Y'all should go out and buy every package of Archway and Lance cookies you can

Jstas
Jstas Posts: 14,806
edited December 2008 in The Clubhouse
Just to support what they just did for 300 workers.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/23/cookie.factory.reopens/index.html
Shuttered bakery reopens, rehires workers

ASHLAND, Ohio (CNN) -- An Ohio bakery shut down in October is bustling again, with 60 eager employees who had expected a Christmas on the unemployment rolls.
Cookie production has resumed and some workers are back on the job at the Archway factory in Ashland, Ohio.

Cookie production has resumed and some workers are back on the job at the Archway factory in Ashland, Ohio.

Some 300 workers lost their jobs when the Archway cookie factory in Ashland, Ohio, was suddenly closed by the private equity firm that owned it. The workers also were left without benefits like health insurance.

But then Lance Inc., a Charlotte, North Carolina-based snack food company, purchased Archway at a bankruptcy auction. And last week 60 workers were asked to return immediately, with perhaps more coming back in the months ahead.

Kathy Sexton, a worker at the bakery, had been preparing her children for a very modest holiday. Video Watch the holiday brighten for workers »

"They said they understood," Sexton recalls. "They said, 'That's all right, Mom.' You always want to give them more, but ... I didn't think I would be able to."

Now she can.

Tiny Ashland has been struggling. Ohio has lost 200,000 jobs over the past eight years. The recent presidential campaign saw both candidates visiting frequently.

The outlook in Ashland became especially bleak when the Archway plant closed. Workers at the bakery said they felt betrayed when Archway at first said there would be more work in a day or two, but then changed the locks.

Rita Devan remembers.

"They just kept taking and taking until there was nothing left to take," Devan says, "and they didn't care that they were putting 300 people out of work."

Things are different now.

When it promised to reopen the bakery, Lance gave all 300 former Archway workers a $1,500 prepaid debit card.

"I was crying," Devan says of the gift. "I am like, 'What are these people doing? They don't know me. They don't know us. They don't know any of the Archway people. And they are giving each and every one of us $1,500.' "

Sexton -- the woman who'd been preparing her kids for a meager holiday -- says of the $1,500 gift: "It was awesome. My first thought was, 'I can give my kids a Christmas.' "

David Singer, CEO of Lance, says the gift cards were a way of letting Ashland know the new owners are different. "We wouldn't do it willy-nilly," Singer says. "We do want to make money. But this is the pool of folks that we intend to hire. We just wanted to let them know who we were."

The 60 workers rehired so far are earning their previous salary and retained their seniority. They also were provided health insurance from day one.

The bakery now produces Lance cookies that are sold to big chains like Target and Wal-Mart. But production of Archway cookies is scheduled to resume soon. Lance has told the employees that it hopes to have the plant fully operational by the end of 2009 -- that is, five lines of cookies being produced simultaneously.

The new owners say that if new orders keep flowing in, more jobs will follow.

Terry Mowry is another worker rehired by Lance. He says what has happened is hard to describe: "You just saw life being breathed right back into the face of these people."
advertisement

And Devan says with a laugh: "I walked into the garage last night, and my husband says, 'You actually smell like a cookie again.' "

"He said, 'Boy, I missed that smell.' "

Says something about a company that is willing to do such a thing.
Expert Moron Extraordinaire

You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
Post edited by Jstas on

Comments

  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited December 2008
    Great marketing strategy.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited December 2008
    Something good finally coming out of the economic disaster.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
  • Polk user
    Polk user Posts: 311
    edited December 2008
    That's nice to see.

    Of course if the workers belonged to the UAW, they would have told the new owners they want to renegotiate their contracts at a higher wage.

    "The nation’s automakers are preparing to ask for wage and benefits concessions from their workers in early January to meet the conditions of a $17.4 billion federal aid package, but labor officials say they will seek to renegotiate the terms of the bailout rather than make those sacrifices.

    The remarks by union leaders have set up yet another contentious battle in the auto industry.

    In agreeing to provide federal assistance to General Motors and Chrysler, the White House demanded the firms cut worker compensation to the levels paid at the U.S. divisions of Toyota, Nissan and Honda. But Ron Gettelfinger, president of the United Auto Workers, said earlier this week that he would seek to remove the wage-reduction provision of the loan, calling it “an undue tax on the workers” who have already made “major” sacrifices for the benefit of the auto industry."
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2008
    This is how capitalism works. Lance got a decent price because the original company didn't do something right, as well as some good press, and some of the people got back to work with more to come which profits everyone else. Best of all, we get more cookies!
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited December 2008
    KUDOS to Lance/Archway!!!
    Of course if the workers belonged to the UAW, they would have told the new owners they want to renegotiate their contracts at a higher wage.

