• The Flour Girl Bakery Named a 2026 Connecticut Business Excellence Award Honoree by Hartford Business Journal

    Press Release

    The Flour Girl Bakery Named a 2026 Connecticut Business Excellence Award Honoree by Hartford Business Journal

    Hebron bakery recognized in the For-Profit Business category for growth, innovation and community impact


    HEBRON, Conn.  — The Flour Girl Bakery, LLC has been named a 2026 Connecticut Business Excellence Award honoree by the Hartford Business Journal, recognized in the For-Profit Business (1–50 Employees) category. The awards program honors organizations across Connecticut that have distinguished themselves through business success, innovation and service to their communities.
    Honorees were announced in HBJ's August 24 edition, in print and online, and will be celebrated at an awards event on Wednesday, September 30 at Farmington Gardens in Farmington.
    What began in 2019 as bread baked for front-porch pickups has grown into a four-building campus on Main Street in Hebron, encompassing an artisan bakery, café, country store and private event venue. The bakery is known regionally for its more than 80 sourdough varieties, pastries and coffee, and employs 40 people.
    This year the business opened its largest addition to date: a 60-seat café that expanded seating, created new jobs and established a full gathering space alongside the bakery production facility, country store and event venue.
    "At the end of the day, we're here to feed people well and make them feel at home — one loaf, one cup of coffee, and one gathering at a time," said Michelle Nicholson, founder and owner.
    Asked about future plans, Nicholson said the next chapter looks different from the last five years.
    "After four buildings in five years, I asked my staff about future growth. Their answer was 'please, no more buildings,'" she said. "So we're going to grow smarter, not bigger — tighten our systems, deepen the café experience, expand online sales, and keep making the bread people drive for."
    The recognition follows a series of honors for Nicholson, who was named Connecticut Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2025 and has been recognized as a U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO-100 honoree and a Hartford Business Journal 40 Under Forty recipient.
    The Flour Girl reinvests in the region through charitable giving and local sponsorships, prioritizes living-wage jobs, and supports area schools and nonprofits. Its campus regularly serves as a gathering place for community events and celebrations.
    The Connecticut Business Excellence Awards are a new program from the Hartford Business Journal recognizing honorees across four categories: for-profit companies, nonprofit organizations, family-owned businesses and women-owned businesses.

    About The Flour Girl Bakery

    The Flour Girl Bakery, LLC is a four-building campus at 12 Main Street in Hebron, Connecticut, comprising an artisan bakery, café, country store and The Dooryard private event venue. Founded in 2019, the business specializes in handcrafted sourdough, pastries and prepared foods, and hosts private and community gatherings. More information is available at theflourgirlct.com.

    The Flour Girl Bakery Named a 2026 Connecticut Business Excellence Award Honoree by Hartford Business Journal
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