We visit one of three of Little Lady Foods’ production facilities, which are all about customization. The frozen food manufacturer produces about 100 stock-keeping units that vary with customer desires, and as many as five million pizzas and three million sandwiches each week.

When eating a favorite snack or bakery product, few people stop and consider all of the ingredients that give these products the taste and mouthfeel they enjoy. Consumers don’t care if the layer cake on their plate is moist because it’s made with a special flour formulation or that a gum blend makes the frosting smooth.

It’s already three months in to 2012, which means some of those New Year’s Resolutioners have already caved back into their old ways. The gym is less crowded, and diet plans are already becoming “so last year.”

Commercial bakery equipment manufacturers continue to introduce new and redesigned mixing systems that address the specific and changing needs of commercial bakers, including flexibility, dough uniformity, easy sanitation and durability.

Whether served during the big game, as an after-school snack for the kids or as an easy Wednesday night dinner, frozen pizza is a staple in consumers’ everyday lives. Now, pizza manufacturers are finding ways to increase their market share by customizing their products for emerging lifestyle trends.

Family-owned Kangaroo Brands, Milwaukee, strives for consistent quality and value when it comes to all things pita. Passionate about baking and snack production, Kangaroo uses quality ingredients to provide quality products, including its popular line of light, crunchy pita chips for retail and foodservice. It’s for these and other reasons that Kangaroo is our Snack Manufacturer of the Year.

Authenticity, versatility and bold flavors are in demand when it comes to ethnic foods. Manufacturers are finding many clever ways to meet consumer preferences in this up-and-coming market segment, all while keeping healthfulness in mind.

The snack industry should plan on attending or exhibiting at SNAXPO 2012, March 16-19, in Phoenix at the Phoenix Convention Center. Hosted by the Snack Food Association, this exciting diamond anniversary (75th year) snack event will provide opportunities to network with snack food industry professionals from around the world, learn the latest and greatest trends and technologies and hear interesting speakers, such as former Arkansas governor and best-selling author, Mike Huckabee.

Skyrocketing ingredient prices, stricter government sanitation regulations, growing consumer demand for whole-grain baked goods and a host of other factors are prompting some bakers to take a hard look at their current equipment and decide to invest in new machinery.