ST. LOUIS — Haas Baking Co., which opened in 1925 as a baker of bread and rolls and eventually grew to become a supplier of frozen bakery products to the food service industry, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 16.

The company closed in March 2012, citing “declining sales, the economic downturn, increased production and ingredient costs, shifting customer preferences and resistance to price increases, and the presence of many new and aggressive competitors.”

Haas was known for its Gooey Butter Cake and was one of the first bakeries in St. Louis to offer the product. The company also made hamburger and hot dog buns, sweet yeast goods, cake-type donuts, yeast-raised donuts, cakes and muffins.

In its filing, Haas Baking listed 50 to 99 creditors, assets of $100,000 to $500,000, and liabilities of $1 million to $10 million.