    "The nation’s automakers are preparing to ask for wage and benefits concessions from their workers in early January to meet the conditions of a $17.4 billion federal aid package, but labor officials say they will seek to renegotiate the terms of the bailout rather than make those sacrifices.

    The remarks by union leaders have set up yet another contentious battle in the auto industry.

    In agreeing to provide federal assistance to General Motors and Chrysler, the White House demanded the firms cut worker compensation to the levels paid at the U.S. divisions of Toyota, Nissan and Honda. But Ron Gettelfinger, president of the United Auto Workers, said earlier this week that he would seek to remove the wage-reduction provision of the loan, calling it “an undue tax on the workers” who have already made “major” sacrifices for the benefit of the auto industry.
    "

    It's all just a long-dick match at this point. Concessions will be made or they'll be on the soup line while I'm scabbing for $20/hr instead.of $28.;) J/K

    Though, as anti-union as I am, the hourly pay-cut only needs to be 15-20%, this **** 40-45% is a crock. I'd rather go from $28/hr to $20-22 and still have a decent job than let them BK and start over without me and pay some illegals(j/k) $12/hr.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited December 2008
    Back to the main point.....I'll make sure to buy their cookies!!
    Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
    Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
    Former Staff Member TONEAudio
    2 Ch. System
    Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
    Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
    Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
    Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
    Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3
  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited December 2008
    markmarc wrote: »
    Back to the main point.....I'll make sure to buy their cookies!!


    Of course, we eat Archways fairly regularly whenwe find them on-sale.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,806
    edited December 2008
    Lance makes these snack cracker packs and they have one called Smokehouse Cheddar on Captain's Wafers...yeah, you can take your Austin Cheese and Crackers and stick 'em where the sun don't shine! Those Lance Smokehouse Cheddar jobbies are the snack crackers I've ever had! Not so easy to find though. It's a shame. Cause they are like "OMG! It's party in my mouth and everyone's invited!" Only it's not a lame party where a bunch of underage kids get drunk and puke on the carpet.

    Oh, Lance also has these Pecan Pies that are probably positively awful for you but they are pretty good, for the usual vending machine crap in a bag.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited December 2008
    Nothing like Archway. I'm very happy to see them back in production.
    Oatmeal raison, anyone?
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2008
    Jstas wrote: »
    Lance makes these snack cracker packs and they have one called Smokehouse Cheddar on Captain's Wafers...yeah, you can take your Austin Cheese and Crackers and stick 'em where the sun don't shine! Those Lance Smokehouse Cheddar jobbies are the snack crackers I've ever had! Not so easy to find though. It's a shame. Cause they are like "OMG! It's party in my mouth and everyone's invited!" Only it's not a lame party where a bunch of underage kids get drunk and puke on the carpet.

    Oh, Lance also has these Pecan Pies that are probably positively awful for you but they are pretty good, for the usual vending machine crap in a bag.

    I would appreciate a heads up next time you have a party in your mouth.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited December 2008
    Wat to go Lance! I live near Charlotte and you can find darn near every cracker and cookie they make here. Jstas, I'll bootleg some Smokehouse cheddars your way....for a small fee of course. :cool:
    It is nice to hear some good news for some people who were sweating the bills at this time of year.
  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited December 2008
    Reminds me of the Polartec story, up at Malden Mills. They're still in business.
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited December 2008
    madmax wrote:
    Best of all, we get more cookies!

    2783664707_2d8fcc3ba3.jpg?v=0


    COOKIES!!!!!!!!
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2008
    Just a word on posting things like this. If the name "Lance" or "Archway" were in the title it would be much more likely to show up in a google search by non-polkies. Who knows, may even get a newbie to look at polk products!
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited December 2008
    now that's a product I can support, over and over again. I'm a cookie-holic! bring on the cold milk and cookies. ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,806
    edited December 2008
    madmax wrote: »
    Just a word on posting things like this. If the name "Lance" or "Archway" were in the title it would be much more likely to show up in a google search by non-polkies. Who knows, may even get a newbie to look at polk products!

    ???? :confused:
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,678
    edited December 2008
    Early B. wrote: »
    Great marketing strategy.

    Kind of like Polk Customer Service: do something nice, do it right, and .......... that'll fool 'em !! :rolleyes:

    dorokusai wrote: »
    I would appreciate a heads up next time you have a party in your mouth.

    Oh, I take it you have plans on com...... uhm ..... comi ...... err ..... "attending" ?
    madmax wrote: »
    Just a word on posting things like this. If the name "Lance" or "Archway" were in the title it would be much more likely to show up in a google search by non-polkies. Who knows, may even get a newbie to look at polk products!

    I'd suggest : "Britney Spears/ Beyonce Obama Free **** Video : Y'all should go out and buy every package of Archway and Lance cookies you can"
    Sal Palooza