Honor McDuffies Bakery Award

Senate Resolution No. 277 BY: Senator RANZENHOFER HONORING McDuffies Bakery upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2019 Large Business of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce on March 7, 2019 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize the achievements of those individuals and businesses that contribute substantially to the economic vitality of their communities, thereby enhancing the economic well-being of the entire Empire State; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor McDuffies Bakery upon its designation as recipient of the 2019 Large Business of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce, to be celebrated at its 47th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Samuel's Grande Manor in Clarence, New York; and WHEREAS, McDuffies Bakery is receiving this prestigious award for its steadfast and unremitting commitment to its Clarence community; and WHEREAS, In early 1976, David Thomas, his wife, Paula, and their three children moved to a small house at the corner of Main and Kraus Streets in Clarence; using his grandmother McDuff's Scottish shortbread cookie recipe, he soon launched McDuffies Bakery, and sold the delicious treats nationally by mail; some of his early customers included the Anheuser family, the Lionel family, Jackie Gleason, Princess Grace, Ronald Reagan and even the White House; and WHEREAS, As word spread throughout the country of these amazing cookies, companies such as Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, United Airlines, The Marriott Hotel chain and many others became customers resulting in two additions to the tiny house that is now home to over a million dollars in state of the art bakery production and quality control equipment in over 10,000 square feet of production space; and WHEREAS, In 1991, David Thomas' son, Brian, joined the company, and today, continues his family's proud tradition of making quality, home style products for its loyal customers all over the world; and WHEREAS, Under Brian Thomas' luminous leadership, McDuffies Bakery introduced another one of Grandma McDuff's creations, Chicken Pot Pie in the summer of 2011; an instant success, customers started driving to Clarence from all over with large coolers in their cars to stock up on these flavorful pies; and WHEREAS, Brian Thomas quickly opened two Mr. Pot Pie stores in East Aurora and Hamburg, New York, and people have raved about Grandma McDuff's delicious recipe ever since; currently, customers can purchase eight different flavored pot pies; and WHEREAS, In addition to their incredible shortbread and pot pies, McDuffies Bakery features a variety of fresh baked items from scones to coffee cakes and daily fresh baked artisan breads in a number of variations and a selection of soups prepared from garden fresh vegetables; and WHEREAS, The success of McDuffies Bakery is in direct correlation to the efforts of its President Brian Thomas, and his staff, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the institution and the community it serves; and WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body acknowledges McDuffies Bakery's success, recognizes its contributions to the local and State economies, and extends its highest commendation to the corporation and its employees, fully confident that, in its future, it will enjoy the same success which has so characterized its past; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor McDuffies Bakery upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2019 Large Business of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Brian Thomas, President, McDuffies Bakery.