A loaf reload mechanism for a slicing machine (50) that includes a loaf-loading position in which a loaf is placed during a loading operation. During loading, a gripper (151) moves from a home position clear of the loaf to an engagement position wherein the gripper engages a trailing end of the loaf. During a slicing operation, the gripper moves with the loaf along a longitudinal path into a slicing plane of a slicing blade (149) until the loaf is effectively entirely sliced. The loaf reload mechanism includes a loaf-staging position over the loaf-loading position, the loaf-staging position having a lowering mechanism (602, 604, 606, 612, 614, 616) to position the loaf from the loaf-staging position to the loaf-loading position. The reload mechanism also includes a loaf-ready position laterally adjacent to the loaf-staging position and a sweep mechanism (153) to laterally move the loaf from the loaf-ready position into the loaf-staging position.