It's a safe bet that nobody in the sweet-goods or pastry sectors, nobody anywhere, for that matter, expected still to be contending with COVID-19 a full year and a half after lockdowns threw the baking industry, and life as we know it, into upheaval.

A robust food safety program will include advanced traceability systems that align with other businesses up and down the supply chain. As the foodservice industry seeks to implement improved connectivity to improve recall readiness, more producers continue to look for solutions that will offer strong traceability.

Everyone loves chocolate: In fact, according to recent Statista data, 268 million Americans consumed chocolate and other candy in 2020.

Product purchase and consumption patterns in America point toward a desire for affordable simplicity in our foods. This has catalyzed ongoing product development efforts to meet increasing consumer demand for natural and organic snacks. And efforts to bring cleaner snacking options to more Americans find increased success when retailers can offer such simplified products at affordable price points.