Jay Hardy: It goes to workforce dynamics. It’s skill shortages, to Matt’s point, with training, human capital, ongoing strategic risk, but it’s also an opportunity for those who lead the workforce strategies. We need to have trained bakers, and we need to have trained engineers, from operational engineers to the ones who know how to fix the equipment.
With the policy and regulatory pressures impacting manufacturing, how do we continue the food safety aspect without creating a higher price tag? And how do we get there with more functional ingredients? Having these challenges definitely creates opportunities. It’s all in how we embrace it and not run scared from it.
Bill Quigg: I see real opportunities for ABA to help elevate the value of our products and drive renewed policymaker understanding. While we faced challenges this year, I’m optimistic. Conversations with legislators and government agencies have been productive, and our relationships with FDA, USDA and others are strengthening in meaningful ways. Dialogues are becoming increasingly valuable, positioning ABA to make greater progress for the baking industry.
I’m also hopeful that the tariff conversations are mostly behind us. That’s going to allow better predictability for bakeries on the capital spend side, which gives me optimism as well. Having these open conversations and coming to mutual understandings will certainly serve our industry well.
What are your takes on IBIE from the attendee, exhibitor and association perspectives?
Hardy: This is the first year that J&K has exhibited at the show, and our marketing team put together a fantastic booth in the North Hall. I’ve got to say, the North Hall was buzzing. It was a blend of wholesale and retail vendors, just buzzing with people every day. And the upgrades to North Hall made a big difference. Being a first-time exhibitor and having some first-time attendees working in our booth, it was amazing to see those eyes wide open. It did not disappoint.
From the perspective of BEMA as a co-owner of IBIE, we had the most booths ever, at just over 1,000. There were some ‘mega’ booths with multiple brands, and we also had strong numbers for first-time exhibitors. In talking to some of the exhibitors who are also BEMA members, this cycle seemed to host many attendees who were decision makers. As much as companies see IBIE as a reward for a job well done, I think this year it was, ‘Let’s go get some business done.’ I believe the quality of leads may have exceeded previous show cycles.
Quigg: I was just wide-eyed in amazement at how successful IBIE was! Just walking around the show and spending time with friends, but also meeting new equipment, ingredient, packaging vendors and all kinds of different people was so fulfilling. From an ABA perspective, I had this immense pride and thankfulness for everyone’s hard work, and from a baker member standpoint, I learned so much. The breadth of what I learned was amazing. Listening to professionals talk about values and making real contributions in the community, as well as specific ways to make manufacturing more efficient, more effective, it was all invaluable. There were just so many different aspects of the industry represented, and once I immersed myself in learning about the various facets, it really broadened my perspective.
Bowers: I heard tremendous feedback from our members, volunteers and partners about what an energizing event it was. IBIE was a powerful reflection on how vibrant and connected our industry is right now. And for ASB, this year’s participation through our Recharge Lounge was especially exciting. It was a space where people could take a break, recharge — literally and professionally — and have meaningful conversations about what’s happening across the industry. We also hosted fireside chats, which were informal sessions with industry experts on topics like workforce, recruitment, food safety, consumer trends and future innovations.
From a broader perspective, I was encouraged to hear how strong the collaborative energy was throughout IBIE. There was clear alignment between ABA, BEMA and RBA, all working toward common goals. It was so satisfying to see ASB contribute to that ecosystem by serving as a hub for learning, connection and professional growth within the industry.
