Marconi Baking Co

Marconi Baking Co, proudly operating from Chicago Heights, Illinois, is a true legacy business in the Chicagoland area, with roots tracing back to 1911. Founded by Giuseppe Marconi, an Italian immigrant who brought generations of skilled baking traditions from Italy, the company has grown from a small backyard wood-burning oven to a major wholesale operation that supplies fresh, artisan-crafted breads across the Chicagoland area and Northwest Indiana.

Marconi’s reputation is built on its commitment to Old World baking traditions and the use of the freshest, highest-quality ingredients—adhering strictly to a policy of "no additives, no shortcuts, no funny business." This dedication to pure, quality baking is what makes their products, particularly their signature Italian bread, a beloved staple for Illinois residents. The bakery specializes in both wholesale supply to restaurants, delis, and major grocery chains like Jewel, and in offering its distinctive retail products, most notably its famous soft biscotti, based on Antoinette’s cherished family recipe.

The loyalty of their customers is fervent, with many in the local community and South Suburbs insisting that no other product compares. As one passionate customer states, their Italian loaf is the “only Italian bread or loaf I’ll buy,” going so far as to say it “puts Turano and other brands to shame.” This sentiment underscores the profound connection this Chicago Heights institution has with the regional food culture.

Marconi Baking Co operates from its original and historic location in the heart of Chicago Heights, a town rich with Italian and European immigrant history. This is not a typical storefront retail bakery, but a commercial and wholesale production facility.

The official address is: 212 E 16th St, Chicago Heights, IL 60411, USA.

The bakery proudly notes that it is still baking out of the same building that Giuseppe and Assunta Marconi moved into to raise their family and operate the popular business over a century ago. This location serves as the central hub for their extensive wholesale distribution network that stretches throughout the Chicagoland area.

For customers, accessibility is focused on the pick-up of orders:

• Service Options: Takeout service is available, specifically for wholesale customers with an account or for those placing large custom/catering orders who arrange for pickup in advance.
• Retail Availability: While there is no retail storefront, the baked goods—especially the bread—are highly accessible to the general public across Illinois, as they are widely distributed to major grocery chains like Jewel and numerous local restaurants.
• Payment Options: The facility accepts Debit cards for payment, facilitating transactions for pickups.

For all other customers, the products are readily available at retail outlets across the Southwest, South, and Northwest Indiana Suburbs of Chicago, making the quality of Marconi bread easily accessible throughout the region.

Marconi Baking Co operates primarily as a wholesale bakery but extends its offerings to retail customers through various channels:

• Wholesale Bread Production: Supplies a wide variety of high-quality, artisan-crafted Italian, French, and American breads, dough, and bread products to restaurants (like the famous Patsys Pizza), delis, and grocery stores across the Chicagoland area. Products include classic Italian loaves, Old World loaves, Sandwich/Sub Rolls, French Bread, and various buns.
• Signature Retail Biscotti: Offers its famous, soft biscotti—based on the family recipe of Antoinette—which is available for online ordering and shipping nationwide, and can be found in select grocery stores and specialty shops. Available flavors include Lemon Peel, Orange Peel, Anise Almond, and Chocolate Chunk Orange Biscotti Boxes (priced at $5.98).
• Custom and Large Orders: Accommodates custom, larger, and catering orders for special events and foodservice needs, which can be placed in advance for direct pickup.
• Retail Bread Distribution: Its popular breads, such as the Classic Italian Loaf, are sliced and unsliced and can be found in the bread aisles of major Illinois grocery chains for everyday purchase.
• Specialty Dough and Shells: Supplies dough and shells for making pizza, bread, and desserts to commercial partners.

Marconi Baking Co has several defining features that cement its status as a premier wholesale bakery in Illinois:

• Over 110 Years of Tradition: Established in 1911, the bakery continues to operate from its original building in Chicago Heights, carrying on four generations of Italian baking tradition and culture, which speaks volumes about its consistency and deeply rooted quality.
• Unrivaled Italian Bread: The Italian loaf is widely celebrated by customers as the "best bread ever" and is considered by many locals to be superior to large competitors like Turano, making it a beloved, benchmark product for sandwiches, pasta, and everyday dining.
• Commitment to Purity: A core value is the use of only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, with an explicit promise of "absolutely no additives, no shortcuts, no funny business," ensuring a clean and authentically great flavor in every bite.
• Antoinette’s Soft Biscotti: A unique retail specialty is their famous soft biscotti, which sets them apart from the hard, traditional Italian cookie. This softer version, based on a cherished family recipe, is available for individual purchase and shipping across all 50 US states.
• Wholesale Partnership with Local Favorites: The fact that well-regarded local institutions like Patsys Pizza choose Marconi for their bread underscores the quality and reliability of the company’s wholesale product line.

For wholesale inquiries, custom orders, or questions regarding product availability in the Chicago Heights and Chicagoland area, please use the following contact information:

• Address: 212 E 16th St, Chicago Heights, IL 60411, USA
• Phone: (708) 757-6315
• Mobile Phone: +1 708-757-6315

For Illinois residents, choosing Marconi Baking Co is choosing a century of authentic Italian baking tradition over mass-market alternatives. The compelling reason to choose Marconi is the unparalleled quality of their Italian bread, which has generated fierce loyalty from customers who grew up with the brand and still rely on it for their most cherished family recipes. This is bread that is more than just a side; it is a foundational component of Chicago-area Italian cuisine.

If you are a restaurant owner or deli operator in the Chicagoland area, partnering with Marconi for wholesale supply guarantees you are serving your customers a product that is already recognized and passionately preferred by locals, potentially boosting the reputation of your own menu items, as seen with local restaurants that proudly use Marconi bread.

For the everyday consumer, the accessibility of their products in major grocery stores like Jewel, combined with the option to order their unique soft biscotti for a special treat, ensures that you don't have to sacrifice old-world quality for convenience. Marconi Baking Co is a worthy choice because it delivers fresh, artisan-crafted bread—baked with quality ingredients and zero additives—that genuinely honors the rich Italian culinary heritage of the Chicago Heights and South Suburban community.

Marconi Baking Co

212 E 16th St, Chicago Heights, IL 60411, USA