WASHINGTON, DC – A week from today, bakers will begin to converge upon Orlando for some sunshine, networking and content-rich programming at the 2015 American Bakers Association (ABA) Convention. The Morning Business Session promises to deliver strong programming and an opportunity to engage the customer perspective.
The March 30 session will begin with a presentation of ABA-exclusive research by Todd Hale, retail insights thought leader and former Senior Vice President, Consumer and Shopper Insights for Nielsen. Following his "The Power of Bakery Categories" presentation will be a customer panel offering reaction and observations to Todd's findings. Comprising this panel is Katey Stine, Director of Purchasing at Independent Purchasing Cooperative, a SUBWAY® Franchisee-Owned Organization; Brian Dwyer, Director of Manufacturing Operations – Bakery for The Kroger Co., and Mark Baum, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Chief Collaboration Officer for Food Marketing Institute. As Todd Hale moderates, the panel will share their thoughts on strategies to drive growth in the baking category to the benefit of retail and food service customers and wholesale bakers.
The Morning Business Session will conclude with a compelling presentation from John Rand, Senior Vice President of Retail Insights for Kantar Retail. “Reengaging Shoppers: A Recipe for Engaging a Disrupted Consumer Market” will outline how to grow your bakery offerings by mastering new approaches to reengage shoppers. Drawing on his experiences with the supermarket, club and value discounter channels, John will examine how the U.S. shopper landscape has fractured in multiple ways and how the impact on product development, retailer needs, marketing and brand development are profound and ongoing.
“With nearly 500 registered attendees, I expect the Morning Business Session to be a full and lively exchange as we tackle critical questions for the baking businesses,” said Robb MacKie, ABA President and CEO.
The 2015 ABA Convention is taking place March 29 – April 1, at the Ritz Grande Lakes Orlando. As the premier annual gathering of the baking industry, top industry leaders will attend to hear from business and political speakers, learn about the latest trends, connect with industry colleagues, share ideas, and develop solutions on baking issues. More information and registration can be found at www.americanbakers.org/2015ABAConvention. Follow the convention with #PowerofBaking
About the American Bakers Association:
The American Bakers Association (ABA) is the Washington D.C.-based voice of the wholesale baking industry. Since 1897, ABA has represented the interests of bakers before the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and international regulatory authorities. ABA advocates on behalf of more than 700 baking facilities and baking company suppliers. ABA members produce bread, rolls, crackers, bagels, sweet goods, tortillas and many other wholesome, nutritious, baked products for America’s families. The baking industry generates more than $102 billion in economic activity annually and employs more than 706,000 highly skilled people.
About “The Power of Baking”
As part of its convention and yearlong theme, ABA will be sharing “The Power of Baking” with baking industry, policymakers and key influencers with focused messages based on economic, consumer and nutrition facts and research. Over the course of 2015, ABA will be illustrating the impact of baking in the retail marketplace by imparting data that proves baking is one of America’s most powerful industries. Learn more at www.americanbakers.org.
Source: American Bakers Association
