General Mills Foodservice Celebrates Independent Bakeries Ahead of Sept. 25 National Bakery Day

MINNEAPOLIS — As National Bakery Day approaches on September 25, General Mills Foodservice is joining the Retail Bakers of America (RBA) in celebrating the independent bakery operators who make their communities a little sweeter.

General Mills Foodservice is a sponsor of National Bakery Day, an RBA initiative designed to give independent bakeries an opportunity to celebrate their businesses, connect with their communities and showcase the products and traditions that make them unique. Participating RBA members receive a National Bakery Day marketing kit with promotional materials and a how-to guide to help bring the celebration to life in their bakeries.

For General Mills Foodservice, the day is also an opportunity to recognize the bakery customers who turn quality ingredients into products that become part of their customers’ everyday lives and to highlight the ways General Mills Foodservice works alongside bakery operators to help them grow.

“Independent bakeries are so much more than places to buy a great piece of pie or a fresh pastry, they the heart of our communities,” said Nancy Muller, account executive, Bakery Ingredients Group, General Mills Foodservice, and Retail Bakers of America board member. “We’re proud to support the RBA and its efforts to celebrate these businesses, and we’re equally proud to work alongside bakery operators every day as they build their businesses, try new things and make the baked goods their customers love.”

Valley View Orchard Pies: A Recipe for Success

One example is Valley View Orchard Pies, a family-owned bakery in Oxford, Maine, that has grown from a leap of faith into a thriving multigenerational business.

Lisa Dunham and her mother, Cindy Johnston, purchased Valley View in 2018, despite having no previous bakery experience. Today, three generations of the family work in the business, which produces hundreds of thousands of pies and whoopie pies each year.

Innovation has been a key ingredient in that growth. Valley View has expanded its whoopie pie offerings from just a few dozen per month to more than 350 dozen monthly, with 19 flavors and seasonal varieties. The bakery has also introduced mini whoopie pies for weddings, schools and catered events, expanded into wholesale and recently earned first place in the Traditional Whoopie Pie category at Maine’s 2026 Whoopie Pie Festival.

Behind the scenes, trusted ingredients help support the bakery’s growing operation. Valley View uses Pillsbury™ Crème Cake Mix in several cake applications, including its popular whoopie pies, and Gold Medal™ Flour across its pie production and other baked goods.

“I think Valley View Orchard Pies’ whoopie pies are truly something special,” said Tim Cipriano, account executive, General Mills Foodservice. “They are unique, incredibly delicious, and made with the kind of care and tradition you only get from a multigenerational bakery. You can taste the quality and heritage in every bite.”

Read the full Operation Success story about Valley View Orchard Pies to learn more about how this Maine bakery is balancing tradition and innovation as it grows.

As National Bakery Day approaches, General Mills Foodservice is encouraging bakery professionals, industry partners and others who appreciate the craft of baking to join the RBA in celebrating the independent bakeries that serve as gathering places, small businesses and community staples. To learn more about National Bakery Day and how independent bakeries can participate, visit the Retail Bakers of America website.

About General Mills Foodservice

General Mills Foodservice brings the food people love to away-from-home settings such as K-12 schools, hospitals, restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries, and college campuses across the United States. Its distinguished portfolio of brands includes Big G Cereals, Nature Valley, Gold Medal, Pillsbury, Chex Mix, Bugles, Gardetto’s, Annie’s and TNT Crust/BONICI® designed to mee the needs of foodservice operators. For more information, please visit GeneralMillsFoodservice.com.