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COBS Bread Recognized as One of Canada’s Best Workplaces for Giving Back

October 1, 2024 – VANCOUVER, BC  

COBS Bread, a community-focused bakery franchise, has been named on the 2024 list
of Best Workplaces for Giving Back in Canada. This recognition comes from direct
feedback provided by employees across hundreds of organizations surveyed by Great
Place to Work.

To qualify, organizations must be Great Place to Work-Certified within the past year
and have at least 90% of employees agree with the statement, “I feel proud of how our organization contributes to the community.”

“At COBS Bread, our success is built through dedicated franchisees and a support team who have pride and passion in everything they do,” says Vevette Villahermosa, Director of People and Culture. “What makes working here truly fulfilling is seeing the direct impact our teams have on the communities we proudly serve and give back to.”

Since 2003, COBS Bread has strived to be a community favorite, not only through their fresh-baked products but also through various company-led programs and bakery-inspired initiatives such as the End of Day Giving Program, Community Days, and Doughnation Campaigns.

“As the cost of living rises, countless families across Canada are finding it harder to put food on the table,” says Aaron Gillespie, President of COBS Bread. “To help ease that burden, our bakeries donate any leftover bread at the end of each day to local charitable organizations, ensuring that our communities have access to fresh, quality products.”

For 21 years, COBS Bread has donated over $560 million worth of products to more than 500 charities in North America, including food banks, school breakfast programs, after-school initiatives, and youth organizations. On average, this amounts to nearly $1,000 worth of fresh-baked goods given to those in need every single day.

“We deeply appreciate the dedication required to run a food donation program. A big thank you goes out to our incredible volunteers, community partners, and franchisees who make this possible every day,” says Gillespie.

For more information about COBS Bread’s charitable contributions, please visit www.cobsbread.com.

About COBS Bread:
COBS Bread (BD Canada Ltd.) bakeries are a one-of-a-kind family-owned bakery franchise, with a vision to be the favorite bakery in every community. Every morning at each of its +170 bakeries, all bread, treats, buns, scones (and more) are baked fresh. All leftover products are donated to local charities at the end of each day, allowing COBS Bread to donate over $50 million of retail products annually.

About Great Place to Work®:
Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. A global research and consulting firm, Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In Canada, Great Place to Work® produces both industry and demographic-specific Best Workplaces lists and represents the voices of 500,000 employees across various industries. This is part of the world’s largest annual workplace study, recognizing the world’s Best Workplaces in a series of national lists including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (USA). Visit us at www.greatplacetowork.ca.

Media Contact
Madison Rankine
Communications Specialist
madison.rankine@cobsbread.com
905.914.0661

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Meet Wyatt Sze, Your New Local Bakery Owner in Burnaby, BC 

We are happy to introduce Wyatt, the proud owner of our newest bakery in Burnaby, BC 

What did you do before becoming a COBS Bread bakery owner?  

My journey began with a background in electrical engineering, but my passion for business led me to be a commercial banker over 10+ years. Throughout this time, I had the privilege of meeting numerous inspiring business owners, igniting my desire to become an entrepreneur myself. As a regular customer of COBS Bread, I discovered that we share the same vision and values. Today, I am thrilled to have turned this dream into reality by becoming a proud bakery owner. 

What is your favorite thing about being part of the COBS Bread network?  

First off, I’m a huge fan of COBS Bread—our whole family loves their products! Second, I deeply align with their core values: freshness, passion, quality, and community. I realized that COBS Bread addresses a genuine need within our community. Moreover, the support I’ve received from COBS Bread has been outstanding, reinforcing my belief that I’ve made the right choice. Their commitment to quality and community involvement makes me proud to be part of the COBS Bread family as a bakery owner. 

What are you looking forward to the most about your new bakery?  

I can’t wait to bake delicious bread and treats for our community! Also, I’m thrilled to create opportunities for talented bakers! Most importantly, I’m eager to connect with people and give back in meaningful ways.  

What is your recipe for success?  

Dedication, hard work, and passion are the key ingredients in my recipe for success. At our bakery, we take pride in every loaf we bake as a team. It’s not just about baking bread; it’s about bringing exceptional flavours that our community loves. We ensure that every customer enjoys baked goods and an experience that they’ll savour and remember.  

How are you planning on getting involved in the community?  

We’re not just here to bake bread; we’re here to be part of the community! Catch us at local events and festivals, where we’ll bring our fresh and delicious treats. Plus, we’re all about giving back through End-of-Day Giving Program and supporting local fundraisers. To us, it’s more than just business—we are looking forward to making a positive impact in our community, together.  

If you were a treat or loaf from COBS Bread, which one would you be and why? 

