Flowers Foods
Encyclopedia
Flowers Foods, headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia
, is a producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the United States. The company operates 39 bakeries that produce breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and pastries. The company’s products are sold regionally through an extensive direct-store-delivery network that encompasses the southeastern, mid-Atlantic, and southwest US, plus select markets in California and Nevada, and nationwide through other delivery systems.
Flowers' key brands include Nature's Own, Whitewheat, Cobblestone Mill, Mrs. Freshley's
, and Blue Bird. Flowers also markets products under the following company-owned and franchised brands: Aunt Hattie’s, Betsy Ross, Bunny, ButterKrust, Captain John Derst, Country Hearth, Dandee, Evangeline Maid, Flowers, Holsum
, Ideal, Mi Casa, Roman Meal
, Sunbeam
, and Tastykake
; the latter, long associated with Philadelphia, was acquired in April 2011.
Flowers Foods has two operating segments. The Direct Store Delivery (DSD) Segment handles fresh breads, buns, rolls, and snack cakes that are sold regionally through a network of independent distributors. The company is continually expanding its market reach through acquisitions and by stretching its current territory. Flowers’ Warehouse Segment is responsible for the national distribution of frozen snack cakes and breads and rolls that are sold direct to customers' warehouses. Flowers' Mrs. Freshley's brand of snack cakes is available nationally to retail and vending customers through this segment, as is the European Bakers' brand of frozen specialty breads and rolls, which is available nationally to retail in-store bakeries and foodservice customers.
. The bakery met with success, and began to ship its products to the surrounding communities. In 1937, the company acquired a bakery in Tallahassee, Florida
, marking the start of a history of growth by acquisition. In 1944, Flowers became the 6th bakery in the U.S. to franchise Quality Bakers of America’s Sunbeam
brand and Little Miss Sunbeam for its white bread. In 1968, the company became Flowers Industries, and began trading over-the-counter stock. Less than a year later, Flowers listed on the American Stock Exchange. In 1982, the company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FLO. In the mid-1990s, it acquired the Keebler Company
and Mrs. Smith's Pies
. In 2001, Flowers sold its investment in Keebler to the Kellogg Company
and delivered $1.24 billion to its shareholders. Flowers’ remaining business units, Flowers Bakeries and Mrs. Smith’s Bakeries, were then spun off into a new company called Flowers Foods. In 2003, Flowers Foods sold its Mrs. Smith’s frozen dessert business to the Schwan Food Company
. In 2008, it acquired ButterKrust Bakery in Lakeland, Florida
, and merged with Holsum Bakery in Phoenix
.
Flowers has made more than 110 acquisitions.
Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
, is a producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the United States. The company operates 39 bakeries that produce breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and pastries. The company’s products are sold regionally through an extensive direct-store-delivery network that encompasses the southeastern, mid-Atlantic, and southwest US, plus select markets in California and Nevada, and nationwide through other delivery systems.
Flowers' key brands include Nature's Own, Whitewheat, Cobblestone Mill, Mrs. Freshley's
Mrs. Freshley's
Mrs. Freshley's is a brand of snack cakes produced and distributed by Flowers Foods. Varieties of this brand include Honeybuns, Pecan Twirls, Creme Fingers , Swiss Rolls, Peanut-butter Wafers , Brownies, Creme-filled Cookies, and many more. Honeybuns were first invented by Howard Lee Griffin in...
, and Blue Bird. Flowers also markets products under the following company-owned and franchised brands: Aunt Hattie’s, Betsy Ross, Bunny, ButterKrust, Captain John Derst, Country Hearth, Dandee, Evangeline Maid, Flowers, Holsum
Holsum Bread
Holsum Bread is an American brand of packaged sliced white bread. The Holsum name was being used by many retail bakeries, independently, around the country by the early 1900s. In 1908, the W. E...
, Ideal, Mi Casa, Roman Meal
Roman Meal
Roman Meal is an American bread company in Tacoma, Washington. Founded there in 1912, the company focuses on whole-grain products, including bread, hot cereal, and snack bars.-History:...
, Sunbeam
Sunbeam Bread
Sunbeam Bread is a franchised brand of white bread, rolls, and other baked goods owned by the Quality Bakers of America cooperative. The bread products are produced and distributed by eight regional bakeries located in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania,...
, and Tastykake
Tastykake
Tastykake is the brandname for a line of snack foods manufactured by the Tasty Baking Company, currently headquartered at the Philadelphia Naval Business Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1914 by Philip J. Baur and Herbert T...
; the latter, long associated with Philadelphia, was acquired in April 2011.
Flowers Foods has two operating segments. The Direct Store Delivery (DSD) Segment handles fresh breads, buns, rolls, and snack cakes that are sold regionally through a network of independent distributors. The company is continually expanding its market reach through acquisitions and by stretching its current territory. Flowers’ Warehouse Segment is responsible for the national distribution of frozen snack cakes and breads and rolls that are sold direct to customers' warehouses. Flowers' Mrs. Freshley's brand of snack cakes is available nationally to retail and vending customers through this segment, as is the European Bakers' brand of frozen specialty breads and rolls, which is available nationally to retail in-store bakeries and foodservice customers.
History
In 1919, brothers William Howard and Joseph Hampton Flowers opened Flowers Baking Company in Thomasville, GeorgiaThomasville, Georgia
Thomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
. The bakery met with success, and began to ship its products to the surrounding communities. In 1937, the company acquired a bakery in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, marking the start of a history of growth by acquisition. In 1944, Flowers became the 6th bakery in the U.S. to franchise Quality Bakers of America’s Sunbeam
Sunbeam Bread
Sunbeam Bread is a franchised brand of white bread, rolls, and other baked goods owned by the Quality Bakers of America cooperative. The bread products are produced and distributed by eight regional bakeries located in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania,...
brand and Little Miss Sunbeam for its white bread. In 1968, the company became Flowers Industries, and began trading over-the-counter stock. Less than a year later, Flowers listed on the American Stock Exchange. In 1982, the company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FLO. In the mid-1990s, it acquired the Keebler Company
Keebler Company
The Keebler Company is the largest cookie and cracker manufacturer in the United States. Founded in 1853, it has produced numerous baked snacks. Keebler has marketed its brands such as Cheez-Its , Chips Deluxe, Club Crackers, E.L...
and Mrs. Smith's Pies
Mrs. Smith's Pies
Mrs. Smith’s Pies is one of the largest frozen pie brands in the United States. The company was founded by Amanda Smith, a homemaker from Pottstown, PA, and her son Robert. Robert started selling slices of Amanda’s own deep-dish, fruit-filled pies at the local YMCA lunch counter. The demand for...
. In 2001, Flowers sold its investment in Keebler to the Kellogg Company
Kellogg Company
Kellogg Company , is a producer of cereal and convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles, and vegetarian foods...
and delivered $1.24 billion to its shareholders. Flowers’ remaining business units, Flowers Bakeries and Mrs. Smith’s Bakeries, were then spun off into a new company called Flowers Foods. In 2003, Flowers Foods sold its Mrs. Smith’s frozen dessert business to the Schwan Food Company
Schwan Food Company
The Schwan Food Company is a multibillion-dollar, privately owned company with 17,000 employees in the United States. Based in Marshall, Minnesota, the company sells frozen foods from home-delivery trucks, in grocery-store freezers, by mail and to the food service industry...
. In 2008, it acquired ButterKrust Bakery in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
, and merged with Holsum Bakery in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
Flowers has made more than 110 acquisitions.