ORLANDO, FL — Following in a parent’s footsteps at a family-owned commercial bakery is never easy, especially when the next generation is brimming with fresh perspectives and out-of-the-box ideas.
OJ DeSouza, president of Signature Baking Co. and a fourth-generation baker, shared his experiences with modernizing his family’s business during BakingTECH 2025, the American Society of Baking’s annual industry conference, held Feb. 15-19, in Orlando, FL.
Fortunately, DeSouza’s father was open to future-proofing the baking company from the start.
“My dad was always open to new ideas,” DeSouza said. “On the first day I worked with him, he said, ‘Pretend this is your company. What do you want to do?’ We implemented a lot of those ideas. Some worked, some didn’t. It was the opportunity to try that hooked me from the beginning.”