Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO) is a leading producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the United States. The company’s product portfolio includes fresh white and wheat breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, tortillas, and other bakery items sold under well-known brands such as Nature’s Own, Wonder, Dave’s Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Tastykake, Merita, and Mrs. Baird’s. With a network of more than 40 bakeries and over 80 distribution centers, Flowers Foods supplies its products daily to supermarkets, mass merchandisers, convenience stores, and other retail outlets across the country.
Founded in 1919 by brothers Walter and Aubrey Flowers in Thomasville, Georgia, the business began as a regional baking operation and has grown through strategic acquisitions and organic expansion. Over the decades, Flowers Foods has acquired several established bakery brands and facilities, integrating them into a national platform that balances local bakery freshness with the scale needed for efficient production and distribution. These acquisitions have extended the company’s reach into new markets and diversified its product offerings, supporting consistent growth.
Today, Flowers Foods serves consumers in more than 40 states, focusing on maintaining product quality, freshness, and innovation. The company invests in research and development to create new formats, recipes, and packaging solutions that meet evolving consumer preferences, including better-for-you formulations, gluten-free options, and cleaner label ingredients. Its vertically integrated supply chain encompasses grain sourcing, milling, baking, packaging, and logistics, enabling close control over quality and cost management.
The company’s leadership team is headed by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Allen Shiver, who has guided Flowers Foods through recent expansions and modernization initiatives. Supported by a seasoned executive management group overseeing finance, operations, marketing, and research, the organization emphasizes sustainable practices, workforce development, and community engagement. Under this leadership, Flowers Foods continues to pursue long-term growth by strengthening its core bakery business, expanding branded offerings, and optimizing its nationwide distribution network.
