Increasing Growth Without Sacrificing Quality

Bob Albers became president and chief executive officer of Franz Family Bakeries in 1986, two years prior to Joe Franz' death. According to Bob, “Franz has stood the test of time by producing superior quality products, selling them at a reasonable price and providing commercial customers with the highest level of service.”

Under Bob's leadership, the company made a number of important acquisitions. The company owns a chain of regional bakeries and bakery thrift stores located across the Northwest operating under the names Franz, Gai's, Williams', Big Loaf, Snyder's, and Smith Cookie Company. United States Bakery sells a variety of breads, pastries, and cookies to supermarkets, restaurants, and food service operators. In fact, Franz supplies baked goods to virtually all of the fast food restaurants, 80 percent of restaurants and nearly all the area grocers in the Northwest. Products are marketed under the individual bakeries' names, as well as brands such as Bay City, Seattle International, McKenzie Farms, Svenhard's, and Aunt Katie’s.

Due to increased consumer demand, Franz is recently constructed a new facility in Springfield, Oregon. It is the first bakery Franz is built from the ground up since 1906. Opening a new bakery facility in Springfield will have positive economic impact, supplying up to 20 additional jobs.

When at full capacity, the bakery will run three shifts in excess of 150 hours a week per production line and have a total of 191 employees. “We think it’s important to be providing expanded employment opportunities for the area, said Marc Albers. “The bakery will offer new jobs and we’ll have another opportunity to increase personnel when we open a new crouton line in 2007.”

New technology has been integrated into the Springfield bakery. Franz has installed a new ingredient handling system that weighs and transfers ingredients pneumatically into the mixers. At over 1 million pounds of ingredients in use per week, this new system will increase production efficiency tremendously.