Uncle Wally's, a Shirley, N.Y.-based producer of muffins, purchased SKU Foods, a Union, Mo.-based manufacturer of "slice and bake" muffins. In 2007, Uncle Wally's and SJU Foods formed a strategic alliance to produce Uncle Wally's Oven Luv'n Muffins, ready-to-bake refrigerated muffin dough, which is sold in select supermarkets across the nation.
Uncle Wally’s Oven Luv’n Muffins fill a new product niche, providing a simple “no fuss, no muss” way to make bakery-quality muffins at home that is fun, simple and delicious, according to the company.
For more information, visitwww.unclewallys.com.
Spotlight on Innovation: IBIE to Explore Alternative Venues for 2016
The biggest baking show on earth will return to Las Vegas for its 2010 and 2013 shows, but the International Baking Industry Committee is keeping its option open for 2016. The event, which is held every three years, was in Orlando, Fla., for IBIE 2007.The IBIE Committee is looking at "a short list, including Orlando, of cities that we will go back to" for the 2016 show, notes Chuck Wellard, vice president, finance & administration for the American Bakers Association and secretary-treasurer of the IBIE Committee.
"It could be Vegas, but Orlando and a couple of other sites are on there because the size of the show is so large," Wellard says. "We're very focused on value for the show, value for the exhibitors and value for attendees to continue to make it the premier show for the baking industry."
Earlier this year, IBIE polled attendees of the 2007 show to help guide the committee on future decisions concerning the exposition. About 1,500 people responded to the questionnaire.
"The survey confirmed a lot of our plans already," Wellard says.
The next IBIE will be held Sept. 26-29, 2010. The IBIE Committee will release the 2013 dates once they are confirmed, but Wellard noted that the show will be held sometime in September of that year.
For more information, check outwww.bakingexpo.com.
Industry People: New Members Join 2010 IBIE Committee
Top production officials from Grupo Bimbo, Pepperidge Farm and ButterKrust Baking-Lakeland are among the newest committee members for the 2010 International Baking Industry Exposition, which will be held Sept. 26-29, 2010, in Las Vegas.The convention is co-sponsored by the American Bakers Association and BEMA, the baking industry suppliers assocation.
Representing ABA on the committee are Jose Rosalio Rodriguez, director of manufacturing for Grupo Bimbo S.A. de C.V.; Dave Watson, senior vice president of engineering, Pepperidge Farm, Inc., and Doug Wimberly, president, ButterKrust Baking-Lakeland, Fla.
The new BEMA appointees are Mike Cornelis, vice president of sales & marketing, SASA-Demarle, and Dennis Gunnell, vice president of sales & marketing, Formost Fuji Corp.
For more information, visitwww.bakingexpo.com.
Industry People: Maier to Head KSU's Grain Science Department
Dirk Maier, professor and associate head of Purdue University's Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering, has been tapped to lead Kansas State University's Department of Grain Science and Industry. His duties began April 1.Maier succeeds former grain science department head Richard "Dicik" Hahn, who came out of retirement last year to serve as interim chief of the department while the university conducted the national search that led to Maier's hiring.
Maier, who has a Ph.D in agricultural engineering from Michigan State University, had been a professor and extension agricultural engineer at Purdue since 1991 and associate head since 2005. He is a Purdue University Faculty Scholar for 2005-2010 and had been a DAAD Guest Professor at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Germany in 2004.
For more information, visitwww.grains.ksu.edu.
Systems, Components & Technology: Wire Belt Rolls Out New Conveyor Line
Wire Belt now offers its CarrySmart made-to-order line of conveyors. The CarrySmart line includes Flex-Turn, Flat-Flex Straight, Flat-Flex Shuttle Conveyors, and Spreader or Converger Specialty Conveyors.CarrySmart conveyors are custom designed to accommodate the specific processing application for snack manufacturers and wholesael bakers. According to the Londonderry, N.H.-based business, other advantages include open construction that is easy-to-clean, gentle product handling, and one of the tightest transfer and smallest turning radius available.
For more about the CarrySmart line of conveyors, go towww.wirebelt.com.
