Aspire Bakeries cut the ribbon on its newly remodeled bakery and new line in Hazleton, Pa., allowing it to expand production of its Pennant Puff Pastry brand. According to a release from Aspire, the facility will manufacture about a dozen SKUs of “the popular ‘French puff pastry in the green box,’ which chefs and foodservice operators have enjoyed since 1938.”
Aspire Bakeries is the former North American baking business of Aryzta, which was purchased by private equity in March 2021, then given its current name in May of that year. Its portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins, and pastries from brands such as La Brea Bakery, Otis Spunkmeyer and Pennant.
The Hazleton bakery employs 150 workers and opened in 1992. The 113,000-sq.-ft. plant has received recognition for its worker and food safety accomplishments, was one of Aspire Bakeries’ first locations to convert to all-LED lighting, and has achieved a 97% waste diversion rate, the release noted. Hazleton makes Pennant Puff Pastry products as well as other custom-baked goods for customers.