It will be Apricot Log! It carries a delightful surprise of sweetness despite its humble appearance; much like the subtle joy found in the simple act of baking bread. Just as bread appears to be a common thing in our daily lives, its simplicity can be extraordinary. Its hidden freshness transforms ordinary moments into something truly special. 

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Meet Daniela, Your New Local Bakery Owner in London 

We are happy to introduce Daniela Albert, the proud owner of our newest bakery in London, Ontario. Daniela is passionate, community focused and enjoys making people happy. She is the perfect addition to our COBS Bread family, and we are so excited to have her on our team. Keep reading to learn a little more about Daniela, what led her to this journey and how she plans on giving back to her community.  

What did you do before becoming a COBS Bread bakery owner?  

I worked in the financial services industry for over 27 years. I then became a Real Estate Representative for the last 7 years. I look forward to challenge and accomplishing great things with some hard work. I discovered COBS Bread in 2020 when one of our clients came in and brought us a box of scones to enjoy. We decided to check out COBS and were immediately hooked.  

What is your favorite thing about being part of the COBS Bread network?  

We’re Italian and we love our bread!  We were drawn to the idea of having fresh baked bread daily, and the smell walking into COBS had us hooked. We then looked into everything COBS stood for and knew we wanted to be a part of the family.  I have lived in London my entire life and was hooked on the idea of the End of Day Giving program and cannot wait to connect with our community partners to provide fresh bread and treats to those in need. 

What are you looking forward to the most about your new bakery?  

We are excited to expand the COBS brand into the White Oaks Mall and bring freshly baked bread and treats to the area. We look forward to meeting the local community and forming lasting relationships with our customers. We are also looking forward to being a contributing member of the community. 

What is your recipe for success?  

I believe in the products we bake and I know that our team has what it takes to execute the recipes and deliver a great customer service experience. 

How are you planning on getting involved in the community?  

We believe that having a warm and welcoming bakery is the key. We love inviting our community groups and customers to see and experience the bakery. We look forward to hosting some community event days during our first several months. 

If you were a treat or loaf from COBS Bread, which one would you be and why? 

Oh, this is a tough one as there are many products that I love.  I’ve always been a sweets girl.  My favourite is the Lemon Blueberry Scone, especially warm just out of the oven.  I can’t get enough of them. 

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Meet Tony Iantomo, your Local Bakery Owner in Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario. 

We are happy to introduce Tony Iantomo, the proud owner of our newest bakery in Port Credit. 

What is your favourite thing about being part of the COBS Bread network? 

I have always been very involved in the community and engaging in local activities. My kids grew up in Port Credit and I was always involved with them be it a coach, fundraiser or board member. When I heard about COBS and their goal to be giving back in every community, it was a no brainer for me. I love to share stories and hear what other franchisees in the network are doing to engage with their community.  

What motivated you to open your second bakery?   

Opening a second bakery was always something I was interested in. The two bakeries are not far apart, and I welcome the opportunity to continue to grow the base of customers and stakeholders we engage with in South Mississauga.   

What are you looking forward to the most about your new bakery? 

Meeting new customers and sharing the COBS story and our values. Who doesn’t love tasty treats or nutritious baked bread made from scratch daily? I am also looking forward to giving back to more organizations in the community through our End of Day Giving program.  

What is your recipe for success? 

Stay engaged with your community.  If you can make a positive impact with schools, churches, clubs, restaurants, food banks….it is all worth it.  

How are you planning on getting involved in the community? 

Like COBS Bread Applewood, I hope to engage with local schools for fundraising. Whether it is for a new playground, materials for the library, etc., we want to help!   

If you were a treat or loaf from COBS Bread, which one would you be and why? 

Cape Seed Loaf – there’s nothing better than cape seed for peanut butter and jam. That said, I have introduced many to the loaf not just for its great taste, but for its nutritional value being high in fibre and multigrain.  

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COBS Bread Celebrates 6th Year on the 2024 Best Workplaces in Retail & Hospitality List

COBS Bread is thrilled to announce its inclusion on the 2024 Best Workplaces in Retail & Hospitality list. This recognition underscores COBS Bread’s commitment to creating a positive and supportive workplace culture, as assessed by Great Place to Work®.

The list is based on direct feedback from employees of hundreds of organizations surveyed by Great Place to Work®. As COBS Bread continues to grow, the business has demonstrated dedication to supporting its team, customers, and communities where the bakeries operate and serve focusing on employee well-being and engagement, as highlighted by the Trust Index survey.

“Working at COBS is amazing,” says Wendy Forbes, a staff member from COBS Bread Century Crossing in Spruce Grove, AB. “I love my teammates, customers, and the friendly, stress-free environment. It’s also amazing to work for a business that gives back to the community with our COBS Bread End of Day Giving Program. Knowing that everything we bake that doesn’t get sold is donated to local charities at the end of the day is incredibly rewarding.”

