Bake to the Future

In this episode, we talk with ABA's in-house experts Robb MacKie and Lee Sanders about supply chain challenges and ingredient supply concerns facing the baking industry. What's happening, what's next, and what can we do about it? Recorded on May 19, 2021.

We continue our series on Women in Bakery with a conversation with Valerie Oswalt, Executive Vice President and President Campbell Snacks. She shares her personal experience in the food manufacturing industry. We also hear from other inspirational women leaders in the baking industry who are passionate about empowering women and diversity in the workplace.

Thank you to Nashville Entrepreneurship Center for permission to use your podcast audio and to Gold Revere for permission to use your song, Goldfish Crackers.

Bake to the Future steps into the past to tell the story of two enterprising women in baking history: Dora Schwebel of Schwebel Baking Company and Margaret Rudkin, founder of Pepperidge Farm (now owned by Campbell Soup Company). Hear archival footage and a corporate archivist's take on how they overcame personal and professional obstacles in the early 20th century to build successful baking companies and brands that still thrive today.

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines of Americans, released at the end of 2020, will impact consumer health decisions, doctor recommendations, school meal programs, and more for years to come. We talk with nutrition and regulatory experts about how the new Guidelines will affect the baking industry and the grain sector's future. Recorded on January 6, 2021.

As cannabis is legalized to sell in states across the US, the edibles industry is quickly growing for both psychoactive and non-psychoactive products. We talk to cannabis, baking, and regulatory experts about the market potential, business challenges, trends, and more for cannabis-infused baked goods.

Recorded on December 11, 2020.

Fred Penny, President, Bimbo Bakeries USA, shares some lessons learned from COVID-19 and where he sees the opportunities for the baking industry in the year ahead. How does the industry build on the renewed excitement of baked goods? Listen to this exclusive interview to find out.

Recorded on December 3, 2020.

The leaders of wheat supply chain associations reflect on the pandemic and how they plan on tackling what comes next: by working together. The industry executives weigh in on everything from trade, logistics, and workforce safety to technology and home baking trends. Then, they discuss the imperative of demystifying the farm to fork system and educating consumers. Recorded on November 16, 2020.

ABA's in-house experts, Robb MacKie, President & CEO, Lee Sanders, SVP of Government Relations & Public Affairs, and Kelly Knowles, VP of Political & State Affairs analyze the results from the 2020 election. What does a new Administration mean to the industry and how is ABA going to help Members throughout the transition? They discuss the election's impact on key policy areas important to the baking sector such as nutrition, workforce, and COVID-19. And we find out how the American Bakers PAC's engagement changed during the 2020 election season. Recorded on November 13, 2020.

Read more about this conversation Take the Great Bake Debate

With his 35 years in cookie and cracker product development, Rich McFeaters knows a thing or two about the baking process. He explains the importance of workforce training at all levels and shares some stories from his decades-long career. Recorded on October 19, 2020.

Akeem Babatunde from Kroger Manufacturing and Dan van der Have from Accenture explain how technological innovations, like Artificial Intelligence (AI), can be utilized in baking manufacturing to prevent bad batches, increase food safety, and improve maintenance workflows. Then, our guests predict what the future manufacturing facilities will look like 5-10 years down the road. Catch Dan's keynote on AI and Baking at TechCon Beyond. Recorded on October 7, 2020.