Washington, D.C.—This year, from October 6-9, the sweet smell of raisin-fueled competition will fill the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) in Las Vegas as the California Raisin Marketing Board’s (CRMB) America’s Best Raisin Bread Contest joins the IBIE contest lineup for the first time. As the nation’s leading baking industry event, with thousands of participants from all segments of grain-based food community, IBIE is the ideal venue for the CRMB’s annual challenge.
The CMRB’s raisin-based battle has a rich history with international roots. Created to spark new product ideas and expand the use of raisin products, the inaugural contest took place 21 years ago in Japan. It quickly spread across Asia and to the United Kingdom, and has seen over 5,000 unique product entries. Several winners from this highly competitive and prestigious event have gone on to become team members of their country’s Coupe Du Monde Team in the Louis Lesaffre Cup competition in Paris.
Now in its sixth year on U.S. soil, CRMB will bring the unique flavor and excitement of America’s Best Raisin Bread Contest to the IBIE. “We’re thrilled to have the California Raisin Marketing Board as a partner,” stated Mike Beaty, IBIE Chairman. “The America’s Best Raisin Bread Contest will add to the buzz on the show floor. It’s such a great addition to the expo.”
The U.S. competition will take place from October 6-8, adjacent to the Amoretti Demo Theatre in North Hall. Each day, 12 finalists will bake their products and present their finished product to a panel of judges. The judges will choose three winners from each of the three categories: Artisan, Commercial and Breakfast. In addition, the judges will choose 1 student winner in each of the 3 categories. The final 12 America’s Best Raisin Bread Contest winners will be announced at a banquet at the LVH hotel on the night of October 8th. Show goers will be able to watch the preparation, judging and photographing of all the 36 finalists over the three-day contest period.
On October 9, the winners of the international competitions will join their American counterparts on the show floor, courtesy of the CRMB and Raisin Administrative Committee. These culinary champions will then demonstrate and sample their creations for all expo attendees.
“We started America’s Best Raisin Bread Contest to recognize the top bakers in the industry,” said Larry Blagg, senior vice president of marketing for the CRMB. “And I can’t think of a better place to do that than the number one event in the baking industry, IBIE.”
The 2013 IBIE is shaping up to be the most informative and engaging event in the show’s history. The addition of America’s Best Raisin Bread Contest is just one of the myriad offerings that makes the Baking Expo™ a must-attend event for everyone involved in the business of baking.
For more information about IBIE 2013 and to register for the event, visit www.IBIE2013.com.
To learn more about CRMB’s America’s Best Raisin Bread Contest, and to submit an application to compete in the event, visit www.loveyourraisins.com.
IBIE, sponsored by the American Bakers Association (ABA) and the Baking Industry Suppliers Association (BEMA), is recognized worldwide as the grain-based food industry’s largest, most comprehensive trade event. A “working show,” where millions of dollars of business is conducted daily, IBIE brings the entire professional baking community together, offering the complete range of equipment, supply and ingredient solutions and showcasing the newest baking technology in 500,000 net square feet. The triennial event will next be held in Las Vegas, Nev. October 6-9, 2013.
Attendees include employees of: wholesale bakeries, suppliers and distributors; supermarket chains, central bakeries and commissaries; supermarket in-store bakeries; multi-store and single unit retail bakeries; intermediate wholesale bakeries; donut, pie and cookie retailers; cake and cupcake shops; foodservice operators; tortilla producers; snack food producers; biscuit & cracker producers.
Exhibitors include manufacturers and suppliers of: baking/food equipment and systems; ingredients, flavorings, spices & fillings; ingredient handling systems; packaging materials & systems; technology; sanitation equipment; transportation & distribution equipment; refrigeration equipment; business services.
About the California Raisin Marketing Board
A State Marketing Order in 1998 created the 100 percent grower funded California Raisin Marketing Board. Its mission is to support and promote the increased use of California grown raisins and sponsor crop production, nutrition and market research. For more information about the California Raisin Marketing Board and to browse delicious recipes, visit http://www.loveyourraisins.com.
Source: International Baking Industry Exposition
