitalize on Jenny Lee's established brand in the industry.

Baker is excited about the progress Jenny Lee Bakery has made towards its new mission. Future plans include a new production facility outfitted with operational equipment and freezers.

Baker knows that Jenny Lee Bakery won't be the same retail chain where he learned to bake, but the company's success has always come from its commitment to producing quality baked goods. The company will continue its commitment to excellence for future generations of Jenny Lee Bakery customers to enjoy.