Mrs. Baird’s Bread – a Texas Institution for over 100 Years

Ninnie Baird made her home baking business truly commercial in 1908 Fort Worth, Texas at the age of 39. She made good use of her eight boys to deliver the goods to the homes of customers by bicycle. Before long, Mrs. Baird was stocking her wares in local stores. Her husband, William, had brought the family to Texas in 1901 from Tennessee. Ninnie had sold her baked goods all along, since William’s health was declining due to diabetes.

Growth

The Mrs. Baird’s Bread history began by operating from a small building in Fort Worth. Ninnie’s sons helped her bake and deliver the bread. They started out by delivering the bread on foot, but they soon switched to bicycles.

The business continued to grow, and in 1915, Mrs. Baird’s built a new bakery in Fort Worth. The new bakery was much larger than the old one, and it allowed Mrs. Baird’s to produce more bread. The company also began to expand its distribution network.

In the 1920s, Mrs. Baird’s introduced several new products, including rolls, muffins, and pies. The company also began to use new technologies, such as automatic wrapping machines and machine-sliced bread.

During World War II, Mrs. Baird’s played an important role in the war effort. The company produced large quantities of bread for the military, and it also donated bread to relief organizations.

After the war, Mrs. Baird’s continued to grow. The company opened new plants in other parts of Texas, and it also began to export its products to other states.

Personal Experience

This writer grew up near the Mrs. Baird’s Bakery by SMU in Dallas. One couldn’t drive on Central Expressway at certain times of the day without being distracted by the wholesome smell. In those days, bread was white and stuck to the roof of your mouth until you dislodged it with a gulp of whole milk. My grandparents lived in Abilene, so when traveling to see them, I got to relive the aroma experience passing the Fort Worth bakery, and ultimately the one in Abilene.

Mrs. Baird’s stayed in the family for 90 years, but in 1998, Grupo Industrial Bimbo, a Mexican baking company bought them out. Bimbo is the largest baking company in the world, and it has helped Mrs. Baird’s to expand its business even further.

Milestones

Here are some of the milestones in the history of Mrs. Baird’s Bread:

1908: Ninnie Baird opens her first bakery in Fort Worth, Texas.
1915: Mrs. Baird’s builds a new bakery in Fort Worth.
1920s: Mrs. Baird’s introduces new products, such as rolls, muffins, and pies.
1940s: Mrs. Baird’s plays an important role in the war effort.
1950s: Mrs. Baird’s begins to use new technologies, such as automatic wrapping machines and machine-sliced bread.
1998: Mrs. Baird’s is acquired by Grupo Industrial Bimbo.