KANSAS CITY, MO — As Commercial Baking wraps up its third year of sharing the latest news and insights for the baking industry, the magazine looks back on the acquisitions, product releases, tradeshow coverage and innovations covered online and in the print magazine. Here are the top five stories from 2023, and make sure to stay tuned for additional web coverage in the new year.
1. Flowers Foods appoints Heeth Varnedoe president, adds other roles
The baking company announced three senior leadership changes and the election of two new board members.
2. In Memoriam: Jason Stricker, VP of sales and marketing, Shick Esteve
Stricker, a longtime member of the baking industry, spent two decades with Shick Esteve. He passed away Aug. 11.
3. Farmer Direct Foods: Modern spin on a milling legacy
Hayley Nelson Eckert and Keaton Hale, VP of strategy and sales and VP of operations, respectively, are taking flour milling into the future.
4. Middleby opens new facility in Palmetto, FL
The 68,000-sq.-ft. location will provide a concentric manufacturing, research and development center for Hinds-Bock and Inline Filling Systems.
5. ASB’s Kristen Spriggs looks to the association’s future
The executive director shared her perspective on the work taking place to keep ASB moving forward.
