Flowers Foods Inc..
FLO.US | Manufacture of bakery products
Flowers Foods, Inc. is a leading producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the United States. The company operates bakeries across the country, producing a variety of bread, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and tortillas. Flowers Foods sells its products through a combination of direct-store-delive...Show More
Better Health for All
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Flowers Foods' product portfolio includes 'better-for-you' options, with organic products making up 15.3% and gluten-free products 2.6% of 2023 sales.
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This means approximately 82.1% of its sales are from conventional bakery items, which typically have negative health effects, such as standard bread containing 2.75% salt.
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The company has discussed strategies for sodium reduction, noting a potential 25% reduction by removing salt, and has used both messaging and 'stealth' approaches, though a reduced-sodium bread launched in the 1990s did not last long.
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The company has faced two product recalls in the past three years: one in November 2021 for potential metal mesh wire contamination in certain Tastykake products, and another in May 2023 for undeclared peanuts in Tastykake Chocolate Kandy Kakes.
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No injuries were reported for the metal mesh recall.
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Flowers Foods emphasizes a commitment to food safety, with all bakeries being Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certified, and states it provides clear, transparent, and accurate labeling, adhering to federal requirements.
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The company voluntarily initiated and amended these recalls.
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Fair Money & Economic Opportunity
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Flowers Foods Inc. is a producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods. The ethical value 'Fair Money & Economic Opportunity' and its associated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are designed to assess companies that offer lending, insurance, money movement, or deposit services to consumers. As Flowers Foods does not engage in these financial activities, all KPIs related to financial products, services, and customer financial outcomes are not applicable to its business model, resulting in a score of 0 for each.
Fair Pay & Worker Respect
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Flowers Foods settled a $9 million lawsuit in February 2024, resolving a dozen federal lawsuits, for misclassifying delivery drivers as independent contractors and failing to pay overtime.
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The company has faced multiple private lawsuits related to wage and hour violations between 2017 and 2024, with penalties ranging from $7.6 million to $105 million.
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For the 2024 fiscal year, the CEO to median employee pay ratio was 129:1.
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An internal employee survey in 2023 found that 80% of surveyed employees were proud to work for the company and would recommend it as a good place to work.
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Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing
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No evidence available to assess Flowers Foods Inc. on Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing.
Honest & Fair Business
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The company has a Code of Conduct that addresses gifts, bribes, conflicts of interest, antitrust, fair business practices, political contributions, and equal opportunity employment.
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A separate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is in place for directors and officers.
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However, the policy lacks specific guidance on gift thresholds or facilitation payments. A confidential Ethics Hotline is available 24/7 with interpreters, and retaliation is prohibited.
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But there is no evidence regarding independent investigation processes for complaints.
Kind to Animals
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No specific, quantitative data points were found in the provided articles to assess Flowers Foods Inc. against the 'Kind to Animals' ethical value. While the company is criticized for not publicly reporting progress on its cage-free egg commitment
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and is accused of continuing to support the caging of egg-laying hens
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, the articles do not provide any measurable percentages or other concrete metrics required by the rubric's KPIs for scoring.
No War, No Weapons
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The provided articles describe Flowers Foods Inc. as a producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods
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, highlighting its charitable giving and support for veterans
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. The company donated over $7.6 million in fresh and recovery bakery food products to Feeding America and other organizations
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. Flowers Foods also partnered with Macy's and the Food Bank for New York City, donating 10,000 loaves of Wonder Bread
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. A multi-year commitment of $1.8 million to the USO was fulfilled in 2022, with a pledge increased to $2.7 million through 2024
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. Employee payroll deductions contributed nearly $60,000 to various charities, primarily those supporting children and families
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. The company also made a $100,000 donation to Thomas University to launch a Military Transition Football Team
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. The company's procurement team supported Operation Shoebox by packing over 750 veteran care packages
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. However, the articles do not contain any specific, concrete data points or explicit statements regarding the company's involvement (or lack thereof) in arms manufacturing, military contracts, dual-use technology, sales to embargoed regimes, peacebuilding investments, or any other metrics relevant to the 'No War, No Weapons' ethical value. Therefore, all KPIs for this value must be omitted due to a lack of direct evidence.
Planet-Friendly Business
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No evidence available to assess Flowers Foods Inc. on Planet-Friendly Business.
Respect for Cultures & Communities
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Flowers Foods has established 13 formal partnership agreements with community groups, including the USO, Feeding America, United Way, Thomas University's Veteran Transition Program, and Puratos Cacao-Trace Sustainable Cocoa Program.
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The company reported no cultural appropriation incidents in its 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report.
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More than 95% of employees completed company-wide inclusion training in 2022.
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The company's Supplier Code of Conduct is available in English and Spanish, and its ethics hotline offers interpreters upon request.
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Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes are not applicable to the company's operations as indigenous peoples are not mentioned in the context of its activities.
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Safe & Smart Tech
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Flowers Foods Inc. reports that no previous incidents have materially affected its business.
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The company has a Computer Security Incident Response Plan (CSIRP) with a Security Incident Management Team (SIM Team), Legal Team, and Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) in place to manage incidents.
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Employees receive regular security training, and periodic phishing tests are conducted to assess training effectiveness, with tools provided for reporting phishing emails.
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The company has policies and practices to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure.
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Processes are in place for assessing, identifying, and managing cybersecurity risks, including those from third-party providers.
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The company also monitors evolving data privacy and data protection legislation and follows policies and protocols addressing cybersecurity.
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There is no information available regarding the company's use of AI or related ethical governance, audit practices, or algorithmic transparency.
Zero Waste & Sustainable Products
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In 2023, Flowers Foods achieved a 94% waste diversion rate from landfills.
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The company maintains at least 90% of its packaging as recyclable, reusable, or compostable, and uses at least 30% recycled materials in its packaging.
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Flowers Foods has numerous waste reduction initiatives, including scrap reduction, food waste reduction, recycling obsolete packaging, and waste-to-energy programs, resulting in a 4% reduction in scrap in 2023 compared to the prior year.
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The company has a target to achieve 98% zero waste to landfill.
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No waste disposal violations or citations were mentioned in the provided reports.
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