Vernon's Cobs Bread rises to support community need

Whether your tastebuds crave sweet or savoury, Heather Lastik can satisfy your hunger.

“Our bakers come in at midnight, but our ovens are on until at least 2:30 in the afternoon, bringing out hot stuff,” Lastik says of the team at Cobs Bread.

Cobs won top honours for medium-sized business of the year in the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

Managing growth while facing supply chain and pandemic challenges helped Cobs clinch top spot.

“It was so nice, I mean, I got the call at the airport because we got stuck, but I was grinning from ear to ear like a silly tourist,” says Lastik, adding her brother was able to accept the award on her behalf.

Being the owner of the local Cobs not only allows Lastik to sell her product to the public, it allows her to give back to the community.

“One of the biggest reasons I came to Cobs, even as an employee, is how much we do for charity. Everything we have at the end of day, goes to different charities.

The business donates food to school breakfast programs, shelters, the Feed the Streets program and many other non-profits that serve Greater Vernon.

“When you’re having two to four charities coming in every single night, you want to make sure that everyone is getting the right amount to help as many people as you can,” she says.

Lastik says giving back is a corporate mandate.

Each Cobs location is required to provide donations with a retail value of at least $1,300, every single night.