The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA
"The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA" is your all-access pass to the heart of the retail baking industry. Each episode brings you inside the kitchen with leading bakers, educators, and innovators who share their stories, tips, and insights. From the secrets of achieving the perfect loaf to navigating business growth, we explore what it takes to elevate your baking craft and career. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, an aspiring baker, or simply hungry for inspiration, tune in and discover how the Retail Bakers of America helps you rise to every challenge—and savor every success.
The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA
E28: From Family Bakery to Regional Business: Lynn Schurman’s Story
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What does it take to grow a small-town bakery into a thriving regional business?
In this episode of The Perfect Rise Podcast, host Kimberly Houston sits down with Lynn Schurman, co-owner of Cold Spring Bakery in Minnesota and former Education Director for the Retail Bakers of America.
Cold Spring Bakery began as a small family operation in 1946, founded by Lynn’s in-laws after her father-in-law learned baking while serving in the Navy during World War II. When Lynn and her husband Dale purchased the bakery in 1986, they faced a major challenge: the business that once supported a single family now needed to support several.
Rather than shrinking back from the pressure, they made a bold decision that changed everything.
By expanding into wholesale distribution, building delivery routes, and strategically balancing retail and business-to-business sales, Cold Spring Bakery evolved into a growing operation with multiple retail locations, dozens of employees, and customers across the region.
In this conversation, Lynn shares:
• How Cold Spring Bakery grew from a small shop to a regional bakery operation
• Why wholesale distribution helped stabilize the business year-round
• The leadership lessons she learned managing more than 60 employees
• The biggest gaps she saw in bakery education during her time with RBA
• Why community bakeries remain such an important part of family traditions
With decades of experience as a bakery owner, industry leader, and educator, Lynn brings a powerful perspective on what it takes to build a bakery that lasts.
If you’ve ever wondered how bakeries grow, adapt, and stay connected to their communities over generations, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
