The making of Gardetto’s, every party’s favorite snack

It’s hard to imagine a family gathering or football potluck without them. In 1932, a man by the name of Baptiste established a family-owned and operated corner bakery on Milwaukee’s south side.

By the 1980s, Baptiste’s daughter-in-law, Judy, began serving the bakery’s breadstick ends marinated in garlic and Worcestershire sauce to her party guests. It was later combined with the famous rye chips, Chex cereal and pretzels. The final result? “Gardetto’s Deluxe Snak-Ens.”

While the mix originally flourished in gourmet shops, the Gardetto family recognized value in flexibility, pivoting to vending machines. The rest is history.

– Lauren Olson