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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Workers find 'Aiea plant shuttered

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

In better times, the Holsum/Oroweat bakeries, later known as the Hawaii Baking Co., installed $1.3 million worth of new equipment at its facility in 'Aiea.

Advertiser library photo • 1979

Employees at the former Hawaii Baking Co. were surprised to find the company's 'Aiea plant darkened and locked Sunday with no explanation.

"They shut it down. They shut it down and locked the place up," said one employee who did not want his name used because he hopes to continue on at the company's Waipahu operation. "I came in on Sunday and everything was there, but it was all shut down. Lights off, everything."

About 250 workers may be affected.

The company closed in November and was taken over by California-based Fresh Start Bakeries and First Pacific Food Co. of Arizona, which handle production and distribution operations, respectively.

Yesterday, Fresh Start President Craig Olson said from the company's Brea headquarters in Orange County, Calif., that he would have no comment and does not plan to make any comments in the future.

The company did not file a plant-closing notice with the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, according to state officials.

Fresh Start's corporate vice president of human resources was at the Waipahu plant yesterday and said it had been "a difficult day" but declined further comment.

The shuttering of the 'Aiea plant is the latest chapter in the collapse of Hawaii Baking, which is under investigation by four federal agencies and is the subject of lawsuits by employee unions and creditors.

Best known by its previous name, Holsum/Oro-weat, Hawaii Baking was once Hawai'i's second-largest baking company.

Some 200 employees lost their medical benefits and then their jobs when the 56-year-old company abruptly closed in November.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.