Tom Pritchard did not get his start in the "Typical born in a bakery - famiy business" type of beginning. His Mother loved to bake homemae bread, pies, and cinnamon rolls. When she developed severe Rhrumatioid Arthritis he learned the "rudiments" of the baking and cooking as a matter of necessity, never planning on pursuing a baking career.
When he got out of the Navy in 1969 he started to work at Randall Foods in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He worked in the bakery and learned baking with Karl Miesemer, a Greman master Baker and Bernard DeBoer, a Dutch Master Baker, he learned on the job. In April of 1980 Tom took over as manager of the bakery. Tome worked tirelessly for Randall's achieving several awards for his proficiency and skill. He spoke at the National Grocer's convention on " Running a Profitable Bakery."
In 1992 he achieved Master Baker Certification in the Retai Baker's Association. In 1998 he went to work for HyVee in Fort Dodge, Iowa. This bakery has been in the " million dollar sales club," the last two years! The sales have topped the million dollare mark by $200,000,000 and $300,000,000.
Tom was a member, Board Memeber , and President of the Iowa Bakers. Since 2007 he has been on the Upper Miswest Bakery Assocaiton Board. In 2008 he became an instructor in the Culinary Arts program at the local Community College. He teaches Basic and Adavanced Baking and pastry classes.
Tom's children have spent many years in the baking trade. Tom's partner in the baking industry is his wife Judy who works with him every day. Tom enjoys being able to share his passion for scatch baking with his Grand children also!
