Warm cookies, freshly baked bread and delicious doughnuts.
If your mouth is beginning to water, then you’re in luck, because these treats are nearby. Wegmans, the grocery store just outside of Binghamton in Johnson City, is famous for its different specialty departments, like the bakery. John Stewart is the man behind the bakery, and he definitely knows a thing or two about the business.
With his start as a part-time delivery boy for a local grocery store, Stewart saw his opportunity when the head of the bakery department at the other store decided to retire. Working as his apprentice, Stewart began to learn firsthand what it takes to work in a bakery, as well as run it. Not to mention the large increase in working hours he received, which only sweetened the deal. Soon after, he made the transition to Wegmans and because of this baking background was able to quickly become manager of the bakery.
With Wegmans, Stewart said he instantly knew he had found the right place.
“I knew that it was an up-and-coming company that could offer me stability and longevity,” he said.
By the look of things, he was right. Stewart’s been working at Wegmans for 23 years, and he couldn’t be more content.
“Wegmans really makes my job easy,” he said. “They are completely on top of helping their employees and making sure they have the best equipment.”
Being bakery manager requires a diverse knowledge of many skills involved with running a business. As manager, Stewart is responsible for much of the paper work and scheduling aspects of the job.
“It’s very hands-on,” he said. “I have a lot of responsibilities and I try not to spend all day at my desk, otherwise I’ll start to loose the baking skills I’ve acquired.”
Well-versed in the ways of baking and business, Stewart has yet another skill up his sleeve: teaching.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my job is the ability to teach and train someone and watch them have fun and perfect their skills,” he said. “I used to coach baseball and it was the best thing to watch the kids get better. I’ve carried that with me into my job.”