Before I started as chief editor about three years ago, my boss had to make a decision: should he send me to International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE)—an industry event so mammoth they only run it every three years—after less than a week on the job? Or, should he let the new kid on the block sit it out and watch from the sidelines?

I think he made the right choice by not throwing me into the fire, but it sure looked fun. The photos he and Senior Editor Liz Parker Kuhn shared with me back at the home office (see some of them in our 2022 coverage) showed a whole lot of eye-popping action—product demonstrations, equipment showcases, and plenty of colorful baked treats to enjoy.

Now, just a few months before I head to IBIE 2025, I’m older, a little wiser, and I know what I’m getting myself into. If you’re about to dive into the whirlwind of the show as a first-timer, too, you might find a rundown of some of the features helpful.

Let’s talk tech
Ovens, software, conveyors, logistics tools, packaging—there are a lot of machines and materials bakers use each day to keep their businesses rising. The IBIE 2025 exhibit area brings all that high-tech gear together. There is really no other way for bakery professionals to get up close and personal with so many pieces of equipment, and talk face to face with the people that make them, without spending a whole lot of money on airfare to get from facility to facility.

School’s in session
Bakers benefit from learning, whether on the job or from other bakers. The IBIEducate program offers a number of ways for those attendees to grow their skills and advance their knowledge. Programming is led by seasoned experts and organized into tracks, so participants can focus on the topics best geared toward their interests.

Getting together
IBIE offers events both serious and laid-back for bakers to get together, share ideas, discuss common challenges, and discover tools to advance their careers. Groups like the American Bakers Association and Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds will be there offering resources during the day. At night, social events provide more chances to connect (and, at the Rockin’ Pint concert, get down to Wang Chung and musically talented celeb baker Duff Goldman).

Take a bow
Industry pros don’t mind showing off when they’ve done a killer job on products or projects. That’s one reason why Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery signed on as a sponsor of the first edition of the IBIE BEST in Baking Program and Awards back in 2010, and why we’re still backing the recognition program in 2025. It’s slated to salute bakery producers and supplier partners for extraordinary achievements in several areas, including plant efficiency, workforce development, packaging, sanitation, and other areas. Entries that qualify have demonstrated innovations that advance sustainability. Each category will feature one top honoree that represents best-in-class sustainability achievements.

• May 1: National Chocolate Parfait Day
• May 2: National Truffle Day
• May 3: National Chocolate Custard Day
• May 3: National Raspberry Popover Day
• May 8: National Coconut Cream Pie Day
• May 11: National “Eat What You Want” Day
• May 13: National Apple Pie Day
• May 14: National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
• May 14: National Brioche Day
• May 15: National Chocolate Chip Day
• May 23: National Taffy Day
• May 26: National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
• May 28: National Hamburger Day
• May 29: National Biscuit Day
• May 31: National Macaroon Day

• 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.

As you’ll see in the State of the Industry coverage in the rest of this publication, there are a lot of reasons to be rosy about bakery industry’s future. Sign up to attend IBIE 2025 and you could play a bigger part in making that future even brighter. SF&WB