Paul DiBiase | Great Harvest Bread Co. | North Kingstown
The Pitch: We make the freshest, best-tasting, 100 percent whole-wheat breads that you’ll find anywhere.
Years in business: Six
Employees: Eight
Cost to obtain franchise: $423,469 average opening cost
Before opening franchise: After graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 1993, DiBiase worked full time as a pharmacist for 17 years. When he decided to open the franchise, he shifted to working part time as a pharmacist, which he now balances with time at the bakery.
Reason for opening: With a passion for baking that runs in DiBiase’s blood, he decided to take a leap and open his own business. It was the bread that sold him on Great Harvest after a visit to one of their locations. “It was unlike any whole-wheat bread I had ever tasted before. I never saw myself being a franchisee but as I learned more about Great Harvest and their system, it became more and more appealing.”
“Great Harvest Bread Co. uses a 20-inch stone grain mill to make our whole-wheat flour fresh each day.”
“We are a bakery café, serving baked goods such as muffins and scones, in addition to locally roasted coffee, and sandwiches served on our fresh bread. It all starts with the bread: my focus is always on making the best bread we can possibly make. Here, the bread makes the sandwich.”
“Everything is made from scratch on-site each day. We do not use pre-mixes for baked goods. Nothing is frozen, premade or made off-site. For example, our honey whole-wheat bread has only five easily recognizable ingredients: flour, 100 percent honey, yeast, water and salt. There are no conditioners, preservatives or artificial colors – here you know exactly what you are getting.”
“There’s something primal in the human psyche about fresh-baked bread. At one time, bread was survival – I think we still have an attachment to that as people.”
“Almost every day someone will come in and say they recognized Great Harvest from somewhere they used to live across the country – once they discover we’re here, it’s like they just found a long-lost relative. Great Harvest strikes a chord with people.”