Firebrand was born out of my determination to make the best damn bread possible while building a business that helps people.
From my first job in a bakery at the age of 14, I was hooked on working in the food business and have never had a job outside of it since 1995.
The people in the food industry have always been special to me and we’ve always wanted to create a workplace that truly values their hard work and skill.
We want to change how people are treated in the industry and truly honor the service profession.
Growing up in the punk scene also fostered that DIY ethics, sense of ownership and unity.
I was really into Minor Threat and all about bands that were all about independence and building a sense of community.
In 2008, when we opened the bakery, I had been living in the Bay Area for a decade and had seen many of my punk rock friends fleeing to Oakland.
I’d always loved the area, loved the community spirit and strong sense of place that Oakland has.
When we started Firebrand, we knew what we wanted to do but had no idea that so many incredible people would rally around us to make it happen.
From Alan Scott’s oven design, Colleen Orlando’s dedication, and chefs like Michael Mina—the people at Firebrand make it special and I’m fortunate to work with some of the best people I’ve known.
It was always about the people.
WHERE WE're AT
“We’ve not only survived, but grown internally as a company.
We’ve developed a really organic mission that is true to who we are. It’s been over a decade and we’re still pushing every day to be better, one step at a time.”
