Finding qualified workers is an ongoing struggle for many commercial bakers. Competition from other industries, insufficient university programs and a lack of awareness of the industry by job seekers may be some contributing factors.
That’s a year-over-year increase of 2%, according to a new global report from Nielsen. While Europe ($167 billion) and North America ($124 billion) make up most of the worldwide snack sales, annual snack sales are growing faster in the largely developing regions.
As GMOs, gluten intolerance and ‘no artificial additives’ gain heavy traction in the food arena, snack manufacturers and commercial bakers continue to showcase new clean-label pursuits with more transparency.
New and improved ingredients help tortillas manufacturers create the flavorful, functional tortillas that consumers crave, while addressing some production issues for tortilla makers.
Educational sessions, facility tours, tabletop exhibits and plenty of networking opportunities await attendees at the Tortilla Industry Association’s 2014 TIA Technical Conference in Texas.
Diameter, shape, opacity and shelf stability are critical product-quality factors for tortilla manufacturers. But their ingredients count to help make these factors work. Feliciano “Sonny” Bejosano, of Allied Blending & Ingredients Inc., looks at ingredients typically used in tortilla formulations and how they impact finished products.
The third annual educational conference presented updates on the food safety regulatory environment, with certification information from the major food safety certification bodies, as well as the effects of the upcoming deadlines for implementing Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations.
International flavors and foods are gaining popularity, but cautious consumers remain a challenge for bakers and snack producers. Successful manufacturers encourage purchase at the production line and at retail.
Consumers are ready for ‘greener pastures’ in sustainable products as sustainability characteristics drive a large amount of product switching. Also, sustainable practices often lower bakers’ and snack manufacturers’ internal costs. But are these food producers heeding the call to meet this demand?
The landscape is changing for commercial bakers and snack manufacturers as the Food Safety Modernization Act grants the Food and Drug Administration a wider reach. Will the act shift the responsibility for food safety of imported foods to the importer? And do all companies have the expertise they need to handle preventative measures?
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