McDuffies Bakery in Clarence is about a whole lot more than just cookies

CLARENCE - You've probably had McDuffies shortbread cookies. For more than a quarter-century, they've been a mainstay on airlines, cruise ships, hotels, supermarkets and more.

These days, McDuffies is about a whole lot more than just cookies. If fact, the family-owned business is even cooking dinner for you.

McDuffies Bakery opened up a retail store in Clarence about 1 1/2 years ago, offering what founder Dave Thomas calls "high-quality convenience food."

"You can, as a customer, walk in here at 5 o'clock at night after work and pick up your dinner, and get home put it in the oven and have it piping hot just like you made it at home," he said. "It's taken off like wildfire.

"People aren't cooking at home as much anymore; people want to spend their time doing other things besides cooking. By the time you have a glass of wine, dinner's ready."

The shortbread cookie business is still going strong. It’s based on a recipe from Dave Thomas’s grandmother that dates back more than 100 years. Dave started McDuffies in 1976. Dave’s son Brian came up with the idea of the retail business – which is located at 9920 Main Street in Clarence – and it’s been a smashing success.

McDuffies serves pot pies, fresh soups, macaroni and cheese and more. If they don't have what you want, drop a note in the suggestion box. As McDuffies grows, ideas are always welcome.

"It's far-exceeded our expectations as far as customers," Dave Thomas said. "A lot of them have become dependent on this time of quality. Other alternatives for them are commercial products that are made with fillers and preservatives and are not nearly as good as if you made it yourself."

A chef with more than 30 years of experience is on hand making fresh soups and salads. Nothings prepared, all are made with fresh vegetables that arrive at around 7 a.m. each morning. Two pastry chefs make the cookies and pies on a daily basis.

People have quickly noticed the high-quality food at McDuffies, coming from as far away as Dunkirk and Niagara Falls – and they like it.

"I would say 99 out of 100 customers that come in here, we'll see them again within three or four days," Dave Thomas said. "It's a very high-level of customer loyalty.

“We not gearing it to the super-sophisticated or to the unsophisticated. It’s just people that want extraordinary quality where we don’t sacrifice anything as far as ingredients.

There’s also a café where customers can enjoy their food. That was popular even in mid-construction.

“We had a group of customers that came into the café when it was still just half-done,” said Brian Thomas. “We had ladders out and everything and we brought out a table for them to sit at. And they still come in to this day.”

For more information, visit www.mcduffies.com.