Serpe’s Bakery

With the encouragement of the SBDC, Serpe’s Bakery, was able to complete the UD Mid-Atlantic Industrial Assessment Center’s questionnaire so an audit of the client’s facility could be done. The audit was completed and a report issued had many energy cost savings the client could implement.

They had funding from several grants to perform these energy audits for local (within 100-150 miles) entities. They have grants from DOE and EPA to do these audits for manufacturing sites for free. They also have a grant from the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility to perform these audits for DE non-profit organizations for a fee of $250-800 depending upon the size of the facility.

In 1952, Domenico and Lucille Serpe established Serpe & Sons Bakery in Wilmington Delaware on N. Madison St. The small bakery started producing bread and rolls and later added cakes, cinnamon buns, and tomato pie. The Serpes’ older sons made up most of the staff at the time. Serpe’s has serviced many local restaurants and clubs with its single delivery truck.

By 1964, the bakery had outgrown its location on Madison Street and moved to their current location at 1411 Kirkwood Highway. The move made it possible to use more advanced equipment and offer an increased variety of products.

Today, Serpe & Sons Bakery has 5 trucks that deliver all over New Castle County and on into some parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Local customers include Casapulla’s, Capriotti’s, Attillio’s and Mrs. Robino’s just to name a few.

The Serpe family is proud to have been in business for over 60 years, and to have had the support that the entire community has given them. After Domenico and Lucille passed away, the business was passed down to four of their sons; Tony, Richie, Tommy and Dominic. “Being a family business is a hands on business every day” says Dominic. “This is different from chain-link business. When an owner’s name is on the business, there is likely more quality control because I am putting my name on my product.”