McDuffies' retail operation is key ingredient to success.

Byline: Matt Glynn

Sept. 06--McDuffies Bakery has been a fixture in Clarence for 35 years, but the old business has learned some new tricks that are helping it flourish. McDuffies sells its baked goods to customers like hotels, supermarket chains and coffee shops, along with USAirways and the Royal Caribbean cruise line. Last fall, the Main Street business added a retail store that has exceeded expectations. David and Brian Thomas, the father-son team that runs McDuffies, are pleasantly surprised at the results. They say the company's shift in customer focus proved a far greater benefit than they anticipated. "It was a necessary thing to do," David Thomas said. "We …