Haydel’s Bakery, Jefferson, La., was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year. “It was indeed a great honor,” said David Haydel Sr. “For us as a bakery, it was unique that the SBA thought enough of our business and our industry to give us this award.”

The third-generation Haydel family-owned bakery was selected as the national winner after being chosen as the state and five-state regional winner. The award honors a family-owned and operated business that has been passed from one generation to another. The winner is selected based on evidence of success as measured by sales and profits, increase in employment for family and nonfamily members, potential for long-term business success and economic growth, and community involvement. The Haydel family was honored at an SBA dinner in Washington, D.C., last month.

Specializing in fine pastries, wedding cakes and king cakes, Haydel’s Bakery opened in 1959 as a 24-hour donut shop. It has expanded into one of the largest mail order bakeries in the New Orleans area. The bakery ships 40,000 to 60,000 king cakes each year, mostly during Carnival season with thousands more are sold to local residents. In 2010, the bakery made the world’s largest king cake, raising more than $48,000 for breast cancer research.