History
1974: Marc Fleischer moves to Rochester, New York with his wife Jennifer, and two children (Elisa and Aaron).
1975: Marc is joined by his brother Jody as a partner in their retail bagel shop. This begins a 30-year working relationship between the two brothers.
1978: Fleischer’s enters the frozen wholesale bagel business. Bagels were sold individually and by the dozen at the front counter, while local distributors picked up product in the back of the shop.
1987: The Fleischer brothers expand their growing Rochester venture by converting a 15,000 sq. ft. inner city supermarket into a full scale bagel factory. Fleischer’s becomes a pioneer in the development of private label bagel programs for leading supermarket chains.
1993: Having outgrown their inner city facility, the company constructs a state-of-the-art 42,000 sq. ft. plant in suburban Macedon, New York. The facility is the largest private label bagel facility in the country capable of producing 40,000 units per hour.
2001: Marc and Jody Fleischer partner with Strategic Investments and Holdings, Inc., a Buffalo, NY-based private equity firm to drive continued growth and expansion into new markets.
2005: Fleischer’s Bagels, LLC is purchased by Ancor Capital, a Fort Worth, TX-based private equity firm. A new corporation, Fleischer’s Bagels, Inc. is formed.
2007: Fleischer’s Bagels, Inc. acquires Bageltime Inc., a Charlotte, NC-based regional bagel manufacturer and distributor. The North Carolina branch enters its 18th year in a newly renovated and expanded production facility and is the only manufacturer in the Southeast with the capability of producing nearly 12,000 bagels per hour through an automated submerged boiler and direct fire tunnel oven line.
2008: Founder and president Marc Fleischer retires after 37 years of service. A national search is conducted, and 20-year food industry veteran Robert Drago succeeds Marc as president.
2009: Company launches rebranding campaign and new website to coincide with introduction of their new “penny pack” mini, 100 calorie and bagel bar product lines. Fleischer’s becomes one of the first bakery companies in North America to receive SQF200 Level 3 food safety certification in multiple locations.
2009: Fleischer’s acquires Tom Cat Bakery, Inc. Based in Long Island City, New York, Tom Cat is considered a pioneer in the artisan bread baking industry and has served the needs of New York’s leading fine dining establishments, luxury hotels and specialty retailers for over 25 years. Its authentic, hand-made artisan breads are delivered fresh seven days a week throughout the tri-state region and the company now ships its most popular products nationwide through a network of speciality frozen distributors.
2010: Fleischer’s expands into the breakfast solution category by introducing its Blue Rooster line of frozen breakfast sandwiches.
2011: The company celebrates its 40th anniversary and Tom Cat Bakery acquisition by creating a new corporate identity, Bakewise Brands, Inc., to better reflect its future strategic direction.
2012: Bakewise expands it product portfolio by acquiring the Olde Hearth™ premium bagel brand.
2012: Tom Cat Bakery division celebrates its 25th anniversary as New York finest artisan bakery.
