Rise’n Roll Bakery Coming To Warsaw
April 24, 2017 at 5:52 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
While the location remains unknown, a spokesman for the Amish-themed bakery said they hope to open by sometime in August.
Plans to open a store in Warsaw were announced on Facebook Saturday.
The decision to expand into Warsaw is part of a growth strategy, said Russ Crawford, the company’s executive director who joined the company 10 months ago.
The company is known specifically for its cinnamon-flavored carmel doughnuts, nicknamed by many fans as “Amish crack.” The company’s other top-selling items are apple fritters and cinnamon rolls.
The company began in 2001 when Orvin Bontrager began making items at his home. By 2003, the first store, in Middlebury, opened.
The company currently has other stores in Nappanee, Mishawaka and Fort Wayne. The business also operates numerous “pop up” markets around Chicago.
A store in Valparaiso is set to open in June. A second Fort Wayne store will open in July, and the Warsaw store is tentatively set to open by August, said Crawford.
The company researched Warsaw and liked what they saw. Crawford describes it as a “perfect fit.”
“My gut told me that this is a place we want to be, it’s a place we need to be,” Crawford said.
If reaction on Facebook during the first two days is any indication, others are just as excited about having a store in Warsaw.
In two days, the announcement attracted 300 comments and was shared by 1,600 people. Crawford translates that into a “reach” of 180,000.
Comparatively, he said the Valparaiso announcement attracted a reach of 38,000.
In its Facebook post, the company announced franchisees for the store include Vincent and Nina Banks, Mark and Lauri Hanes, and John and Sue Skees.
The post added, “We'll keep you posted on where their new bakery will be located and when they'll be opening. Welcome to the Rise’n Roll family. We can't wait for Warsaw!”
The growth mode comes with a slimmed-down approach.
While Crawford was hired last year to “figure out how to grow the company,” he added that the franchise model was chosen by the owners, but they wanted to develop it further.
“We’ve come up with a path that we feel is the direction we want to go in.”
That model, though, will not include a deli section, which is available at the Middlebury store.
Eliminating the deli makes it easier for franchisees to operate the store and eliminates some of the regulatory involvement, he said, while allowing the company to focus on its core mission, bakery goods.
While the Warsaw location remains a mystery, Crawford said the company prefers locations with strong traffic. That’s the case with the Mishawaka store, which is on the heavily traveled Grape Road.
Investor interest in opening a Warsaw store was strong. Crawford said several investor groups expressed interest.
Sales for the company have been good and the company expects sales will be above 35 percent growth in sales with the news stores opening, he said.
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While the location remains unknown, a spokesman for the Amish-themed bakery said they hope to open by sometime in August.
Plans to open a store in Warsaw were announced on Facebook Saturday.
The decision to expand into Warsaw is part of a growth strategy, said Russ Crawford, the company’s executive director who joined the company 10 months ago.
The company is known specifically for its cinnamon-flavored carmel doughnuts, nicknamed by many fans as “Amish crack.” The company’s other top-selling items are apple fritters and cinnamon rolls.
The company began in 2001 when Orvin Bontrager began making items at his home. By 2003, the first store, in Middlebury, opened.
The company currently has other stores in Nappanee, Mishawaka and Fort Wayne. The business also operates numerous “pop up” markets around Chicago.
A store in Valparaiso is set to open in June. A second Fort Wayne store will open in July, and the Warsaw store is tentatively set to open by August, said Crawford.
The company researched Warsaw and liked what they saw. Crawford describes it as a “perfect fit.”
“My gut told me that this is a place we want to be, it’s a place we need to be,” Crawford said.
If reaction on Facebook during the first two days is any indication, others are just as excited about having a store in Warsaw.
In two days, the announcement attracted 300 comments and was shared by 1,600 people. Crawford translates that into a “reach” of 180,000.
Comparatively, he said the Valparaiso announcement attracted a reach of 38,000.
In its Facebook post, the company announced franchisees for the store include Vincent and Nina Banks, Mark and Lauri Hanes, and John and Sue Skees.
The post added, “We'll keep you posted on where their new bakery will be located and when they'll be opening. Welcome to the Rise’n Roll family. We can't wait for Warsaw!”
The growth mode comes with a slimmed-down approach.
While Crawford was hired last year to “figure out how to grow the company,” he added that the franchise model was chosen by the owners, but they wanted to develop it further.
“We’ve come up with a path that we feel is the direction we want to go in.”
That model, though, will not include a deli section, which is available at the Middlebury store.
Eliminating the deli makes it easier for franchisees to operate the store and eliminates some of the regulatory involvement, he said, while allowing the company to focus on its core mission, bakery goods.
While the Warsaw location remains a mystery, Crawford said the company prefers locations with strong traffic. That’s the case with the Mishawaka store, which is on the heavily traveled Grape Road.
Investor interest in opening a Warsaw store was strong. Crawford said several investor groups expressed interest.
Sales for the company have been good and the company expects sales will be above 35 percent growth in sales with the news stores opening, he said.
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