The acquisition of the Hostess fresh bread brand assets in late July may have established Flowers Foods, Inc. as the No. 2 player in the wholesale bakery market, but the Thomasville, Ga.-based company also remains open to expanding in other areas of the supermarket.
Asked to comment about the trend toward par-baked bread during Flowers’ presentation at the Barclays Back-to-School Conference Sept. 3 in Boston, Allen Shiver, president and chief executive officer, said Flowers views bakery deli as “an opportunity” for the company.
“Par-baked breads have always had a place in the total product line, and that is one area that we will continue to look at,” Mr. Shiver said. He was quick to point out, though, that wholesale bakery represents the “biggest opportunity” for Flowers.
The main focus for the company remains in trying to move its fresh bread share in new markets from about 3% to the near 30% share the company has in its core southern markets, he said.
“Par-baked is an important part of the category,” Mr. Shiver said. “At some point down the road, we may choose to play in a bigger way, but we don’t play in that segment today.”
Asked to comment about the trend toward par-baked bread during Flowers’ presentation at the Barclays Back-to-School Conference Sept. 3 in Boston, Allen Shiver, president and chief executive officer, said Flowers views bakery deli as “an opportunity” for the company.
“Par-baked breads have always had a place in the total product line, and that is one area that we will continue to look at,” Mr. Shiver said. He was quick to point out, though, that wholesale bakery represents the “biggest opportunity” for Flowers.
The main focus for the company remains in trying to move its fresh bread share in new markets from about 3% to the near 30% share the company has in its core southern markets, he said.
“Par-baked is an important part of the category,” Mr. Shiver said. “At some point down the road, we may choose to play in a bigger way, but we don’t play in that segment today.”
