Between Rounds Celebrates 25-Year Partnership with Highland Park Market

Photo credit: J. Fiereck Photography

Shown: Jerry and Joe Puiia, founders of Between Rounds (on right) present Bob Thatcher, bakery manager and Tim Devanney, president (on left) of Highland Park Market with a plaque in recognition and appreciation of their 25-year bagel partnership.

Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café, a growing bakery café and bagel shop with locations throughout Connecticut, is celebrating their silver anniversary of a partnership with award-winning Highland Park Market, which has five stores in the Hartford, CT area.

For 25 years, Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café has been supplying their signature bagels to Highland Park Market, a family-owned and operated chain of retail grocery stores located in Coventry, Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester and Suffield. Founded as a small general store by William White in 1886, it was purchased by Jack Devanney in 1958. Jack's son, Tim Devanney, currently leads Highland Park Market and his children, the third generation, are now active in day-to-day operations, continuing to ensure that their family of customers receives the highest quality products and the highest quality of service.

In recognition and appreciation of their 25-year partnership, Jerry and Joe Puiia, founders of Between Rounds, presented Tim Devanney, president of Highland Park Markets and Bob Thatcher, the store's bakery manager for the past 30 years, with a plaque in a ceremony held in the bakery of the original store in Manchester on March 15th.

"We're honored that our bagels hold a premiere position in Highland Park Market's bakery and have done so for 25 years. We are also a family-owned business, and it has been our pleasure to work with the Devanney family over the years," said Jerry Puiia, co-owner of Between Rounds. "Highland Park Market customers are able to obtain our superior products right from their local supermarket, and this has significantly increased our bagel fan base."

"We've recently been named 2017 Outstanding Independent Bakery by Progressive Grocer," said Devanney. "A lot of what we do is from scratch and having fresh baked Between Rounds bagels in our bakery most certainly played a part in our receiving this award."

Between Rounds has been in business for more than two decades and is the brainchild of the Puiia brothers, who are Staten Island, NY natives. Between Rounds current locations include South Windsor (Route 5); Vernon (at Vernon Circle Shopping Center and also at 229 Talcottville Road inside the Citgo gas station); Manchester (Plaza at Buckland Hills); and Tolland (adjacent to Citgo Express Gas at 206 Merrow Road). The Puiia hallmark is manufacturing and selling their own bagels, which sets them apart from other cafés. The popularity of their bagels inspired the Puiias to partner with independent grocers. The bagels are delivered to grocers fully baked so no additional labor is required of the bakery department.

"Between Rounds provides a high quality product. Simply put, really great tasting bagels that are very popular with our customers - and we always listen to our customers," noted Devanney.

For more information about Highland Park Market, visit www.highlandparkmarket.com.

For more information about Between Rounds, visit visit www.betweenroundsbagels.com.