The COVID-19 pandemic has multiple lessons for the snack industry. Overall, the snack industry has had a strong, up year. But the degree of a "COVID bump" varied from category to category. As we emerge and plan for the future, recent, and current, product purchase behaviors can help provide a roadmap for what's to come.

One clear message from shopper behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic era is the "essential" nature of baked goods. In a crisis, the industry provides sustenance, nutrition, and yes, comfort.

As I've engaged (remotely) with the industry of late, I've heard myriad stories of hardship and determined struggle, of community support and selfless volunteerism, of ingenuity and fortitude. These core values, so central to true leadership, are what bridge the gap to unite us across this great nation.

Culinary history can bring powerful elements to storytelling, as seen in the origin of Mikesell's Potato Chip Co. and its Saratoga chips.

In the ongoing grip of the COVID-19 pandemic as we enter a new year, and a new administration in Washington, we reached out for an update from Robb MacKie, President and CEO, American Bakers Association (ABA), Washington, D.C.

This past year was unlike any other throughout our history as a nation, and the snack and bakery industry saw significant impact.

The 2020 election is over, but efforts to understand the impacts are just beginning.

Over the past few months, as I went through the process of developing SF&WB's annual "Top 50 Snack & Bakery Companies" list, I felt a renewed sense of admiration for the inherent power of merging true nutrition with indulgence.

The history of the food industry offers many great examples of notable pioneers who innovated in the face of adversity.

The term "sustainability" embodies a number of different meanings. According to the Oxford English dictionary, one definition refers to the "avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance."