By the time you receive your December issue of Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, 2015 will quickly be coming to a close, and one the biggest years in baking will soon begin. Preparation for the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE), produced by the American Bakers Association (ABA), Baking Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds (BEMA) and Retail Bakers of America (RBA), have been in motion for well over a year. Held every three years, IBIE brings the world of baking together under one roof in grand fashion in one of the world’s largest convention towns―Las Vegas. Next year’s IBIE takes place Oct. 8-11, 2016.

The 2016 edition of IBIE will bring more than 20,000 baking professionals from across the globe to the Las Vegas Convention Center, where they’ll be able to survey more than 500,000 square feet of floor space! Attendees will see dozens of demonstrations and interactive features representing the supply chain through every segment of the grain-based food industry. In addition, attendees will see new product trends and process innovations, which provide effective business strategies in a 360-degree view of the baking industry.

IBIE’s B.E.S.T. in Baking program is about Becoming Environmentally Sustainable Together (B.E.S.T.). IBIE will present awards honoring sustainability achievements in bakery ingredients, equipment, packaging and logistics. This year’s program will feature three award categories: bakeries with more than $50 million in annual sales, bakeries with less than $50 million in annual sales and, for the first time, retail bakery. If your company is interested in submitting a nomination, visit www.ibie2016.com/best-in-baking-program for more information.

Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery is a proud “official media partner” of IBIE. Please look for more information about the B.E.S.T. in Baking program and many other events at IBIE 2016 by visiting www.IBIE2016.com and www.snackandbakery.com/IBIE2016.

From our family to yours, have a blessed holiday season, and all the best for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016. And mark those calendars for IBIE 2016!