Middleby Bakery Group, part of The Middleby Corp., hosted the grand opening of its $2.3 million Bakery Innovation Center (BIC) in Plano, TX on April 11–12. Middleby encompasses several bakery equipment companies, including Auto-Bake Serpentine, Baker Thermal Solutions, Spooner Vicars and Stewart Systems.

The BIC will host opportunities for innovation and collaboration with foodservice and retail bakery customers.

Middleby hosted several of its foodservice and retail customers from around the world to the day-long event, which included guided tours of the Bakery Innovation Center and a luncheon featuring keynote presentations from David Gibbs, president, Yum Brands; Marianne Kirkegaard, president and CEO, CSM Bakery Solutions; and Chuck Sonsteby, chairman of the board, Darden Restaurants.

At the heart of the Bakery Innovation Center is a welcoming café and conference area designed to host visiting customers. During the dedication, Mark Salman, president, Middleby Bakery Group, noted that the café will be known as “Kilby’s Café” in honor of Len Kilby, president, global sales, and his many years of service dedicated to Middleby Corp.

The day also featured equipment demonstrations, including the Middleby 960 Hurricane tunnel oven and Auto-Bake Serpentine line, running buns and muffins, respectively. The BIC also includes a Stewart Systems dough makeup line, proofers, rack ovens and more.

The unifying theme of the day centered on the importance of collaboration and innovation in today’s baking industry, and facilities like the Middleby BIC are strategically positioned to meet that challenge head-on.

About The Middle Corp.

The Middleby Corporation is a global leader in the foodservice equipment industry. The company develops, manufactures, markets and services a broad line of equipment used in the commercial foodservice, food processing and residential kitchen equipment industries. For more information about The Middleby Corporation and the company brands, please visit http://www.middleby.com/.