The Dough Bar is thriving under Marquez Fernandez’s leadership

2021 CEO of the Year Finalist

Eric Peterson //December 28, 2021//

The Dough Bar is thriving under Marquez Fernandez’s leadership

2021 CEO of the Year Finalist

Eric Peterson //December 28, 2021//

Screen Shot 2021 11 05 At 12.16.20 Pm

Marquez Fernandez

The Dough Bar | Fort Collins

In 2018, Marquez and his wife and business partner Ondrea made the decision to move their headquarters from the prohibitively expensive Bay Area of California to Colorado. They also took the opportunity to bring production in-house, retain (rather than the co-packer) they used in California.

The transition itself would turn out to be tough. Expenses added up much quicker than expected due to unforeseen repairs and costs. The company was forced to borrow funds to keep operating.

Fast-forward a couple years and the Dough Bar, billed as “a healthy alternative to the average donut,” is thriving under the 36-year-old Marquez’s leadership. Sales were up 75% over the first quarter of 2020. With 42 employees, Dough Bar boasts three retail storefronts and plans to open another three in the coming months.

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This article is part of ColoradoBiz magazine’s 2021 CEO of the Year feature. Read more about this year’s finalists: 

CARLOS ABISAMBRA | TODD BOWLING | SCOTT FARRELL | MARQUEZ FERNANDEZ | TIFFANY GRUNERT | CRAIG HENDERSON | ROBIN THURSTON | MARTHA WEIDMANN | ASHLEY WILLIAMS