Flowers Foods and Oxford Bakery Class Action Settlement

NOTICE: THE FINAL APPROVAL HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCE ON MONDAY, SEPETEMBER 28, 2020 AT 10:00 AM (EDT). PLEASE CONTACT CLASS COUNSEL AT (612) 252-3570 FOR THE VIDEO CONFERENCE INFORMATION.

Current and former Flowers Baking Company of Oxford, Inc. (“Oxford”) distributors have sued Flowers Foods, Inc. and Oxford (collectively “Defendants”) alleging that Defendants misclassified them as independent contractors and violated federal as well as Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania wage-and-hour law. The Defendants deny those allegations, but have agreed to settle the lawsuit.

The Court did not decide in favor of the distributors or Defendants. Instead, both sides agreed to a settlement. That way, they avoid the cost of a trial, and the people affected will have a chance to receive compensation and the changes to Oxford’s distributor program. The Class Representatives and their lawyers think the settlement is best for all Settlement Class Members.

The Court has preliminarily approved the settlement and will hold a hearing, called a Fairness Hearing, to decide whether to give final approval to the settlement. At the hearing, the Court also will consider the award of legal fees to Class Counsel and the request for service payments to the Class Representatives.

The Court has scheduled the Fairness Hearing for September 28, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 10A, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. The date, time or place of the hearing may change; contact Class Counsel to confirm the date and time if you are planning to attend the hearing.

If approved by the Court, the settlement will provide a fund of approximately $8,637,500.00 to pay claims for those individuals who were, or are, Oxford distributors working in Maryland, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania within the time period specified below and who do not exclude themselves from the settlement (discussed further below).

• Maryland: December 12, 2012 – April 20, 2019

• New Jersey: March 24, 2014 – April 20, 2019

• Pennsylvania: December 1, 2012 – April 20, 2019