The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has presented 31 baking plants with the 2017 Energy Star certification for reducing their energy intake and emissions output. Nine facilities (*) earned the certification for the first time, including Dave’s Killer Bread, Flowers Foods, Klosterman Baking Co., TreeHouse Foods and five Bimbo Bakeries USA plants. 

The program provides industry-specific energy benchmarking tools and other resources that allow plants to compare their energy performance to others within the industry. 


The following plants earned the certification in 2017. 

    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Phoenix  
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Sacramento, Calif.
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, San Diego 
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Dubuque, Iowa*
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Fergus Falls, Minn.*
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Auburn, N.Y.*
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Olean, N.Y.
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Charlotte, N.C.
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Reading, Pa.
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Sioux Falls, S.D.*
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Salt Lake City 
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, La Crosse, Wis.*
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, Milwaukee 
    • Dave’s Killer Bread, Milwaukie, Ore.*
    • Flowers Foods, Tolleson, Ariz.
    • Flowers Foods, Lynchburg, Va. 
    • Flower Foods, Norfolk, Va. 
    • Flowers Foods, El Paso, Texas 
    • Flower Foods, Tyler, Texas*
    • Flower Foods, Baton Rouge, La. 
    • Kellogg Company, Augusta, Ga. 
    • Kellogg Company, Terre Haute, Ind. 
    • Kellogg Company, Florence, Ky.
    • Kellogg Company, Louisville, Ky. 
    • Northeast Foods, Baltimore 
    • Klosterman Baking Company, Cincinnati*
    • Klosterman Baking Company, Indianapolis  
    • TreeHouse Foods, Princeton, Ky.* 
    • TreeHouse Foods, South Beloit, Idaho 
    • TreeHouse Foods, Tonawanda, N.Y.
Since 2012, the American Bakers Association (A.B.A.), in conjunction with the E.P.A.’s energy star division, has worked to develop effective energy management programs that can create sustainable facilities and deliver cost-savings to businesses.  

To earn the certification, bakeries must meet key energy performance indicators (EPIs) created by the organizations and achieve an Energy Performance Score (EPS) of 75 or higher. Energy Star calculates a plant’s performance by gathering data on the facility’s total energy use, weather conditions, operations and products. The EPS is a percentile score on a scale of 1–100. According to Energy Star, a score of 75 or higher means the facility is performing better than 75% of the plants in the industry.

After merging with the Biscuit and Crackers Manufacturers Association in July 2017, the A.B.A. is now looking to create the same benchmarking tool for biscuit and cracker producers. In March, the organization announced that it is seeking manufacturers to submit their EPI’s, so they can compare their performance to others in the industry. To participate in the Energy Star Tool Test Drive, click here .