Winona's century-old Bloedow Bakery named Retailer of the Year

WINONA, Minn. — Winona's 100-year-old Bloedow Bakery has a new claim to fame.

The Minnesota Retailers Association announced Thursday it has named the beloved bakery its Retailer of the Year and will present the award later this month, as a part of the 2024-2025 Minnesota Retail Champions program.

"We are incredibly honored to receive the Retailer of the Year award," stated Bloedow Bakery co-owner Hugh Polus. "Our customers are like family, and everything we do is for them. From the moment we open our doors each morning, we strive to provide the best possible experience, whether it's their first bite of a fresh donut or a friendly interaction with our staff. We're proud to be part of this community and look forward to continuing our tradition of quality and service for many more years to come."

Bloedow Bakery has become a hot spot in the city of Winona over the past century.

Each day, the bakery's employees serve 300-600 customers.

In May, bakery officials told the Winona Daily News they bake about 3,000-5,400 doughnuts and about 1,140 cookies five nights a week.

Those baked goods and others are created using recipes originally used in 1924, with a few exceptions.

The city's love for Bloedow Bakery has pushed other mainstream doughnut sellers out of the community.

The Winona Daily News reported in 2005 that Krispy Kreme ceded the city to Bloedow Bakery when it pulled its doughnuts from local convenience and grocery store shelves because of poor sales.

The company had sold the doughnuts in the city's stores for less than two years.

Grocers at the time said Winonans preferred Bloedow's doughnuts.

"Bloedow Bakery exemplifies what it means to be a successful retailer in Minnesota," stated Bruce Nustad, president of the Minnesota Retailers Association. "Their unwavering dedication to their customers, their tradition of delivering high-quality baked goods for generations, and their strong ties to the Winona community truly set them apart. Bloedow's is a beloved institution, and we are honored to celebrate their incredible legacy with this award."

Bloedow Bakery was nominated for the award by the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce.

Christie Ransom, the chamber's president and CEO, expressed pride in the business taking the win.

"We are incredibly proud of Bloedow Bakery for being named Minnesota Retailer of the Year," said Ransom. "Their commitment to quality, tradition, and community has made them a beloved institution in Winona and a shining example of retail excellence. This recognition reflects the hard work put into 100 years of local ownership and service, and their dedication to making Winona a sweeter place to live."

Bloedow Bakery, along with other 2024-2025 Minnesota's Retail Champion award recipients, will be honored Oct. 10 at Brookview in Golden Valley.