Semifreddis Bakery

Semifreddi's is a Bay Area artisan bakery founded in 1984 in Kensington/Berkeley, California, specializing in handcrafted breads, pastries, and baked goods. Established by Tom Franier, Barbara Rose, and her husband Mike, the company has grown over four decades from a 450-square-foot shop into a full-scale artisan baking operation headquartered in Alameda, California, with a bakery café in Kensington. The company produces more than 75 varieties of bread and pastry daily, including baguettes, hearth loaves, sourdough batards, miches, ciabatta, sandwich rolls, crostini, biscotti, cookies, granola, and morning pastries. Its product lineup is designed to serve both retail consumers and foodservice accounts, with a significant portion of daily production going to small businesses and restaurants throughout the Bay Area. Production begins at 4:30 AM each morning, with bakers hand-mixing and hand-shaping every item. Quality control is rigorous and hands-on — freshly baked loaves are evaluated daily for crust, crumb structure, sour profile, proofing time, oven temperature response, and yeast activity before distribution. The company operates 363 days per year, reflecting a deep operational commitment to consistent supply for its foodservice and retail partners. Semifreddi's serves deli and restaurant accounts in addition to retail channels, positioning it as a reliable wholesale bread supplier for Bay Area food businesses. The workforce reflects long-term institutional knowledge, with 50% of employees having tenured more than 10 years and a substantial portion exceeding 25 years. Ownership recently transitioned to a new leadership team hand-selected by the founders, ensuring continuity of the company's standards and community-focused operating philosophy. With over 200 organizations receiving product, time, or financial donations annually, Semifreddi's maintains a notable presence in Bay Area community support networks including food banks in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.