HispanicBusiness

THOMASVILLE, Ga., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The first full line of snack cakes created by a U. S. wholesale baker to appeal to the growing Latino and Hispanic markets will be introduced across the country this week. Thomasville-based Flowers Foods , one of the nation's leading producers and marketers of packaged bakery foods, is launching the 13-product snack cake line under the Tesoritos (Little Treasures) and Pan Dulce de Mi Casa (Sweet Bread from My House) brands.

Flowers' fresh line of Hispanic snack cakes are produced at its bakeries in the United States and includes popular baked treats like conchas, panquecitos, mantecadas and panque con nuez and such creme-filled snack cakes as chocolate cupcakes and creme-and-strawberry-filled sponge cakes.

"Our aim is to provide baked foods that appeal to all consumer segments. With the Hispanic population growing faster than any other segment, we are pleased to offer these snack cakes specifically suited to Latino and Hispanic preferences," said George E. Deese, president and chief operating officer of Flowers Foods.

The Pan Dulce de Mi Casa brand will be available regionally throughout the Sun Belt states in supermarkets, convenience stores and other retail outlets served by Flowers Foods Bakeries Group's direct-store-delivery distribution system. The cake line's brand name was inspired by Flowers' Mi Casa flour and corn tortillas, which were introduced in the mid-1990s.

The Tesoritos brand will be available nationally in supermarkets, convenience stores and vending operations that use wholesale warehouse distribution. Flowers Foods Specialty Group will manage Tesoritos distribution.

Deese said, "These snack cakes have been in development for more than a year and were created through market and brand research and plenty of taste testing. We've created recipes that will especially appeal to Hispanic tastes and our cakes are winning accolades from customers."

Shoppers can find the following snack items under the Pan Dulce de Mi Casa and Tesoritos brands:

- Conchas-soft, chewy yeast rolls with a sugary topping (2-pack) - Donas-sugared donuts (6-pack) - Mantecadas-mini vanilla muffins (2-pack) - Panque-pound cake slice - Panquecitos-mini pound cakes (2-pack) - Panque con Nuez-sliced pecan pound cake - Sorpresas-chocolate-covered vanilla cakes with strawberry and creme filling (available in a 2-pack and in a 10-count box) - Esponjitas-creme-filled sponge cake (available in a 2-pack and in a 6- count box) - Pastelitos con Crema-creme-filled chocolate cupcakes (available in a 2- pack and in a 6-count box) - Roles de Canela con Pasas-cinnamon rolls with raisins

Headquartered in Thomasville, GA., Flowers Foods is one of the nation's leading producers and marketers of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers. Flowers operates 33 bakeries that produce a wide range of baked foods marketed throughout the Sun Belt states via an extensive direct-store-delivery network and nationwide through other delivery systems. Among the company's top brands are Nature's Own, Cobblestone Mill, Mrs. Freshley's, BlueBird, and European Bakers. For more information on the company, visit http://www.flowersfoods.com/ . Flowers Foods

CONTACT: Kathy Cosgrove, +1-404-880-4603, or Dana Shafer,+1-404-880-4617, both of Golin-Harris International

Web site: http://www.flowersfoods.com/