People's Food Co-op Purchases Fayze's Bakery, Continuing Availability of the Beloved Breads in La Crosse and Beyond

Nov. 17, 2023 — People's Food Co-op (PFC) today announced its purchase of the former Fayze's bakery. Starting immediately, Fayze's breads will be available at the co-op.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the Fayze's bakery line, which is loved by so many of our owners and throughout the La Crosse community," said Lizzy Haywood, PFC’s CEO. "This new opportunity allows us to expand our bakery and grow the co-op's business in new ways.”

After a particularly challenging time in the restaurant business, Drew and Kelsey Williams decided to close and preferably sell Fayze's, looking for new owners for the restaurant and bakery. They officially closed the restaurant and bakery doors on Oct. 8, 2023. 

"Having PFC ­­­– a community-focused downtown business ­– purchase the Fayze's bakery is a best-case scenario for us," said Drew Williams, former owner of Fayze's, along with his wife, Kelsey, since 2008. "We are so pleased our former bakers are finding a new home at the co-op. And it's wonderful to know these recipes will continue to be enjoyed by Fayze's fans in the La Crosse community, as well as by new customers."  

PFC now owns all of Fayze's bakery recipes, the bakery equipment, and will continue the lease on the bakery space. To date, the co-op has hired back three former Fayze's bakery staff to continue baking the Fayze's recipes they know so well, as well as Co-op’s Own™ bakery items.

"While purchasing a bakery was not on the co-op's radar, we did have plans to upgrade some key aspects of our bakery. We are grateful to the Williams and Wakeen families for sharing this opportunity with us," said Haywood. "This purchase gives us additional capacity for baking, and brings wonderful, knowledgeable and experienced bakery employees who formerly worked for Fayze’s and intimately know the recipes."

PFC is already baking Fayze's breads, which are available now at the co-op in La Crosse and Rochester. The co-op will continue offering its own line of bakery items under the Co-op’s Own™ brand.

For a list of bakery items offered, please visit www.pfc.coop/deli-bakery-specials.