More baking companies are looking at their capital investment planning with a longer view and taking a more strategic approach to those plans, which helps to manage unusually long lead times the suppliers are forced to impose. The silver lining, according to Alexander, is that changing these strategies are naturally streamlining capital projects.

“When we communicate more of that with our key suppliers, they know what our plans are over time,” he said. “Then they can schedule accordingly, and that can help cut waste in the system.”

Partnerships between bakers and their equipment and ingredient suppliers are a key element in navigating the disruption and ensuring success for bakery businesses and the industry as a whole.

“We need each other,” Alexander said. “And we want our suppliers to be successful.”