“COBS Bread is a great place to work because of the strong team spirit and the supportive culture,” says Vevette Villahermosa, Director of People and Culture. “It’s rewarding to see how our work positively impacts our bakeries and the communities we serve.”

Continuing its tradition of excellence, COBS Bread remains committed to enhancing workplaces and innovating retail and hospitality across North America. From their first bakery opening in Canada over 20 years ago, COBS Bread has aimed to become every community’s favourite bakery, sharing their love for freshly baked bread and treats.  

For more information on working at COBS Bread and to find available positions, please visit cobsbread.com/careers.

About COBS Bread:  

COBS Bread (BD Canada Ltd.) bakeries are a one-of-a-kind family-owned bakery franchise, with a vision to be the favourite bakery in every community. Every morning at each one of its +170 bakeries, all bread, treats, buns, scones (and more) are baked fresh. All leftover product is donated to local charities at the end of each day, allowing COBS Bread to donate over $50M of retail products annually. COBS Bread’s loyalty program, COBS Club, provides customers with rewards for purchases and currently has over 500,000 members. COBS Bread has received a Franchisees’ Choice Designation from the Canadian Franchise Association for 14 consecutive years and is also recognized as a Great Place to Work® and has been ranked 48 on the Best Workplaces 2023 list.  

About Great Place to Work®: 

Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. A global research and consulting firm, Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In Canada, Great Place to Work® produces both industry and demographic-specific Best Workplace lists and represents the voices of 500,000 employees across the industry. This is part of the world’s largest annual workplace study, recognizing the world’s Best Workplaces in a series of national lists including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (USA). Visit us at www.greatplacetowork.ca. 

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Meet Tanya Doyle, your New Local Bakery Owner in Bowmanville, Ontario. 

We are happy to introduce Tanya Doyle, the proud owner of our newest bakery in Bowmanville, Ontario. 

What did you do before becoming a COBS Bread bakery owner?  

I worked in education for 21 years, most recently as an elementary school principal.  

What is your favorite thing about being part of the COBS Bread network?  

The guidance and support I have received from the franchisee and staff at the bakery that I trained in and the support from my area manager and the head office. Working with our team has been an amazing and positive experience. I know that being a part of the COBS Bread network means that I have a support system that will help me as I begin this journey and support me as I grow my business.  

What are you looking forward to the most about your new bakery?  

I am looking forward to being back in a community that I love and establishing positive connections with our customers and community members.  Partnering with local charities is something that I am also looking forward to! 

What is your recipe for success?  

Having a strong presence in the bakery to establish connections with staff and customers while maintaining a work-life balance. It is also always important to maintain a growth mindset.  

How are you planning on getting involved in the community?  

I plan on continuing to work with local schools through various Doughraiser initiatives and with community outreach programs through our End of Day Giving program. I also plan on working with local sports teams and programs that support children. 

If you were a treat or loaf from COBS Bread, which one would you be and why? 

I would be a cinnamon bun because it has many layers that make it what it is. These would represent my husband, children, parents, sister and friends that support me and have made me who I am today. I have a serious and professional side which would be the cinnamon bun without icing, then the fun and adventurous side to me which would be the cinnamon bun with icing.  

When making a cinnamon bun, the baker takes a lot of care, time and effort to make sure the final product is great! I feel that this represents me as a person because I put a lot of care, time and effort into all that I do.  

I also like that the cinnamon buns come in mini sizes as it makes me think of my own minis, my 3 children. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 26, 2024 – Vancouver, BC COBS Bread is thrilled to announce its ranking as the 48th Best Workplace in Canada for 2024. This places COBS Bread in the top 50 among hundreds of Canadian companies evaluated for their commitment to employee well-being and fostering a positive work environment.

“My favourite thing about working for COBS Bread is the people,” Jess Peters, a baker from COBS St. Thomas, Ontario says. “Everyone is so great and supportive, plus I love that COBS donates all uneaten product at the end of the night. It feels good to be part of a company that gives back to others.” 

“This award demonstrates COBS Bread’s ability to creating an exceptional workplace for all our employees. Our commitment to fostering a positive and enjoyable work environment, offering career growth opportunities, and giving back to the community has been instrumental in receiving this honour,” says Linda Vo, Manager of Human Resources at COBS Bread.

The 2024 Best Workplaces in Canada list, compiled by the Great Place to Work® Institute, is an employee-driven competition that represents multiple industries and sizes of organizations. The rankings are based on employee feedback, which is analyzed to determine the extent to which the employee experience is shared by the full workforce. The study measures the core of what creates great workplaces, including trust in management, connection with colleagues, and loyalty to the company. It offers a rigorous representation of the organization from an employee perspective and an overall portrait of the workplace culture.

This year’s list captures the experience and sentiment of 330,000 employees, impacting over 600,000 Canadian employees. 

About COBS Bread: 

COBS Bread (BD Canada Ltd.) bakeries are a one-of-a-kind family-owned bakery franchise, with a vision to be the favourite bakery in every community. Every morning at each one of our +170 bakeries, all bread, treats, buns, scones (and more) are baked fresh. All leftover product is donated to local charities at the end of each day, allowing COBS Bread to donate over $50M of retail product annually. COBS Bread’s loyalty program, COBS Club, provides customers with rewards for purchases and currently has over 500,000 members. COBS Bread has received a Franchisees’ Choice Designation from the Canadian Franchise Association for 13 consecutive years and is also recognized as a Great Place to Work®. 

About Great Place to Work®:

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on high-trust, high- performance workplace cultures. It is a global research and consulting firm with a mission to build a better society by helping companies transform their workplaces. Great Place To Work® provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In Canada, Great Place to Work® produces both industry and demographic specific Best Workplace lists. This is part of the world’s largest annual workplace study, which culminates in a series of national lists in over 50 countries, including the study’s flagship list of 100 Best Companies published annually in Fortune magazine. Globally, this survey represents the voices of 11 million employees, which are the primary determinant used in selecting winners. There’s only one way to get on this list – your employees have to put you on it. 

For more information, visit www.greatplacetowork.ca and follow Great Place to Work® on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter using #BestWorkplacesCA.

COBS Bread People & Culture Team, Vevette & Linda accepting the award on the company’s behalf.  

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Meet Shivani, Your New Local Bakery Owner in Burlington, Ontario 

We are happy to introduce Shivani, the proud owner of our newest bakery in Burlington, Ontario. Shivani has a love for giving back to the community. Shivani is a perfect addition to our COBS Bread family, and we are so excited to have her on our team. Keep reading to learn a little more about Shivani, what led her to this journey, and how she plans on giving back to the community with the opening of her second bakery!     

What did you do before becoming a COBS Bread bakery owner?  

Before COBS Bread, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a Sales and Marketing Manager. 

What is your favourite thing about being part of the COBS Bread network?  

I really like what the brand represents using quality ingredients, producing amazing products, and giving back to charitable organizations through our End of Day Giving Program.  

What led you to open your second bakery?  

I have been a Franchisee for over ten years with a profitable business and it was always my intention to expand. I also enjoy working with and guiding my team. 

What are you looking forward to the most about your new bakery?  

A brand-new space to have freshly baked, quality products available to many customers in a new community. 

What is your recipe for success? 

The support of my family. They are involved 100% in the bakery and lead by example with our team. They are always trying to connect with the community through local initiatives and partnerships. 

How are you planning on getting involved in the community?  

Networking with schools and local businesses through fundraising initiatives and getting involved with local programs like sporting events, charitable programs, and much more! 

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Meet Sandra Janzen, Your New Local Bakery Owner in the Riverside neighborhood of Windsor, Ontario 

We are happy to introduce Sandra Janzen, the proud owner of our newest bakery in the Riverside neighborhood of Windsor, Ontario.

What is your favourite thing about being part of the COBS Bread network? 

My favourite thing about COBS is the commitment to the community.  My husband, my son and I live in the community and we hire all our staff locally. At the end of every day we donate any remaining bread and baked goods to support the community through local charities.  I really enjoy meeting our customers and getting to know them, some on a daily basis! 

What motivated you to open your second bakery? 

I really enjoy the freedom that being my own boss gives me.  I also really like to meet new people and I enjoy challenges. 

What are you looking forward to the most about your new bakery? 

I love the look of delight when a new customer comes into the bakery.  The excitement and pure joy on their face.  Hearing customers say that the bakery smells so good is really rewarding. 

What is your recipe for success? 

I really try to care about people.  Our staff is great and I’m so proud of the products we make fresh every morning.  I believe every day is literally a new day.  Maybe there were some challenges yesterday, but we get to start again every morning. When we arrive to the bakery at 3 am, it is a fresh start.  

How are you planning on getting involved in the community? 

We are going to continue our tradition of donating locally to charities in the Riverside area.  At our bakery on Division Road, we’ve sponsored multiple community events with Bread-for-a-year raffles and with product donations as well as supporting a local girls hockey team. I intend to continue that in the new bakery and hopefully do even more! 

If you were a treat or loaf from COBS Bread, which one would you be and why? 

Ha! I’d say a Custard Bunlet! Small but mighty! 

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