Close to 20,000 professionals registered for IBIE 2022.
The International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE), which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 17–21, welcomed the industry after a three-year hiatus from events. Close to 20,000 professionals registered for the expo, ready to take their baking businesses to the next level after pandemic-induced challenges filled much of the gap in the show’s three-year cycle. Over the four-day expo, attendees flooded the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, looking for the latest equipment, ingredient and supply solutions from more than 800 industry suppliers. While exhibitor personnel and non-exhibiting supplier guests fell just shy of pre-pandemic numbers, baker attendee participation was an astounding 25% ahead, further cementing the perception from exhibitors that high-quality bakers—with intent to buy—were walking the show floor.
A common theme expressed by exhibitors was the number of international buyers who attended the Las Vegas event. Many exhibitors stated that this was the best IBIE in history for connecting with buyers from outside the U.S.—buyers that many exhibitors would not have been able to reach on their own. Despite COVID-related travel challenges, the number of international bakers increased 34% over 2019, hailing from more than 105 countries and making up more than 27% percent of baker attendance, with the largest participation from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, and El Salvador—and a record-setting delegation from Mexico.