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

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.

During the interview for our September issue cover story profile on fast-growing entrepreneurial brand Ka-Pop! Snacks, a company founded and led by Dustin Finkel, he talked about the need to keep the joy in better-for-you snacking.

We are a nation divided. America has grown increasingly polarized across our political and social spectrum, and this national anxiety will, unfortunately, increase as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and the November elections approach.

It's the last day of April. I'm sitting at my desk in my home office where I've largely isolated myself for the past several weeks. I look out my window and things seems relatively unchanged compared to two months ago.

Since identifying the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 in Wuhan, China in late December 2019 until press time for our April issue of SF&WB at the end of March, the virus is known to have infected over 750,000 people, tragically causing over 36,200 deaths.

As a home baker, I'm constantly trying to figure out how to add more whole grains to my breads. I love the nuttiness that comes through, and the nutrition is essential to my family. Our toaster gets significant use every morning, and I need to feel good about the way my family starts the day.

So goes the tagline on much of the recent marketing surrounding Takis rolled tortilla chips, the flagship line from Barcel USA - the SF&WB 2020 "Snack Producer of the Year."

Hostess Brands celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019. The first Hostess CupCakes hit the market in 1919, marking the sweet beginning of one of the most-beloved American bakery brands.