| It was in the year 1954
that two Italian families, Luigi and Anna Stievano, and Luigi and
Felicita Marson, got together and decided to lease an Italian bakery.
The business was called the International Baking
Co., located on Erie Street in Windsor, Ontario. When the leasing
period ended, they decided to form a new company.
In 1959 Stiemar Bread Co. Ltd., was born. The
name was a blending of the two last names (Stie)vano and (Mar)son.
The main product was a variety of European breads delivered
door to door, to houses and to local businesses and institutions.
In 1969, Stiemar Bread was one of the first bakeries in Windsor
to introduce the ‘Coffee & Donut’ shop. It
was after that, that the larger Canadian doughnut chains
recognized the marketing potential in this area.
In 1970, Luigi and Anna Stievano decided to move to Australia,
to explore new things. Luigi and
Anna
sold their
shares
to Anna’s brother, Vincenzo Della Valle, an employee
since 1955. Vincenzo Della Valle and Luigi Marson continued
to produce the European breads and fancy doughnuts that Windsor
residents
learned
to love.
Ten years later in 1980, Vincenzo approached Luigi about acquiring
his shares of the business , with Luigi remaining part
owner of the buildings and property. He agreed, and Vincenzo,
Angela,
and their son Mark Della Valle, formed Stiemar Bread (Windsor)
Co. Ltd. The product line expanded, with more
varieties of bread and the introduction of pastries, and later
cakes.
Finally, in 1990 Luigi Marson agreed to sell the buildings
and property to Stiemar Bread (Windsor) Co. Ltd. At this
time, Mark
was elected Manager of the company and acquired the majority
of responsibilities of the operation. It was shortly after
that, that Stiemar began exporting their product to the United
States,
requiring Mark to institute two shifts for baking. The business
grew and flourished under Mark’s management. The days
of door to door delivery seem so far away, but are never
forgotten by
the loyal, long time customers who remember the early days.
Even as the company grew, it remained a ‘family business’ in
every sense of the word. In the year 2001, Vincenzo and Angela
divided their business shares among their three children
Mark, Ann Marie and Anita, with Mark remaining the major shareholder.
Vincenzo and Angela remain sole owners of the buildings and
property.
Today, in the year 2005, Anita, Connie, Mark’s wife
of 28 years, and Mark’s son, Vincent, join Vincenzo,
Angela and Mark, in supporting the company. The Della Valle
Family
recognizes the recipe for success is not measured by dedication
to family
alone, but includes the loyalty and hard work of their dedicated
employees, who work side by side with them every day.
Stiemar Bread (Windsor) Co. Ltd. has remained at its
2640 Ouellette Ave location since 1959.
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