When you can point to thirty solid years of happy customers from not only the local community but from tourists worldwide, there’s definitely some truth to being an exceptional place to work, and that’s exactly the case for the team at Froehlich’s of Three Oaks. Famous for scratch-made products including jams, pastries, cakes, restaurant fare, and their own free-trade coffee roasted in-house, the team at Froehlich’s work with a majority of hyperlocal farmers to both support their business and provide the freshest products bursting with flavor and free of preservatives. Best of all, the Froehlich’s team never stops growing and learning and they are passionate about pushing the envelope. Don’t tell them “it’s impossible,” because they will find a way. In fact, their motto is, “The more complex the problem, the more compelled we are to find a solution.” Team Froehlich tackles the challenges by combining their minds and remain both aggressive and progressive while never forgetting their roots and the needs of the community. Owner Colleen Froehlich is on site 12 to 14 hours a day, nearly 365 days a year and is fully in tune with both the needs of the community and the desires of her staff. You’ve got to love that the team socializes together through multiple staff parties and outings such as visits to local breweries, wineries and farms. Collectively, they have a great story to tell about how they have become one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Southwest Michigan for 2022 and you can read on for more of that story.
What is the name of the business you are nominating?
Froehlich’s
Who are the owner(s) and/or principals in this company?
Colleen Froehlich
Business Contact Information
Froehlich’s, 19 North Elm Street, Three Oaks, MI 49128
How many people work at the company you are nominating?
Average of 50
Tell us the story behind the nominated company. What does it do, and what sets them apart from other companies in the region?
We have been a destination for both tourists and locals alike for the past thirty years. We’re famous for our scratch-made products including jams, pastries, cakes, restaurant fare and our own free-trade coffee, roasted right here in house. We work with a majority of the hyperlocal farmers to both support their business and provide the freshest products bursting with flavor and free from preservatives. We never stop growing and learning and are passionate about pushing the envelope. When we’re told something isn’t possible, we find a way. Our motto is, “The more complex the problem, the more compelled we are to find a solution.” The atmosphere is full of excitement and an intensity that keeps us all on our toes and eager to thrive.
In your own words, why do you think this company deserves to be declared to be one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest?
The staff is and has been an integral part of our daily successes and longevity. All ideas are welcome and considered. Nothing makes an employee prouder than seeing their creativity blossom into success. We, of course, have had our share of failures, but wholeheartedly embrace those shortfalls as a tool to build the confidence to try again and try harder.
What makes workers proud to say they work there, and keeps them a part of the team?
We’ll refer back to question 7 for this answer. The staff are always engaged and asked for input. We feature and sell their artwork and name products after staff and even members of the community. We promote their products and interview them for videos on our social media. They love that the recognition of their hard work, commitment and artistry are on display on our menus and in our stores and can’t wait to share the story of how their products and projects came to fruition. It builds a palpable sense of pride and accomplishment.
Let’s pretend you’re writing a review for Yelp! or Trip Advisor. Give us your best recommendation for the nominated company that would make the rest of us wish we worked there, too.
The staff are amazing! The friendship, professionalism and sense of graciousness and trust in one another are not only obvious, but visible in their demeanor and service. They can’t wait for the doors to open and hit the ground running every day. The feeling in the room is that of sincerity and an overall sense of family.
What three key words best describe why this company is a Best Places to Work caliber company?
- Family
- Intensity
- Nurturing
As a Best Places to Work company “Super Hero,” what are the two most magical “Super Powers” this company seems to have on a day-to-day basis? (i.e., Ability to read minds, fly, invisibility, etc) And why?
Super Power One: Tackling challenges by combining our minds.
Super Power Two: Remaining aggressive and progressive while never forgetting our roots and the needs of our community.
Tell us about the leadership of the nominated company and what they do in order to:
A] Keep spirits and motivation high? — A sense of inclusiveness and importance.
B] Keep innovation and fresh ideas advancing? — Embracing the fact that nobody is the smartest person in the room.
C] Keep communications open? — Communication is direct with Colleen who is on site 12 – 14 hours a day, nearly 365 days a year. She is in tune with both the needs of the community and desires of the staff. She’s the hardest working person I’ve ever met and there is a never-ending line of managers and staff with questions and ideas that she hears out without ever stopping what she’s doing.
Explain a specific “wow!” moment in this company’s history that is virtually “Hall of Fame” or “Best Practices” worthy, as an example to other companies in the region.
When we opened the doors of our new Kitchen & Pantry. Seeing Colleen’s vison of expanding from a 2,000 square foot bakery to an 22,000 square foot complex featuring a restaurant, bar, lounge, deli, retail shop, pantry, liquor store and luxury event space materialize was awe inspiring to say the least. We all learned that day that passion and perseverance are the cornerstones of success.
Best Places to Work have a reputation for not only working hard, but also for playing hard.
A] How does the nominated company honor or reward success? — We have what seems to be perpetual staff appreciation parties in which staff are acknowledged for their achievements and Colleen personally cooks dinner for the entire staff.
B] How does the nominated company socialize as a team? — Multiple staff parties and outings such as visits to local breweries, wineries and farms.
C] How does the nominated company get involved in community events? — Colleen is the queen of donations. We supply food, space, labor and ideas for all things local.
D] How does the nominated company celebrate life? — By recognizing that through all the good and bad that we’re all human. That we all crave nurturing and recognition in many different forms and levels.
Write a brief, but compelling, recruitment ad telling people about why they should come and work there, too.
If you’d like to be part of a family, love learning and being creative while getting paid a competitive wage for doing it (not to mention all the delicious food), Froehlich’s is the place for you!
What one thing is special about your nominated company that most people in the community have no idea actually happens there, but should be shouted from the rooftops because it’s that cool?
We create everything we can with our hands with local supplies. Any items we cannot create ourselves are carefully curated by Colleen herself. Without exception, every single retail item we sell in our stores has a story behind it. Whether it’s from a woman-owned company, something Colleen fell in love with that’s native to somewhere in the world she’s lived or unique items made others hands, blood, sweat and tears, it all has a story of passion behind it.
Give us three employee perks or benefits that you think make the company you have nominated worthy of a Best Places to Work trophy?
- Very competitive wages and paid time off
- Free food and employee discounts
- Work / life balance
If this is your company and you win, write the best headline ever for your company newsletter describing your successful selection to the list, and be as specific as you can about how you would celebrate the win if money were no object.
This would not be possible without all of us! Now pack your bags because we’re all going to Disney World!
Tell us anything else you want about this company that you suddenly realize we haven’t asked you about, but you’re sure will be the thing that puts you squarely into the winner’s circle! (Wait a minute! Can you put a square in a circle?)
Despite the daily level of intensity, we sincerely believe that work / life balance is fundamental to the well-being, happiness and longevity of our staff and their families.
