Jenni Spinner: Please tell us a bit about Orbis and the solutions you offer across multiple industries. 

Alex Wiklin: At Orbis, we help companies move their products more efficiently, sustainably, and safely. We offer one of the industry’s broadest portfolios of reusable packaging, from handheld containers and bakery trays to pallets and dollies. All these products serve a wide range of markets. Furthermore, when customers need something unique, our team evaluates the opportunity to determine whether it should become part of our expanding portfolio.

JS: Could you please talk about some of the reusable and secondary packaging bakery operations use on a daily basis?

AW: In bakery operations, reusable packaging plays a critical role every single day. One of the most common solutions is the reusable plastic bakery tray that offers bakeries a way to streamline automation within the plant, as well as ship product from manufacturing to the retail aisle. Orbis trays come in a variety of sizes, colors, and configurations, each intentionally engineered to protect baked goods and optimize handling throughout the supply chain. In addition, reusable bulk containers are used for inbound shipments of ingredients into bakeries.

JS: What are some of the general potential challenges, problem areas, and opportunities for improvement with those?

AW: About 46% of manufacturing leaders cite automation as a top investment priority in 2026, and 26% of warehouses globally will have some kind of automation installed by 2027, according to Cyngn. In addition to a strong shift to automated operations, other trends we are seeing in the bakery industry include:

• As consumer expectations evolve, bakeries are increasingly focused on partnering with suppliers that support their sustainability goals. Orbis helps these brands advance that mission, with reusable, recyclable products that are truly circular. At the end of a tray’s useful life, we recover, recycle, and process these trays back into other products. This closed-loop approach is part of our commitment to reducing waste and supporting a more sustainable future across all Orbis product lines, including bakery.
• Reusables also support brands to be compliant with aspects of the Food Safety Modernization Act. By design, these products are non-porous and are easily cleaned. Additionally, as trackability becomes more important in the food industry, RFID tags and bar codes are often used to track and manage packaging within the fleet.
• Another ongoing challenge for bakers is the constantly shifting consumer palate. New product launches often mean new shapes, sizes, and varieties of baked goods, which can require updated distribution practices. With decades of experience in the bakery segment, Orbis designers offer the expertise to help customers adapt quickly and confidently.

Courtesy of Orbis

JS: Can you share some of the solutions Orbis offers in those areas that can help bakers mitigate some of those potential food safety issues, cost conservation, etc.?

AW: We continuously track the needs of the market, including new automation trends or heavier product requirements or sustainability initiatives, to help bakeries prepare for what’s next. In the bakery space, that includes our recently launched optimized NPL640B tray. Designed with automation compatibility and long-term durability in mind, this tray is part of a complete system that includes multiple tray sizes, a dolly and a pallet to support modern, efficient bakery operations.

JS: What tradeshows are you planning to exhibit at in coming months, in case people want to have a face-to-face?

AW: The Orbis team will be attending the 2026 American Bakers Association (ABA) Convention this April in Colorado Springs.

Related: Orbis acquires Robinson Industries