Customers at Tuesday's grand opening of the Great Harvest Bread Co. store in Bountiful were pleasantly surprised when they reached for their wallets to buy a loaf of bread. It was free.
Owner Steve Newell said the promotion was to celebrate the opening of the store and to mark Valentine's Day."Our valentine to everyone is a free loaf. Unusual, yes. Crazy, maybe. But we're going to do our best to have a great time," Newell said. "Some of our customers are trying to pay, but we won't let them."
The store at 43 E. 500 South features a variety of fresh breads, muffins, scones, oatmeal cookies and cinnamon rolls. Eight varieties of fresh breads are made daily, 20 through the week, Newell said.
His company, which started in 1991 in a store at 900 East and 900 South streets in Salt Lake, uses only simple, pure ingredients, according to Newell.
"It all begins with the wheat. We use only the best wheat available, which is milled right here at our store. It's like eating a tomato or strawberry freshly picked from your garden.
"The fresher the flour, the better the bread," Newell explained. "This, along with a passion for making great bread, helps to make healthy bread that we are proud to serve."
Some varieties of bread on the menu include cherry walnut, garlic cheddar, apricot almond, tomato herb, apple raisin cinnamon, cracked pepper parmesan, honey whole wheat, sunflower whole wheat, light wheat, sourdough and light wheat raisin.
Newell uses no fats, oils, dairy products or preservatives in his breads and said a loaf will stay fresh at room temperature for 10 days to two weeks.
"We guarantee it. Every loaf is kneaded by hand. We believe that something is lost when a metal contraption molds bread in a factory setting," said Newell.
"Perhaps it's the love that was there when all bread was made by hand and every home had steamy windows and smelled delicious."