Gosh, how is Flowers Foods able to make money with these brands with all these union problems and government regulations and stuff?

They did $3 billion in sales last year and are projecting up to $3.9 billion for the current fiscal year. They had $189 million in earnings before taxes, which they actually pay ($68 million last year). They have a decent balance sheet and cash flow, except maybe for some debt related to the Hostess and other acquisitions, which have apparently fueled their growth in recent years. Investors nearly doubled their money in the past twelve months. They also used some of that cash for share repurchases and dividends.

According to their annual report, one of the core strategies is to "Appreciate the Team." "We respect every individual, embrace diversity, and promote the career growth of team members." They provide medical and dental insurance and a 401K with 50% match. Also according to their annual report, they have 9800 employees, 980 of which are union.

Sounds like former Hostess employees might be better off now working for a better run, more stable company. Have they reopened the Powell bakery?

Have they reopened the Powell bakery?

I'll have to do a drive by, run the window down and sniff. That particular form of air pollution will drive you nuts if they are baking.

Merita bread has been my choice for 50 plus years but I am sorry to say the loaf we purchased last week at a Harvey store in Nashville,Ga was nothing like what Merita was in the past. The loaf was fresh enough but the slices were gummy as if it wasn't completely cooked. We always enjoyed the long lasting freshness of Merita but if this loaf is an example of what our next purchase will be then back to the brand we used while Merita wasn't on the shelf.

Thank goodness you have put Merita bread back to what it use to be. I stopped buy Merita because it was never fresh and I hated the yellow color of it. It tasted as if there was corn meal in it. My crows would not even eat it. A friend told me it was back like it use to be so I tried it. And, Yes it was the Old Merita. I do not know who thought of that disaster but at least you have made it good.

I live in LaVergne Tennessee right outside of Nashville. I would like to know when we can expect to see merita bread on the shelves again in this area. Thank you

I live in LaVergne Tennessee right outside of Nashville. I would like to know when we can expect to see merita bread on the shelves again in this area. Thank you

I was overjoyed when I found Merita at the local store. It has been my choice for many years, it has been the old brand my family loves. I have bought our bread in the last few weeks and it is not the same as when it came out last year. It does not stay fresh and looks as if whole wheat flour has been added. Please go back to the old bread that we love and we will buy it. I'm not sure what we will buy if this is not changed but it will not be Merita. Please don't make us look for a new bread for we were getting the best when Merita came back.

Making your own white bread couldn't be much easier. And it can be downright cheap.

The most expensive ingredients in the supermarket are yeast and bread flour. I get a package of yeast at Sam's that is so big I usually give half of it to a friend. The last I bought was less than $5. They had 25 pound sacks of bread flour for about $7 the last time I bought it too.

Don't like Sam's? Costco probably has the same deals.

Don't have a good stand mixer with a dough hook? Goodwill and similar stores sell cast off bread machines practically for a song. Throw in the ingredients and hit the 'dough' cycle. In 90 minutes take out the dough and put it into a prepared loaf pan, let it rise and bake it at 350° in a normal oven for about 35 minutes.

You know exactly what went into your bread and, more importantly, what did not go into it. And the whole house smells so good too.

I was so happy when I found Merita Bread was back. I was not as happy after I tasted it. So the next week I got it from another store and it was not the same good bread I had eaten all my life. It is not good to change the recipe!!!!

I am back to Sara Lee Old Fashion.

would not have a problem with flowers bakeries taking over .buying all the bakeries but they think they know bread. I made bread for a few years and what flowers has done is down right nasty.bring back wonder breads recipe and merita's and all the others that you have destroyed.make toast with what flowers puts out ,it is like eating hard sand yuck.
very disappointed that flowers could be so dumb as to think what they are making is good.

Well isn't this just ducky. I found Merita bread on Publix supermarket shelves here in Miami, I brought 4 loaves because I remember this bread as a child. I WAS SO GLAD I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED AT IT'S TASTE OR FRESHNESS. How about soon as I got hooked on it. After two weeks of requesting it and being given the run around by Publix store managers, I finally get a NO. I WON'T MAKE a sandwich at home anymore, which now forces me to eat in the streets at fast-food places. I'm pissed and very disappointed at Publix. I've not been able to find it anywhere else. I don't want Dandy bread I want Marita, and Merita only. Any idea where it can be brought in Miami Dade besides Publix ? I want it back on shelves in the stores. Please try to get it in Wal-Mart or Winn Dixie stores so I can have it once again. I brag about this bread to everybody, and now no one will be able to ever enjoy what I've been bragging so much about. Please if there's another store in Miami Dade I can purchase it let me know. I'm depending on you Flowers to bring it back to all Miami store shelves.$

I live in a small town halfway between Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery Alabama. I stocked my freezer with several of the Merita Old Fashioned Bread which I bought at Prattville, Walmart and also at Publix. Now I can't find it anymore. Please tell me where I can get this bread again. I am disappointed that it keeps disappearing and not coming back. Thank you for your help in this matter.