Franz Bakery, the largest independent, family-owned bakery on the West Coast, has received an Energy Champion award for achieving more than 250,000 million Btu total energy savings or more than 15 percent total energy savings at its facility in Portland, Ore. To receive this recognition, Franz Bakery completed a Save Energy Now energy assessment with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) in 2008.

“This is a tremendous recognition and I am really proud of our team for identifying and implementing environmentally-conscious changes to the way we do business,” said Marc Albers, President and COO. “We have taken many steps – including the installation of an oxidizer – to make our facility more eco-friendly and keep our city and the environment as clean as we can.”

Save Energy Now is a national initiative of the ITP to drive a reduction of 25 percent or more in industrial energy intensity in 10 years. Companies nationwide can partner with DOE, participate in no-cost energy assessments, and use ITP's proven resources to reduce energy use and improve efficiency, while increasing profits. As of September 2009, DOE has completed nearly 2,400 Save Energy Now assessments, resulting in an annual implemented savings of $218 million in energy, 16 trillion Btu in natural gas, and a reduction in 2.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. For more information, visit www.eere.energy.gov/industry/saveenergynow/.

Franz’ Stance on Sustainability

Franz Family Bakeries are committed to working with employees, customers and neighbors in practicing sustainability and green business strategies.  Franz Bakery’s environmentally friendly business practices revolve around keeping water clean, conserving and using clean energy sources, recycling/reducing packaging, and fuel efficiency through all distribution channels. In May 2009, a Catalytic Oxidizer was installed at the Portland Bakery to remove an estimated 95-percent of all ethanol emissions from bakery operations.