In September of 2024 Red Hen celebrated its 25th anniversary. Here is some reflection from our founder, Randy George, on the journey
Twenty five years ago this week, way back at the end of the last millennium, I fired up the used oven that I had hauled across the country. Here I am doing a test bake while we put the finishing touches on our little bakery space on Crossett Hill in Duxbury.
This Sunday, September 1st, will mark a quarter century since we baked and sold our first loaves. We delivered to a few stores that are still important partners all these years later---Hunger Mt. Co-op and Mehuron's, I'm looking at you! By my calculations, when our driver backs the van up to those stores this weekend, it will mark the 9,050th delivery we will have made to them! We simply wouldn't be what we are without the support of these independent, locally-owned stores. Over the years we've broadened our reach to include most of Vermont and a little bit of New Hampshire. I hired our first baker about a month in and finally took a day off soon after that. Eventually we had the opportunity to move to Middlesex to a much larger facility that also allowed us to open what has become our cafe. These days, I have a lot more people to keep me company than I did in that photo up there!
Today we employ between 55 and 65 people depending on the season. From the beginning, we have been a seven days a week bakery. Most of what we bake should be enjoyed fresh. That's always been a tall order, but we have a truly remarkable team that bakes all day and all night
As we turn 25, I find myself looking back and contrasting those early days with what Red Hen now is.
Twenty five years ago I was able to say that I handled every loaf that went out the door.
Today the thing that I am most proud of is that we have a team of bakers, cooks, baristas, ice cream makers and a many support staff who have the collective skill and experience not only to make a lot more than we did in the old days, but to do it better than I ever did by myself.
Everything that happens here is an expression of the truly awesome people that we are lucky enough to employ.
And of course, none of this could ever happen without the support of our wider community. Many of these people have been with us since the very early days and have become good friends. Although I have always loved baking, what has always excited me most is the special place that bakeries often have in a community. When I dove headlong into this adventure back then, I never dared to imagine that Red Hen would become not only a community unto itself, but that we would be so supported by our Vermont community. I say it again and again: I believe that there is nowhere else like Vermont. It's been a great 25 years and we owe it all to you, the food lovers of Vermont! Thank you. -Randy