ALTON - As Duke Bakery celebrates its 75th year in Alton, the business is introducing a new “Duke on the Go” trailer.
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Ben Hollis, one of the owners of Duke Bakery, explained that the trailer will travel to farmers’ markets, festivals, parties and other events to sell Duke’s pastries and beverages. The trailer will debut at the 250 on the Mississippi event on July 1, 2026, at Haskell Park.
“With this being our 75th anniversary year here in Alton, we were looking at things to kind of introduce this year to help celebrate the 75th anniversary,” Hollis said. “The whole premise to this is to make it more convenient for our customers to get our products.”
Hollis is excited to share Duke’s products with people across the Metro East region. He noted that Duke has rented out space for parties at their Granite City location, but this changed after the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The trailer allows them to be present at events once again. The team looks forward to bringing their products to people in the future.
“We do have a following from other areas other than just Alton or Granite City,” Hollis said. “To be able to go into other communities, I think, is the goal here. We’re just really excited about it. We’re excited to get out in the community, and I like doing different things. I like the challenge as well as the interaction with the customers.”
He explained that Duke on the Go is “a branding, a logo that is going to encompass everything that we do.” The trailer will bring different products to each event depending on the event’s premise. For example, an early-morning farmers’ market might lend itself better to donuts, while an afternoon birthday party will have cupcakes.
On July 1, they will primarily focus on their soda line, but they plan to bring a 75-foot long cake to celebrate America’s birthday as well. Hollis is excited to be a part of the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau’s 250 on the Mississippi celebration.
He added that Duke’s 75th anniversary has encouraged the bakery to celebrate, first by launching the soda brand last year and now by starting the Duke on the Go trailer. Hollis thanked Alton and Granite City for their support over the years, adding that the bakery would not be marking this milestone without the community standing behind them.
“People often ask, ‘My gosh, how does a business stay in business for 75 years, especially within the same family?’” he said. “I don’t feel that it’s anything that we have necessarily done. It’s the support that the community, the Alton community primarily, has shown us over 75 years. It’s because of the community. That’s why we’re still here. And I think that that should be the main focus this year. It’s not a celebration of Duke Bakery. It’s more of a celebration of this community and how they really do stand behind the businesses in their town and show that support.”
Hollis added that he is currently working on a deal to bring the Duke soda line to businesses along Route 66 across Missouri. He joked that he “never required much sleep,” which is why he is able to do so much.
“We’re super excited,” he added. “Just keep your eyes peeled.”
For more information about Duke Bakery, including how to order, or to receive updates about the Duke on the Go trailer, visit their official website or Facebook page.
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