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In a transfer that secures the way forward for a beloved New Orleans bread maker, Bellegarde Bakery has been acquired by well-known restaurant group Dickie Brennan & Co.

The Bellegarde title and model will proceed “as is” underneath the restaurant group possession. Bellegarde has moved its artisan operations (deck ovens and stone flour mill) into Dickie Brennan & Co.’s The Commissary Market + Kitchen (634 Orange St.) within the Decrease Backyard District, in order that the corporate can proceed manufacturing for its wholesale distribution.

Bellegarde’s bread and pastries can be accessible for retail buy on the market at a later date.

Dickie Brennan & Co. has retained Bellegarde’s 5 group members, guaranteeing their continued employment and permitting them to deal with what they do finest: baking bread.

“I like bread – love consuming bread, making bread, and breaking bread with individuals. Working with the Bellegarde group can be a ravishing factor for us to be part of,” mentioned Sara Brennan, basic supervisor of The Commissary Market + Kitchen. Brennan is a Culinary Institute of California graduate who specialised in bread, and he or she was previously a baker on the trendy artisan bread bakery, Tartine Bakery in San Francisco.

Brennan added: “Bellegarde’s bread is the dealmaker. We’re proud to hold on with Bellegarde’s traditions of utilizing world-class elements and freshly milled flour, and their stage of workmanship.”

Dickie Brennan & Co. additionally plans to additional combine Bellegarde’s bread, sandwiches, and desserts into its eating places, showcasing the bakery’s artisan merchandise. Dickie Brennan & Co. owns eight eating places, together with Palace Café, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, Bourbon Home, Tableau, Acorn Café, Pascal’s Manale, Audubon Clubhouse, and The Commissary.

“As a long-time buyer of Bellegarde and fan of its world-class bread, this acquisition made excellent sense to us,” Steve Pettus, Dickie Brennan & Co. Managing Associate. “It’s a vertical integration and adjoining to what we’re already doing throughout our restaurant group, and we’re trying ahead to bringing Bellegarde objects to a good wider viewers.”

Bellegarde Bakery was initially launched within the early 2000s by Graison Gill. It has been positioned at 8300 Apple St. within the Leonidas neighborhood since 2019. In 2022, Gill offered Bellegarde to his employees because the bakery transitioned into an employee-owned cooperative. In March 2024, Bellegarde introduced that it might briefly shut down its storefront and retail operations.

Pettus mentioned it was round that point that Dickie Brennan & Co. mentioned the acquisition to salvage the bakery and Bellegarde product. The transaction took lower than a month.

“All of it occurred shortly, however we have been assured that we couldn’t let this caliber of product disappear from our metropolis,” mentioned Pettus. “We’re additionally extraordinarily assured in Sara’s management, expertise, and bread baking expertise matching completely with Bellegarde’s artisan high quality. We’re excited to see all of it come collectively.”

The Bellegarde acquisition continues current development for Dickie Brennan & Co. In 2023, Dickie Brennan & Co. bought Pascal’s Manale Restaurant, identified for its Creole-Italian fare, steaks, domestically sourced seafood dishes, and stand-up oyster bar. In 2012, Dickie Brennan & Co. launched Tableau to revive Le Petit Théâtre Du Vieux Carre, which was in peril of closing and in an analogous scenario to Bellegarde.

Pettus mentioned the acquisition opens new alternatives, together with increasing Bellegarde’s wholesale shopper record and exploring grocery retailer distribution, new to Dickie Brennan & Co. The bakery may also revive its pastry program and finally provide baking lessons for adults and youngsters.

“Speaking to the baking group, they’re ecstatic, comfortable to be right here, and we’re thrilled that they’re part of our Dickie Brennan household,” Pettus mentioned. “Now, Bellegarde workers don’t have to fret about accounting, advertising, or HR points; now we have the infrastructure and help in place to permit their employees to return to loving what they do finest and what they’re keen about: baking bread.”