Cookies, cakes, doughnuts and sweet rolls are in Awrey's ovens again in Livonia as the iconic Metro Detroit company resumes baking after a near-death experience. JC Reindl has the comeback story in the Free Press:
Awrey Bakeries of Livonia restarted its production lines on Monday with new ownership, sales strategy and a smaller, union-free workforce.
The 103-year-old business shut down last month and its bakery equipment was nearly sold at auction. The last employees were about to lose their jobs.
With barely time to spare, businessmen Ron Beebe of Midland and James McColgan of Grand Rapids stepped forward to save the bakery, buying its assets for an undisclosed sum and reorganizing the business. . . .
"Ron has been eating Awrey product since he was a kid. I have been eating Awrey product since I was a kid. There is no way we could let this company go," McColgan said.
The Farmington Road bakery and outlet store has 45 employees, down from 150 last fall.
