Southern Bakeries makes jobs target

By STEPHANIE HARRIS THOMAS, Hope Star Writer
Published: Friday, June 22, 2007 4:19 PM CDT
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Southern Bakeries, known previously as Meyer's Bakery, of Hope, was awarded a rebate check from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission at the Hope facility Thursday for its participation in the state's Create Rebate employment program.

AEDC Director of Finance, Randy Zook, presented the check totaling $538,000 to Rick Ledbetter, vice president of operations for the bakery.

“The Create Rebate Program was a program that legislation put in place several years ago that promotes job creation in old or new businesses,” Zook said.

He spoke on behalf of Southern Bakeries' receiving what Zook said was “earned” by the company.

“Harlan bought the company from a business that had gone bankrupt. It now employs 500 people. That is exactly what the Create Rebate Program is all about - putting people to work,” Zook said.

With the bakery residing in tier three of the program, it was to be awarded 4.5 percent of the payroll the company created for new, full-time, permanent employees, according to Wesley Woodard, president of the Hempstead County Economic Development Corp.

The bakery has evolved through dedication and risk taking on the part of Harlan Bakeries, according to Harlan company literature. It also had exchanged stockholders on a few occasions.

“Meyer retired and sold the business to a New York investment group. They bought it and continued to operate until it went bankrupt,” Ledbetter said.

It was a “bold move” for Harlan to purchase the assets of Meyer's Bakeries, according to Snack Food and Wholesale Bakery, a a national industry magazine.

The magazine said Harlan put millions of dollars in capital expense into restoring the aging Hope facility, and to provide new pans and griddles. The work on the plant improved the quality and consistency of the bakery products, the publication said. As a result, the Hope bakery received a superior rating from the American Institute of Baking in 2006 and in 2007.

Harlan added their own product portfolio in addition to keeping Meyer's extensive fresh distribution, the publication noted. It is stated in the article by Dan Malovany, that the business, as a supplier, has been made stronger, anchoring some of the existing customers that were shared by Meyer's.

Ledbetter said he is grateful to the state for help received over the last few years.

“The Arkansas Economic Development Council has been extremely supportive,” Ledbetter said. “With the economic support the state has given us, as well as the Create Rebate Program, for a five year period that really helped pull us up out of the abyss,” Ledbetter said.