Clear Lake industry facing closure?

News report about South Street Bakery still unconfirmed

Baker’s Pride Inc., which operates South Street Bakery in Clear Lake’s industrial park, has notified employees of a possible closure, according to a report in The Burlington Hawk Eye.

Calls to Baker’s Pride leadership on the corporate level, as well as the local plant, were not returned by press time Tuesday.

North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Brent Willett said Tuesday he

 has also been attempting to reach company officials regarding the Oct. 3. newspaper story which quoted company spokesperson Kiersten Williams.  Williams told The Hawk Eye a possible closure at any one of its three bakery facilities would be effective at the end of the month.  She said the loss of a substantial account was responsible for the decision.

“I can’t confirm, nor deny the (Hawk Eye) report,” said Willett.  “At this point, having not spoken directly with them, I cannot speculate.  But we are concerned.”

In addition to Clear Lake, the company has two plants in Burlington, plus the South Street Bakery in Clear Lake.  One of the two Burlington plants, the Mount Pleasant Street Bakery, is in the process of installing high-tech processing equipment  for cake and yeast-raised doughnuts at its 65,000 square foot facility.  The Jefferson Street Bakery in Burlington makes fresh-sliced, packaged bread and cake style doughnuts and has been in operation 35 years.  The - Read More Via e-Edition