[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16490]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     RECOGNIZING THE BROWNIE BAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 16, 1999

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dennis Perkins 
and The Brownie Baker for winning the Small Business of the Year Award 
in 1999. The Brownie Baker bakes and sells a variety of brownies, 
muffins, and cookies on a wholesale basis, primarily to the convenience 
store industry.
  The Brownie Baker started as a family business with Marion Peterson 
and her sister, Susie Spotts. Dennis Perkins, then the Director of 
Business Development for Pepsi-Cola, bought the business on August 1, 
1990.
  The company has expanded its markets and the financial reports 
reflect this. Accounts are concentrated in California, but expand 
nationwide. Perkins has done an excellent job operating the company as 
evidenced by its growth. Sales were 1.8 million as of June 30, 1994. 
They have more than doubled since that time to 3.9 million as of June 
30, 1998.
  Perkins reorganized the means of distribution, increased product 
size, developed new products, changed the labels, bought a larger 
bakery, and bought out a competitor called Carol's Cookies. This 
acquisition has increased sales nearly 50 percent, growing the company 
from five to 48 employees. During 1998, Perkins installed a completely 
automated muffin line, and also many new technologically advanced money 
and time savers for the company.
  Nearly a third of those employed at the bakery are Southeast Asian 
refugees placed there through the CalWORKS program.
  The Brownie Baker will be diversifying its line by adding Mexican 
pastries.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize The Brownie Baker for its 
accomplishments. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Dennis 
Perkins and The Brownie Baker many more years of continued success.

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