As Mary Ann’s Baking Co. has invested in more automation, reduced touchpoints and shifting people away from repetitive work to value-added, skill positions became a priority. Looking at more advanced packaging equipment for future investment and more automation, Andy Demas, chief operating officer, noted that the company would like to move away from entry-level roles.

“We need skilled personnel to maintain equipment,” he said. “It is hard competing with the Amazons and fast food industry with how wages are trending, so we’re moving away from entry-level and toward more skilled roles.” 

The company recruits from temp agencies and online job sites, focusing on maintenance and operator roles. 

“As we invest more in equipment, we need enhanced technical expertise in these fields,” Andy Demas explained.

John and George Demas, board members, noted that being a family-owned company, treating employees as an extension of the family has been essential. 

“Nothing is possible without family as the backbone and this goes along with our employees,” he said.

In addition to offering retirement plans and health insurance, Mary Ann’s conducts employee surveys, rewards service longevity with bonuses, and regularly hosts company barbecues along with a reward point system that accrues with achieving defined goals and benchmarks.

This article is an excerpt from the April 2025 issue of Baking & Snack. To read the entire feature on Mary Ann's Baking Co., click here.