On this episode, we chat with Will Seppi, owner of Costeaux French Bakery, about the 100-year history of this beloved Sonoma County bakery. Will shares how the business has evolved over the decades, while staying true to its old-world baking traditions and commitment to community. We also discuss some of the challenges facing small business owners today, including managing a multigenerational workforce and providing quality, affordable benefits.

Show Notes:

• Costeaux French Bakery was founded in 1923 as a French-American bakery distributing bread in Sonoma County [00:00:48]
• The business was purchased by a French couple, John and Annie Costeaux, in 1972. The Seppi family bought it from them in 1981. [00:01:11]
• Today Costeaux has 130 employees across multiple locations in Sonoma County, including a flagship cafe in Healdsburg. [00:02:21]
• Core values like community, family, quality, and service guide decisions as the business grows. [00:02:37]
• Managing a multigenerational workforce brings opportunities and challenges. [00:03:30]
• Hiring for culture fit is crucial. Costeaux aims to create an interview process that gets to know candidates. [00:04:12]
• Providing quality benefits at reasonable costs is an ongoing struggle, especially with rising insurance rates. [00:05:47]
• Costeaux offers perks like employee discounts and birthday cakes to show appreciation. [00:08:25]
• The bakery aims to maintain its culture by empowering managers to lead by example. [00:10:11]
• Keeping service personal and human-focused is important, even as technology permeates business. No kiosk ordering at Costeaux! [00:19:03]

Contact:

Andrew McNeil: AndrewM@arrowbenefitsgroup.com

Rosario Avila: RosarioA@arrowbenefitsgroup.com