Hope, Arkansas, Bakery Slates $37 Million Expansion

Jan. 17, 2024

Hope Baking Co., a subsidiary of East Baking Co., will create 266 jobs.

Hope Baking Co. will spend more than $37 million to expand its food manufacturing facility in Hope, Ark., an expansion that is expected to create 266 jobs over two years. The announcement was made by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

East Baking Co. acquired Hope Baking from Southern Bakeries in March 2023. Since the acquisition, the company has expanded the facility, adding a new production line.

The Hope Baking facility will produce a range of bakery items, including breadsticks, English muffins, fully baked breads, and seasonal brown and serve (B&S) rolls.

Founded in 2003, East Baking Co. manufactures and distributes bread and bakery products, including individually wrapped, bulk packed, bagged, boxed and chip boarded products.

About the Author

Dave Fusaro | Editor in Chief

Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.