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Love's Bakery Brand Will Be Continued by Oregon Company

Catherine Cruz

The 170-year-old Hawai‘i institution, Love's Bakery, is closing at the end of March, but its branded products won't be leaving the shelves thanks to a new licensing agreement with an Oregon company.

Hawai‘i's oldest and largest commercial bakery told state and federal agencies in early March that it would close its doors at the end of March and lay off more than 230 employees, in part due to the pandemic. 

"We have worked diligently to cut expenses, to maintain our market share and to remedy our operational difficulties, however under the current business environment we are no longer able to continue operations," the company said in an earlier statement.

Portland-based Franz Family Bakery will produce Love's products on the mainland and distribute them to grocery stores and markets across the islands through Hawai‘i Foodservice Alliance, Franz Family Bakery announced Monday.

“It is always a sad day in our industry when an independent bakery closes, especially one like Love’s that has been such an integral part of life in Hawai‘i for more than 100 years," said Kimberly Albers-Nisbet, President and Director of Sales of Franz Family Bakery.

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