Last-Minute Deal Saves Awrey Bakeries
LIVONIA (WWJ) - Awrey Bakeries, a Livonia staple for four decades, won't go out of business after all.
Mayor Jack Kirksey said Wednesday that a portion of the company has been sold to Minnie Marie Bakers -- and approximately 200 employees who were laid off recently should be getting called back to work in the near future.
"The goal is to re-employ as many as possible. I don't know the details of that -- that's really a management decision. But I do know that their goal is to employ as many as possible and hopefully get them all back to work at some point," Kirksey said.
The announcement comes as an auction was scheduled to sell the company's assets.
John Awrey, family member of the original founders and Director of Sales and Marketing, said he's elated that Awrey will remain at its current location.
"I am pleased that the new owner will preserve the Awrey's Brand and tradition of fine products. It is also gratifying that the new owner will be able to hire back many of our hard-working associates in the coming days and weeks," he said in a statement.
"The investors in the new owner of Awrey's assets are Michigan residents with backgrounds in operating family run businesses and bakeries," Awrey said. "They know Michigan is a good place to do business and will expand our focus to develop a local supply chain of farmers, millers and producers of Michigan grown wheat, soybeans, sugar and other ingredients."
The new minority owner, Jim McColgan, said they plan to expand the bakery's gluten-free products and establish a local food supply chain for Michigan-grown ingredients.
McColgan has his own Awrey's memories."My mom used to bring all of us kids here on Saturday and we'd get the chocolate cake," he said.
Awrey's has been in business for over 100 years, making bread, cakes, donuts, pastries and muffins. The bakery has called Livonia home since 1967, when it relocated from Detroit to its current location on Farmington Road.
The bakery is expected to be back up and running in a matter of weeks.
