BAKERY BRIEFS

Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., the Canton, Mass., parent company ofDunkin’ DonutsandBaskin-Robbins, recently namedHarlan BakeriesLLC, Avon, Ind., as the chain operator's "2010 Supplier of the Year." Officials said they wanted to recognize the "vendor that adds significant value through cost savings, innovative process engineering, product quality, service enhancements or incremental sales."

Last year saw Harlan Bakeries start supplying Dunkin' Donuts Bagel Twist line. Officials said Harlan worked with the culinary and commercialization teams at Dunkin' Donuts on this new variety of bagels, which drove a significant increase in the brand's overall bagel category sales.

"Harlan Bakeries has been a great partner and asset to the Dunkin' Donuts brand," said Nigel Travis, Dunkin’ Brands CEO and Dunkin’ Donuts president. "They consistently delivered excellence against condensed timelines and escalated volumes, contributing greatly to our bagel success last year. We're pleased to honor them for representing the very best of the Dunkin' Brands system."

Harlan Bakeries supplies frozen, fresh and mix products to in-store bakeries and private label baked goods. Its product line includes bagels, pies (meringue, crème, fruit and specialty), cakes, breads, granola and custom dry bakery mixes.



An acquisition and broader product line prompted frozen bagel producerFleischer’s Bagels, Inc., Macedon, N.Y., to change its name toBakewise Brands. Officials say the new name followsMerit Capital Partners' December 2008 purchase ofTom Cat Bakery, a Long Island City, N.Y., producer of fresh artisan breads. Merit, a Chicago private equity investor, holds both companies.

“Bakewise Brands reflects not only the evolution of our business over the past 40 years, but also the breadth of knowledge and product that our business partners can expect,” said Bakewise President Robert Drago. “For the family looking for delicious bagels to the chef looking for the perfect bread to complement a fine meal, Bakewise now offers a complete portfolio of over 400 premium private label and branded bakery products."

Drago said Bakewise Brands' portfolio includes a broad mix of fresh, refrigerated and frozen bakery products, including such popular brands as Fleischer’s™ Bagels, Blue Rooster™ Breakfast Sandwiches and Tom Cat Bakery™ Artisan Breads.

 Drago noted Tom Cat will remain a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bakewise. Bakewise operates two baking facilities located in Macedon, NY and Long Island City, N.Y., capable of meeting a variety of short run and high-volume customer requirements.

“We are bringing together two great bakery companies in Fleischer’s Bagels and Tom Cat Bakery,” he added. “By leveraging the unique assets of both businesses, we’re now able to offer a more compelling mix of bakery solutions to our customers, generate outstanding cross-selling opportunities and create a new platform for future acquisitions and business growth.”



Kronos Foods, Inc., Glendale Heights, Ill., said it completed a $5 million expansion to double capacity with its flatbread and flatbread pizza crust line. Kronos supplies flatbread pita to foodservice industry and has a growing business in flatbread pizza crusts -- as both a supplier to pizza processors and restaurants, officials said.

Kronos produces custom and private label products for QSR, fast-casual, and family dining restaurant chains, as well as for specialty food manufacturers. Its complete product line includes gyros and other specialty meat products, sauces, flatbread, fillo, and fillo-based specialty items such as spanakopita. Kronos is also a leading manufacturer of baklava and other handmade desserts for foodservice and retail customers through its subsidiary, Rain Creek Baking Company.