Formerly a Hostess brand, Merita was sold to Flowers Foods.
ORLANDO, FLA. — A Merita Bread bakery in Orlando that once was owned by the former Hostess Brands, Inc. was demolished on Aug. 19.
The bakery, which for many years made bread and buns under the Merita, Nature’s Pride and Wonder brands, was closed in late 2012 as part of Hostess’ bankruptcy proceedings. The Merita brand was sold to Flowers Foods, but the Orlando facility was not one that was reopened by the Thomasville, Ga.-based baking company.
The Merita Bread bakery originally opened in 1961.
In October 2014, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art acquired the landmark Merita Bread neon sign through a gift from Maudlin International Trucks of Orlando. Maudlin earlier purchased the property from Flowers Foods. Maudlin demolished the Merita plant to make room for its own larger facility.
