PARTNERS Crackers founder leaves legacy of innovation to second-generation leadership

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PARTNERS Crackers founder leaves legacy of innovation to second-generation leadership

7 Oct 2021

Jordan Winter

Jordan Winter is a journalist who wants to learn more and teach others about the world through storytelling. Dedicated to positive social change, her reporting is informed by years of experience writing, designing, and producing multimedia content for mission-driven publications and nonprofits.

As the creative director for Commercial Baking, Jordan is bringing life to the stories of diversity and sustainability in the commercial baking industry.

DES MOINES, WA — Marian Harris, founder of PARTNERS Crackers, a family-owned bakery known for its slow-baked gourmet crackers, passed away on Sept. 27. Her death was announced by her daughter, PARTNERS president and CEO Cara Figgins.

As a restauranteur, recipe innovator and steward of several iconic business, Harris leaves a a growing company with award-winning products that are sold worldwide.

She found initial success serving homemade soups and salads in downtown Seattle but came up empty-handed when looking for quality crackers to accompany her meals. As an entrepreneur, Harris developed her own unique recipe. She set off to start a new business selling her quality, homemade crackers — a perfect “partner” for any food — after realizing how popular they had become. She founded PARTNERS Crackers in 1992 as a family-owned company.

In addition to her daughter at the, Harris’ son, Greg Maestretti, serves as the company’s COO. Together, they mourn the loss of their mother and honor her entrepreneurial spirit that set the foundation for PARTNERS.

“Our mother wasn’t afraid to try new things, and those risks paid off,” Figgins said. “We have sustained a strong business through many challenges. After my mother took a step back from day-to-day operations, my brother and I continued to lead PARTNERS toward growth and new opportunities. Today, we’re thriving.”

"Our mother wasn't afraid to try new things, and those risks paid off," Figgins said. "We have sustained a strong business through many challenges. After my mother took a step back from day-to-day operations, my brother and I continued to lead PARTNERS toward growth and new opportunities. Today, we're thriving."

PARTNERS produces 11 million crackers each day at its 150,000-square-ft. plant in Des Moines, WA, an expanded facility to which the company moved in 2017. Producing four brands with a wide variety of cracker sizes, flavors and ingredients, PARTNERS employs more than 90 people and distributes its products in all 50 states and around the world.

“We are committed to being a company that provides better food to more people,” Maestretti said. “As a family-owned business, our priority is to serve our customers and our community, and to honor our mother’s legacy.”

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