To energize the market, Yamazaki Baking, the largest baking company in Japan, is rolling out an amazing 5,000 new products annually and following its founder’s straightforward philosophy of providing good quality at a reasonable price while putting the customer first. Actor Bill Murray may be lost in translation, but Yamazaki has found itself in innovation.

Yamazaki’s highly automated Yokohama #2 facility outside Tokyo houses 14 lines that produce everything from white bread and donuts to traditional Japanese cakes. But now imagine that each of Yamazaki’s 25 plants serves 7 million people.

During his visit to Yamazaki in Japan, Dan Malovany discovered that he really doesn’t have two left feet. Now, if he could only figure out a way to get his foot out of his mouth.

While many bakers keep on struggling, Thomasville, Ga.-based Flowers Foods keeps on FLO-ing with successful new products and new strategies that make a difference. Also, read about how Kraft went back on its promise to provide more portion-controlled products. And, sadly, say good-bye to one of the most respected voices in the baking industry.

Don’t wait too long. The 2004 International Baking Industry Exposition is coming quicker than you think. Register now. And, check out the groundbreaking research that the American Institute of Baking will reveal during its educational seminars.

Flowers Foods expands its Nature’s Own Healthline offerings, Main Street Gourmet goes low carb and lots, lots more to read about in our expanded section. Be forewarned: Snack and bakery food producers are cutting the carbs en masse.

With sweeteners, the issue is not only about creating products that taste good, but also about developing baked goods that are better for you and priced appropriately. Also, find out how some sweet goods producers are using sugar substitutes to cut the carbs.

Looking to develop new products with better taste or reformulate an existing item to lower the amount of net carbohydrates in it? It’s all in our better-than-ever Ingredient Showcase, which is jam-packed with innovative ideas.

And the winners are… Check out who received the top honors in the Snack Food Association’s Routing for Dollars contest.