New Age Baking Company is based on a simple concept.
“What we’re doing is an old style of baking with a new twist,” says No’Val Alexander, baker and owner of the New Carlisle, IN, bakery. He describes this twist as “hands-on, handmade baking with more flavors and creativity.”
Alexander grew up in Gary, IN, and has worked in recipe formulation for some big-name companies. In 1996, he worked at his first bakery, Dawn Food Products in Crown Point, IN. There he spent more than 20 years baking behind the scenes. During that time, he attended and graduated from the American Institute of Baking in Manhattan, KS.
After 12 years of formulating artisan-inspired bread recipes for national chain restaurants, Alexander ventured out on his own to open New Age Baking Company.
New Age opened in April 2017 and offers a smorgasbord of baked goods, including many varieties of donuts, fruit turnovers and doughy pizza with housemade sauce sold whole or by the slice. The family bakery also makes cookies, pies and custom cakes.
“What we do is we give you full flavors,” says Alexander. “We don’t just give you a strawberry-flavored donut; we give you a strawberry donut with real strawberries.”
Alexander focuses on the fundamentals of baking. He learned the mechanics in school and learned the spirit of baking through many years of hands-on experience.
“I learned the ins and outs of baking, and that’s when I got the passion for it—because I understood it,” he says.
Alexander is determined to sell delicious baked goods at an enticing price.
“I want to show people that you can get a good product for a reasonable cost,” he says. Not just good, but also BIG. “We sell big donuts, we sell big brownies, and it’s not killing your pocketbook.”
New Age is on Michigan Street among many charming historic buildings. It’s flanked by Moser’s Austrian Cafe and a hardware store. New Age is family- and neighborhood-oriented. People know Alexander and his family who run the bakery with him.
Alexander’s wife, Lori, and their kids help with the baking and run the counter. Eight-year-old Nason is especially keen. He loves to bake with his dad. The family atmosphere, in addition to Alexander’s baked goods, gives New Age a special place in the community.
“[The community] supports us 100 percent,” he says. New Age attracts customers from Michigan City, Mishawaka, Granger and elsewhere. “They’re loyal, too—many of them come every weekend.”
This transition from working for big companies to working for himself has been “busy and hard,” says Alexander. “It’s exciting to work for yourself. I can tell you that.”
125 E. Michigan St.
New Carlisle, IN
574.988.0068
newagebakingcompany.com
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