How A Special Ops Veteran And His Military Spouse Built A Bakery Rooted In Grit And Giving Back
Sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union
In Southern Pines, North Carolina, one local bakery makes it easy to justify a daily sweet treat when every baked good gives back.
Bravory Bakehouse was founded by military spouse Erin Vandre and her husband, Nic, an Army special operations veteran. What started as Erin’s home-baking hobby in 2022 quickly gained popularity, leading her to open an official storefront in July 2025. After 22 years of service, Nic stepped into his new mission of building Bravory Bakehouse alongside Erin and finding purpose in entrepreneurship.
The transition wasn’t easy, but with support from their community and organizations that understand military life, like Navy Federal Credit Union, Erin and Nic gained the tools and confidence to take Bravory beyond just baking.
At its core, the business is all about giving back. The “bravo” in the name is a nod to the homefront heroes they do it all for — the military spouses and families who hold everything together while their loved ones are deployed. Every baked good is handmade by a military spouse, and a portion of sales goes toward supporting military families and helping veteran entrepreneurs find their next mission.
Discover how Navy Federal Credit Union helps military-owned businesses like Bravory Bakehouse grow beyond service: https://www.navyfederal.org/services/business.html
See more of Bravory Bakehouse: https://bravorybakehouse.com/
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