Peggy Bakes Expands Production to Nourish in Sheboygan County
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI- Fueled by growing enthusiasm of customers across Wisconsin and nationwide, Valders-based Peggy Bakes is gearing up to expand production at Nourish Farms’ commercial kitchen in Sheboygan County in the coming weeks.
With support from the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC), Progress Lakeshore, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Green Bay, and the Food Finance Institute, founder Peggy Sonnenburg has successfully nurtured her small-batch, big-flavor granola business from a home kitchen concept to a rapidly growing, in-demand brand within her first year of business.
Founded in May 2024 in Valders, Wisconsin, Peggy Bakes began as a response to a personal challenge: finding snacks without refined sugar that didn't sacrifice flavor. With unique recipes based on thoughtfully sourced ingredients, such as Montmorency cherries, French cocoa, fresh lemon zest, Wisconsin-made maple syrup, and raw honey, Peggy Bakes has quickly won over granola fans locally and nationally.
“What started in my home kitchen has grown faster than I ever imagined,” says Sonnenburg. “I’m so excited about what this next chapter means for me, for Nourish, and for the customers who have made all of this possible.”
The expansion to the Nourish commercial kitchen isn’t just about increasing capacity. It’s also about deepening local roots. A Sheboygan native, Sonnenburg has long supported and volunteered for the Sheboygan Falls-based nonprofit, which promotes good-food education and experiences, sustainability, and community engagement. By producing granola on-site, Peggy Bakes helps Nourish generate additional revenue for its educational programs, while Sonnenburg gains access to a commercial facility that enables larger-scale production without compromising quality. “Nourish is happy to not only offer our kitchen and farm for educational opportunities, but we are also glad that our kitchen can support local, mission-aligned businesses as they grow. We are proud to be an advocate for small producers and farmers, promoting local and seasonal foods, and helping our community make wholesome food choices”, Ryan Laswell, Executive Director, Nourish Farms.
Importantly, Peggy Bakes is maintaining its headquarters in Manitowoc County. The brand's heart and story remain tied to the community where it all began and where Sonnenburg continues to manage operations, strategy, and growth.
Sonnenburg is thankful for the assistance offered by SCEDC and SBDC Business Counselor Ray York with her start-up planning.
"Ray York has been pivotal to my success. He’s answered countless questions, connected me to the right resources, and constantly looks for ways to support my journey. In fact, he was the one who told me about the local Pitch Competition, something I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise, which led to two wins (county and regional), press coverage, and a surge of new customers. That kind of guidance is invaluable when you're building something from scratch."
This next phase of growth comes as Peggy Bakes has seen online orders ship to over 20 states and increasing interest from retail partners and specialty food stores across Wisconsin. With the new production capacity, Sonnenburg plans to grow her wholesale footprint and bring on additional support for baking, packaging, and market sales.
"The feedback and support from our community has been incredible," she adds. "It's clear that people are craving better snack options that taste amazing and are made with integrity. That's what Peggy Bakes is here to offer."
Contact: Peggy Sonnenburg, Founder
Email: peggy@peggybakes.com
Phone: 617-448-8229
Website: www.peggybakes.com
Follow Peggy Bakes:
Instagram: @peggybakesco
Facebook: Peggy Bakes
LinkedIn: Peggy Sonnenburg
The Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) is a public-private partnership leading economic, community, and workforce development efforts in Sheboygan County to improve the well-being and long-term prosperity of businesses, residents, and communities. Through technical assistance, the SCEDC leverages a variety of tools to encourage business growth, startups, investment, skill development, and talent attraction. By applying the appropriate resources, the SCEDC helps fulfill Sheboygan County's growing economic and business needs.
