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True Grain Bread opened its doors in April 2004. Founder Jonathan Knight sought out the sleepy seaside village of Cowichan Bay to create his vision - Fresh, Local, Organic and Handcrafted bread. Tantalizing the senses of locals, word soon spread beyond the Cowichan Valley, and over a four-year period Mr. Knight saw customers regularly travelling from Victoria. As the bakery grew, Mr. Knight found his hands less and less in the dough as he tended to other aspects of the business. Having the wisdom to realize it was time to move on, he spent the better part of 2007 searching for the right people to continue the spirit and philosophy of True Grain. In the spring of 2008 True Grain Bread transitioned to Bruce and Leslie Stewart, a young couple originally from Ontario. In September 2009, Cowichan Bay was designated North America's first Cittaslow community. These communities celebrate their uniqueness and make quality of life paramount. They celebrate their history and traditions, convivality, good food and drink, and local producers and crafters. True Grain Bread and the Stewarts along with Chef Mara Jernigan played a pivotal role in making this happen. In 2012, True Grain Bread opened a store in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in downtown Summerland. Todd Laidlaw, a lifelong friend of the Stewarts, joined the company. By 2013 residents and visitors of the Okanagan were quickly realizing what Vancouver Islander's already knew. Today, True Grain Bread bakers continue the tradition of old-world style baking: early morning mixing of dough made from freshly milled organic ingredients, hand-scaling and carefully forming each individual loaf. |
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