King Arthur Baking’s CEO on Keeping America’s Oldest Flour Company in the Mix
July 16, 2024 | 1 min to read
During the pandemic, King Arthur Baking Co., America’s oldest flour company founded in 1790, experienced a dramatic six-fold increase in demand, prompting challenges in supply chain management and production. CEO Karen Colberg, leveraging the company's strong mail-order business, which accounts for 30% of sales, emphasized adapting to customer needs. By sharing recipes and baking tips online, King Arthur reinforced its commitment to quality and community during unprecedented times.
As America’s oldest flour company, King Arthur Baking Co. has seen a lot. It opened in 1790, when George Washington was president.
But little could have prepared it for the start of the coronavirus pandemic, when demand for King Arthur’s products jumped six-fold almost overnight. The company, based in Norwich, Vermont, scrambled to manage supply chains, ramp up production and to focus on in-demand items like bread flour.
CEO Karen Colberg, who worked in marketing at Gap Inc. before joining King Arthur in 2005, says the company leaned into its strengths. King Arthur already had a robust mail-order business, which makes up 30% of its sales, and it’s been sharing recipes and baking tips online for years.
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