A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the $2.2 million Wellness Center at the Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls bakery in Luverne Friday.

The Wellness Center is a state-of-the-art facility designed especially for the company’s employees, for their needs and their comfort.

“The Wellness Center is the realization of a 24-year old dream,” said Patricia ‘Sister Schubert’ Barnes, founder and vice president of product development and manufacturing. “This is an indication of the value that we place on the employees here at Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls. We have great employees who are dedicated and hard working. It has been a dream of mine for many years to provide a place where our employees could go to rest, relax and just enjoy being together. Our Marzetti team made today possible.”

Barnes said the employees break room has been at the end of hallway and was in a rather closed-in area.

The walls of the Wellness Center are glass and offer a view of the bakery’s grounds.

“The Wellness Center is open and it’s inviting and it says to our employees that we love, value and appreciate them,” Barnes said. “With the products that we offer, our employees touch the lives of many, many people. At Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls, we don’t just bake bread, we share love.”

Barnes said it is the goal of Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls for each and every employee to be proud to wear the Sister Schubert logo and to be a part of the organization.

The Wellness Center is a multi-purpose facility that features a break area, personal lockers, restroom facilities and meeting areas.

Don Nix, Crenshaw County Chamber of Commerce president, said the Wellness Center at the Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls bakery is another example of the company’s commitment to its employees and also to the economic growth and development of the area.

“Crenshaw County is not a big county but we have a lot going on and we are very optimistic about our future economic growth,” Nix said. “This Wellness Center lets people know that when you come to work in Crenshaw County you are going to be appreciated.”

Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls was founded in 1992 and is based in Luverne with bakery locations in Luverne and Saraland and Horse Cave, Kentucky. Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Lancaster Colony Corporation.