Gonnella Baking Co. announces the opening of a research center within its Schaumburg, Ill., facility. This brand-new, state-of-the-art facility allows the company to effectively address its commitment to continuously improving processes. Additionally, the research center will enhance Gonnella’s capabilities to develop new products, allowing the bakery to anticipate client needs and respond rapidly to consumer-driven changes in the marketplace.

“We are a leader in research and development for frozen dough and baked items,” says vice president of sales and marketing Tom Marcucci. “Gonnella recognizes that innovation drives business forward, so we listen and react to our customers’ ideas for growth.”

The nearly 2,000-sq.-ft. research center boasts state-of-the-art ovens, proof boxes, mixers, storage for dry ingredients, a refrigerator and a freezer, in addition to a variety of workspaces. These components are designed to mimic the environment customers experience at the store level. It will serve as an instructional center for employees and a training facility for customers and bakery technicians alike.

“We strive to continuously improve the quality of our bread and dough items in order to effectively respond to the demands of both our existing and potential customers,” says Ruth Meyer, Gonnella’s vice president of research and development. “Our product development process guides the R&D team from the beginning concept to market introduction, ensuring a consistent, quality product every step of the way.”

For more than 125 years, Gonnella has maintained a commitment to superior quality bakery products combined with a high standard of customer service. Still family-owned and -operated, the company is a national distributer of bread and dough products. In addition to delivering bread daily to retailers and restaurants from Green Bay, Wis., to Indianapolis, the bakery provides frozen dough, par-baked products and fully baked frozen items.

The company produces more than 4 million lb. of product weekly in four modern facilities. Its Aurora and Schaumburg, Ill., plants, along with its newest facility in Hazle Township, Pa., have been recognized by BRC Global Standards and AIB International for quality in food safety. Gonnella serves retailers across the country, including in-store bakeries, grocers, delis and convenience stores, as well as the foodservice industry, including restaurants, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), concessions and healthcare and educational facilities.