Bakery and snack industry professionals seem to understand better than folks in any other field that collaboration is a great idea. They put into action every day that when it comes to success, no one goes it alone, two heads are better than one, it takes a village—all those adages about working together being a good thing are absolutely true.

You’ll see that in scores of new product releases—food brands partner all the time on launches, putting two names on the front of a label and multiple flavors inside a package to make one cool treat. It’s not just consumers that seem to enjoy seeing famous brands pair up on an item—we editors here at Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery love seeing companies (sometimes even competing ones) join forces to tempt taste buds with a novel new item. Look for our monthly New Product Spotlight wrapups on the SF&WB video page and you’ll see such double-trouble products are often talked about—Wendy’s and Cheez-It together on a cracker, for example.

One great example is the mammoth International Baking Industry Exposition landing in Las Vegas next month (check out the preview in this issue). Companies will be working side by side, hand in hand, all throughout the event, but the collabs start long before IBIE opens its doors. The show is owned by three notable industry orgs—the American Bakers Association (ABA) and Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds (BEMA) own the triennial event, and the Retail Bakers of America (RBA) lends support to make the expo happen.

The SF&WB team thrives on collaboration, too—in ways both big and little, both important and less serious. Today, for example, I was feeling down and low and looking for inspiration. Usually music helps elevate my sagging spirits, but my usual playlists were not sealing the deal. I asked a few fellow SF&WBers to share some fresh musical inspiration, and they delivered:

• Senior Editor Liz Parker Kuhn suggested The Accidentals, from her home state of Michigan—the acoustic guitar and harmonies soothed my soul immediately (thanks, Liz)
• Senior Art Director Sarah Zagacki offered up Lady Gaga’s newest album Mayhem (solid choice—in true Gaga fashion, it’s all bangers, especially “Abracadabra”), another solid suggestion.
• Group Publisher Doug Peckenpaugh shared his fondness for Side One of George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, saying the songs remind us that “We face continual challenges, but if we remember to keep things in perspective, always with a heart that seeks to give back, everything will work out all right.”

• Senior Editor Liz Parker Kuhn suggested The Accidentals, from her home state of Michigan—the acoustic guitar and harmonies soothed my soul immediately (thanks, Liz)
• Senior Art Director Sarah Zagacki offered up Lady Gaga’s newest album Mayhem (solid choice—in true Gaga fashion, it’s all bangers, especially “Abracadabra”), another solid suggestion.
• Group Publisher Doug shared his fondness for Side One of George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, saying the songs remind us that “We face continual challenges, but if we remember to keep things in perspective, always with a heart that seeks to give back, everything will work out all right.”

I thought it would be fun to bring those two things together and collaborate on a Spotify playlist, you SF&WB readers and your humble editor, that contains songs that move us, whether it’s to uplift down spirits, elevate depleted energy, or otherwise improve our mood. Here’s what you do:

• Suss out the Tasty SF&WB Tunes list here; I started us off with a handful of snack- and bakery-themed songs, just for giggles.
• When inspiration strikes you, email me at spinnerj@bnpmedia.com with songs you’d like to add.
• Check back on the playlist later to see what others have contributed to the collaboration.

• Work hard: Nathan showed up every danged day to Highland’s facilities, industry events, and wherever else he was needed and gave 100%
• Make connections: Rather than just sticking to the duties of his job description, he made a point to bond with Highland employees at every level, on a professional and personal level
• Build a network: A fixture at scores of industry events (American Society of Baking, American Bakers Association, and others), he didn’t just show up—he connected with producers, suppliers, execs, and people at every level as friends.

Thank you for reading SF&WB, for sharing your industry insights and experience, and keeping this snack and bakery editor in the groove. It’s a pleasure working with you. SF&WB