The Origin of Duffy’s Dough:
A Family Tradition Since 1952
A Family Tradition Since 1952
Duffy’s Dough traces its beginnings to 1952, when Patrick’s parents packed up their two young children — Patrick, just 2 years old, and his sister Joanne, 4 — and drove a well-worn GMC pickup with a twenty-foot trailer from Montana to Alaska, navigating the rugged, unpaved ALCAN Highway. As they began building a new life on the Alaskan frontier, a generous neighbor gifted Mrs. Duffy with a sourdough starter — a living culture said to have originated with miners from the Alaska Gold Rush.
Patrick and Joanne eventually inherited the starter, and their own baking habits continued their family tradition.
Over the pandemic, Patrick began baking sourdough breads in earnest for friends. They kept asking for more. That in turn sparked an inspiration for Patrick and Linda: What if this beloved family tradition could help fight food insecurity in America?
So, in their Colorado garage, born of the same culture caught from the clean Alaskan spring air, one that has never been altered or compromised — hearty, wild, and full of life along with a dream to create something delicious that could give back, Duffy’s Dough was launched.
The idea: an all-in-one kit featuring their treasured dehydrated sourdough starter. Of course, Patrick and Linda knew absolutely nothing about running a business. Thankfully, with the guidance of savvy pals, chief among them Lance Stuart and Steve Kaczmarek, they found their way. First, they had to pass their Colorado food licensing exams. Through the kindness of friends they were able to get to work dehydrating starter in a certified kitchen. More friends were recruited for packing parties in the garage filled with late nights, laughter and rock and roll. They figured their first 200 kits would last four months—until everything sold out before noon on launch day. Within weeks, their home became a full-blown packaging factory, churning out kits around the clock for nearly two years.
Enter Kroger, like a bread-bearing angel, stepping in to help bring Duffy’s Dough to shelves nationwide—with take and bake sourdough loaves. There’s nothing quite like the aroma of baking bread, the depth of its flavor, or the conversations that naturally bloom when people gather to share it. Breaking bread with family or friends opens a window into hope, presence, and everything good about being human.
Today, Duffy’s Dough continues that tradition in a new way and we’re proud to bring this legacy to life through ready-to-enjoy baked goods. Made with the same culture passed down for over 70 years, our breads are here to nourish your table — and hopefully, spark some stories of your own.
It was never just about selling bread — it was about sharing something meaningful, something real. A labor of love, rooted in tradition and shared with joy.
“We’ve spent our lives telling stories through characters, through performances, and now, through something as simple and meaningful as sharing a loaf of bread. Duffy’s Dough is part of our home and our history, and we’re so glad to share it with you.”
- Patrick & Linda
Patrick and Linda have both made their ways as working actors, largely on television and on stage. More importantly, family has been the focus of each of their lives boasting three sons between them and extended family on all sides. They are both grateful to continue the adventure of being actors. They draw strength and joy from the natural world—hiking, biking, skiing, swimming, and the occasional cannonball into a mountain lake. It’s their way of staying connected to something larger, of finding balance in a life filled with art, family, and friendship.