PHILADELPHIA — Flowers Foods, Inc. will cut 32 jobs at Tasty Baking Co.’s former corporate headquarters in Philadelphia, a move that reflects overlap and redundancies in the company, said Paul Ridder, president of Tasty Baking.

Thomasville, Ga.-based Flowers Foods completed its $34.4 million acquisition of Tasty Baking in May. Flowers Foods, whose brands include Nature’s Own and Bunny breads, has about 8,800 employees at its 39 bakeries.
Philadelphia-based Tasty became part of Flowers’ direct-store delivery business.

“As is often the case when two publicly-traded companies merge, we found overlap and redundancy in office functions,” Mr. Ridder said, referring to the company’s merger with Flowers Foods, Inc. earlier this year. “While we anticipated that this would be the case, it is still very difficult not only because we appreciate the service these individuals have given our company, but because we know it affects them and their families.”

Mr. Ridder said those whose jobs are being cut will receive severance packages and the company will work with local and state agencies to help them find new jobs.

“When the merger was announced in April, we assured the community that Tastykakes will continue to be made in Philadelphia by Philadelphians, as they have been since Tasty Baking opened in 1914,” Mr. Ridder said. “Today’s news does not change that. Tastykakes are being made in bakeries in Philadelphia and Oxford and our focus is on producing and delivering fresh and delicious snack cakes.”