[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2436]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING FLOWERS FOODS

 Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the recent 
accomplishments of a successful business that is headquartered and was 
founded in my home State of Georgia, Flowers Foods. Flowers Foods is a 
leader in the baking industry with fresh products distributed 
throughout the Southeast, Southwest, and Mid-Atlantic States. Flowers 
Foods frozen products can be found nationwide.
  Forbes magazine recently named Flowers Foods to its prestigious list 
of the 400 Best Big Companies in America. In addition Flowers Foods was 
also named the best-managed food company among the list of 400 Best Big 
Companies. It should also be noted that this is the third time that 
Flowers Foods has been named to Forbes' prestigious list.
  In creating the most recent list, Forbes reviewed the financial 
metrics, Wall Street forecast, corporate governance ratings and other 
public information of over 1,000 of the largest publicly traded 
companies in America. Once Forbes narrows this list down to 400 then 
they select a best-managed company from each of the 26 industry areas 
that are represented in the Best Big Companies list. The selection of 
the best-managed company for each represented industry is based on 
financial performance, leadership, innovation and execution.
  Flowers Foods has continued to be on the cutting edge of bakery 
products and technology since William Howard and Joseph Hampton Flowers 
opened Flowers Baking Company in Fitzgerald, Georgia in 1933. When the 
company first opened in 1933 they had the capacity to produce 30,000 
loaves of bread each day. In 1999, Flowers Foods became the first 
wholesale baker to offer a sugar-free bread and they later became the 
first commercial baker to introduce a low-carb bread selection.
  Through the years Flowers Foods has produced and marketed a variety 
of fresh and frozen bakery foods under name brands such as Nature's 
Own, Cobblestone Mill, Sunbeam Bread, ButterKrust, Whitewheat, Bunny 
Bread, BlueBird, Mrs. Freshley's, European Bakers, Mi Casa and 
Tesoritos. It is no wonder that they are a market leader with this 
varied mix of brands and products that ensures that there is something 
tasty for everyone.
  Not only has Flowers Foods product line grown since its founding in 
1933 but their expansive operation has also grown. Their operations now 
include thirty-six bakeries that stretch from the Southwest to the Mid-
Atlantic regions. These efficient and technologically advanced bakeries 
allow Flowers Foods to supply retailers throughout a large portion of 
the United States with a constant supply of fresh products.
  I am extremely proud of the recognition that Flowers Foods has 
received from Forbes magazine. I thank my colleagues for giving me the 
opportunity to recognize Flowers Foods.

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