Over the past few months—after nearly two years of disruption—I’ve been getting back into the saddle, visiting with the industry across the many pathways I carve through the course of my work. Whether visiting with snack and bakery companies across the U.S., touring facilities and telling their stories, or attending key industry events, a good percentage of my life is on the road. It helps me keep a reliable finger on the pulse of the industry, working to understand current market challenges—and potentially profitable new directions for R&D.
It all started with the BEMA Convention last June on Marco Island in Florida, an event that felt like a family reunion. We couldn’t have asked for a better re-entry to gathering as a community, sharing stories from the most-difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic—and optimistic strategies for the future.