Company opens first Provisions Bakery Cafe on Eat Street in Minneapolis, four test stores to open in Minnesota and Texas in late Fall 2011, ahead of broader rollout | Be The Boss

Company opens first Provisions Bakery Cafe on Eat Street in Minneapolis, four test stores to open in Minnesota and Texas in late Fall 2011, ahead of broader rollout

Date

Mar 11, 2013

MINNEAPOLIS, Dunn Brothers, a national coffee company, has launched Provisions Bakery Café by Dunn Brothers - a new in-store bakery café that serves freshly made pastries, sandwiches and salads.

The first Provisions Bakery Café opened in mid-August in its new store location on 26th & Nicollet in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, and will be followed by concept kitchens in Dunn Brothers locations in Downtown Minneapolis, Lexington, Minn. and Addison, Texas by late fall 2011. The new bakery cafés will operate within existing Dunn Brothers stores, with fresh ingredients and in-store-baked pastries and breads up front, next to existing beverage counters.

Fresh and done right, not pre-packaged
Dunn Brothers CEO Chris Eilers said that the food at Provisions is hand-made, right in front of the customer, unlike most coffeehouse chains, which rely on frozen or pre-packaged fare that is delivered to the store. "Our team worked with a group of renowned chefs to develop this concept, recognizing that we wanted to honor culinary traditions and approach "coffeehouse food" differently than our competitors. From our fresh baked breads, Boar's Head® premium deli meats and cheeses, freshly roasted carrots and mushrooms to homemade coleslaw, chicken salad, and hand-made wasabi horseradish and pesto aioli sauces, Provisions cooks will skillfully blend fresh ingredients to create a unique taste experience that you won't find at most coffeehouses," he noted.

The Provisions concept includes a variety of hand-made breakfast sandwiches as well as muffins, scones and Danish pastries that will be baked fresh in the store every morning. Lunchtime customers can indulge in a variety of flavorful signature sandwiches, served on fresh-baked artisan breads, as well as salads and desserts for either in-store dining or take-out. The Provisions menu is also ideal for catering parties, events or office meetings. Provisions cooks will create food just as Dunn Brothers baristas create coffee drinks – doing things by hand, the right way. That means starting with ingredients of the highest quality and delivering a fresh and flavorful experience.

"Authenticity and dedication to quality are traits embodied by the Dunn Brothers Bold Standard and now by Provisions Bakery Cafés," said Eilers. "With the creation of this new food brand, we're carrying that tradition forward with this great complement to our traditional coffeehouse concept. Dunn Brothers is still the no BS brand that does things differently – whether that's how we roast and brew a cup of coffee or how we create a memorable eating experience."

New revenue for franchisees
The current concept test stores are designed to prove the model, with the ultimate goal of expanding the Provisions Bakery Café to benefit Dunn Brothers system of franchisees who own stores across nine states. By integrating a Provisions Bakery Café into their existing coffee shops, current and future franchisees will be able to expand their operations, increase revenues and most importantly, offer their customers a convenient place where they can relax, connect and enjoy their favorite beverages along with real, fresh food.

Kim Plahn, President and CFO at Dunn Brothers said: "We want to help our franchisees deliver a whole new experience that will appeal to our loyal fans and attract new customers who will think of Dunn Brothers beyond the morning coffee rush. We're doing that by helping them build an economical, compact kitchen and café that will allow them to create a significant new revenue stream, while still delivering on the Dunn Brothers promise – the Bold Standard."

The first Provisions Bakery Café opened in August 2011, in Minneapolis on 26th & Nicollet. Four more test kitchens will be opening in the following Dunn Brothers stores in late fall 2011:
  • Lexington, Minnesota: Lexington Avenue N.
  • Addison, Texas: Belt Line Road.
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota: 9th & Nicollet.
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota: Freight House, 3rd Avenue S.
About Dunn Brothers
Founded in 1987, Dunn Brothers has successfully proven to its customers and competitors that, even in the crowded coffee category, great-tasting coffee that is carefully brewed from hand-selected, freshly roasted beans boldly stands out in a class of its own. This Minneapolis-based, award-winning coffee company was founded on the principle that premium coffee customers deserve coffee that adheres to higher standards of quality every step of the way, from cultivation to cup. From sustainable, ethical sourcing practices to daily, on-site roasting, artisan hand-made premium beverages and community-connected local ownership – Dunn Brothers takes every possible measure to ensure quality coffee experiences at each of its nearly 90 retail locations across the country.