Articles by Melissa Westphal, Rockford Register Star

Piemonte Bakery Co. Inc. is a two-shift, seven-day-a-week operation, turning out products like bratwurst and po’boy buns, bread crumbs, frozen garlic bread, and Italian, French, Vienna and rye breads. It’s one of many suppliers affected by the recent deal between Schnuck Markets Inc. and Kroger Co., in which Schnucks bought the seven Hilander stores Kroger operated in the Rock River Valley. …

When investors Barry Kratchman, Jay Roseman, Bret Gold, and Mitchell Feigenbaum bought the business in November 2006, Classic Cake had three retail locations, 55 employees, and $3.5 million in annual sales – and was in bankruptcy. Today, with 110 employees and $9.5 million in annual sales, retail is only a small part of Classic Cake's portfolio. It is a national manufacturer, with expectations that "much further growth" is going to occur on that side of the business, Kratchman said, as it also remains a reliable local confections provider. …

The city council Monday voted to support a county tax incentive for the Pita Pan factory, 401 E. Joe Orr Road. The wholesale bakery, located in the heart of the city’s industrial hub, produces pita bread goods used in gyro sandwiches. …