Despite all of the fear and loathing by the baking industry prior to the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE), exhibitors for the most part were pleased, if not happy, with the outcome of the show.

According to IBIE organizers, a total of 19,640 industry professionals attended the show, including 3,925 international registrants from 96 countries.

“We are extremely pleased with the buzz we’ve heard on the exhibit floor over the past four days,” said Robert Kirkpatrick, IBIE chairman from Rondo-Doge Inc., at the show’s conclusion. “Attendees were very interested in the products focused on nutritional foods in addition to a wide range of new equipment technologies. IBIE definitely delivered as the source for solutions in response to changing market needs.”

Prior to the show, which was held August 15-18 in Las Vegas, many exhibitors had expressed concerns that holding IBIE during peak vacation time and in the brutal summer heat would keep many bakers away.

In the end, the trepidations about the temperatures and the attendance proved to be groundless. As temperatures hovered in the mid-90°F range — considered a cold snap for Las Vegas in the summer — many exhibitors reported that business was brisk on the convention floor. Although the attendance didn’t break 20,000, the so-called check-writers at wholesale-baking companies did indeed show up.
As they say in the business, the quality of show-goers made up for the quantity of attendees.

“Someone asked me, ‘On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate it?’ I said, ‘A 10,’” said Richard MacArthur, vice president of sales and marketing at AMF.

“It was a good show, maybe one of the best ever,” added Mike Cornelis, national sales manager for Chicago Metallic. “The naysayers said that the Europeans wouldn’t come [and] that they would be on holiday in August. Yes, some weren’t here, but there were many more who showed up.”
Exhibitors also noted that there was strong attendance from Asia and Latin American countries.

“This is our first show. I don’t think we’ve come away from any other show with such a large number of leads,” said Rob Kirby, vice president of marketing for Spectrum Foods.

“Sunday had light traffic, but Monday and Tuesday were quite good. All in all, it’s been a pretty successful show,” said Anthony Savukinas, general manager-operations for Oshikiri.

“It’s what we expected,” said Jim Machura of Quantum Technical Services. “We’ve seen existing customers and also made some new contacts. We’re very happy with the show.

At the end of the show, Kurt Miller, sales director-technical service of Burford Corp. summed it up this way: “It was awesome.”

Bakers not only came to shop, but they also attended educational programs put on by the American Institute of Baking. The institute noted it had solid attendance for all three days of seminars held during the show.

“The quality of the people out here and the number of people has been terrific,” said Paul Abenante, president and CEO of the American Bakers Association. “The international attendance was stronger than I thought.”

IBIE is held every three years and is jointly sponsored by ABA and BEMA, the baking industry suppliers association. The next big show will be held in Orlando, Fla., at the Orange County Convention Center, Oct. 7-10, 2007.

The Baking Industry Sanitation Standards Committee (BISSC) plans to launch a new certification program and transfer the administration of its efforts to the American Institute of Baking, effective Sept. 1.
In addition, Jon Anderson, who currently oversees AIB inspection programs, will serve as the new BISSC executive director.

To receive BISSC certification, equipment manufacturers will be required to have AIB-trained staffers who understand the new ANSI/BISSC/Z50.2 sanitation standard and how equipment must be designed so that it meets this requirement. Equipment that conforms to the standard will then receive the BISSC label.

“This is an exciting development as it will strengthen the existing BISSC self-certification program that currently does not require the use of trained inspectors,” said Jim Diver, BISSC vice chairman and sales engineering manager at Dunbar Systems.