Bost's Bread facts for kids

Bost's Bread was a famous type of bread that many people in the southern United States enjoyed. It was especially popular in the western parts of North Carolina and South Carolina, as well as in Virginia and Tennessee. Another similar bread, called Bunny Bread, was sold in the eastern parts of the Carolinas and Virginia. Both breads were made with very similar recipes.

What Was Bost's Bread?

Bost's Bread was a well-loved brand of baked bread. It became a household name in the areas where it was sold. People often bought it for their daily meals and special occasions.

The Bakery's Big Days

At its busiest time, the Bost's Bakery was a very large employer. About 2,000 people worked there, mostly in and around Shelby, North Carolina. This made the bakery a very important part of the local community.

How Bost's Bread Became Famous

Bost's Bread became widely known because of its fun and catchy advertisements. A musician named Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith and his band, the Crackerjacks, helped with this. They had television shows on WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina, which Bost's Bread sponsored.

Catchy Slogans

The advertisements used memorable slogans that people loved to repeat. These phrases became part of the everyday language in the areas where the bread was sold. Some popular slogans included:

• "If it's Fresher'n Bost's it's Still in the Oven"
• "The Best Taste You Ever Toasted"
• "Baked Slow to Sell Fast"

These slogans helped make Bost's Bread a favorite for many families.

The End of an Era

Around 1986, the Bost's Bakery was sold to another big company. This company was called Wonder Bread, which was part of Continental Baking Co. Wonder Bread continued to run the bakery for about six years, until 1992.

New Products and Changes

When Wonder Bread took over, they added their own popular products to the bakery's line. These included their famous Wonder Bread, as well as sweet treats like Twinkies and frosted cupcakes. So, alongside the familiar Bost's Bread, customers could now buy these new items.

The Bakery Closes Its Doors

In 1992, the company that owned Bost's and Wonder Bread decided to close the bakery in Shelby, North Carolina. They also closed a bakery in Thomasville, North Carolina, that made hamburger and hotdog buns. This marked the end of a special chapter for the people of Shelby and Cleveland County, North Carolina.

What Happened to the Recipes?

Even after the bakery closed, the recipes and ideas behind Bost's Bread were not lost. In the early 1990s, these valuable recipes were sold to Waldensian Bakeries. This company was owned by the Rostan family, who had been bakers for a long time and made a rival product called Sunbeam Bread.

The Final Chapter

Waldensian Bakeries was then sold in 1995 to the Flowers Baking Company. For a few years, Flowers Baking Company continued to sell Bost's Bread alongside their own products. However, around the year 2000, the Bost's Bread brand was gradually stopped. This brought an end to a beloved bread that had been a part of many homes for decades.