Baking & Snack

Baking & Snack Editor Charlotte Atchley sat down with Jason Hogue, southeast regional sales manager at BluePrint Automation (BPA), to hear what they will be showcasing at this year's SNAC International #SNAXPO2025 in Orlando March 30 through April 1. Visit booth 509 to see the latest generation of the Spider 200i, a casepacker with integrated case erector, load and seal system for flexible bags and pouches. #automation #foodequipment #foodpackaging #foodindustry

ICYMI ??: Don't miss this week's top 3 stories from Bakingbusiness.com featuring a shut down of a Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries facility, a look at Slow Dough Bread Co.'s need for automation and a product launch from Hostess Brands. #ICYMI #foodindustry #automation #productdevelopment

SNAC International announced its full education and presenter lineup for SNAXPO25, which will be held March 30-April 1 in Orlando, Fla. https://ow.ly/9SqV50VipMr #SNAXPO25 #SNAXPO

UK-based wholesale baker Specialty Breads has unveiled plans to invest ￡20 million ($25.9 million) in a new 180,000-square-foot baking plant in Margate. "This new facility is the ‘Bakery of the Future,’” said Simon Cannell, managing director of Specialty Breads. https://ow.ly/4wa050Vimat #bakingindustry #foodindustry

Protein bar startup Blue Unicorn has rejected a lawsuit claiming its formulation came from proprietary trade information of rival bar maker Built Brands. https://ow.ly/TxYr50VilLx #foodindustry

Nu Life Market LLC named Jessica Guzman- Spanton as director of technical sales. https://ow.ly/PrFq50VikqI

Baking & Snack’s Capital Spending Survey, conducted by Cypress Research and sponsored by BEMA, revealed that many of the challenges that the industrial baking industry faced the past four years are easing. “[Material costs] continues to be a real issue; supply chain is flowing again, but materials are just expensive,” said Marjorie Hellmer, president of Cypress Research. https://ow.ly/Ej2J50Vhm9B #bakingindustry #supplychain

“People are happy to work here, so we find a lot of our new hires through word of mouth,” said Andrew D. Sanchez, vice president of operations and sales of Slow Dough Bread Co. Employees receive extensive training, and management shows their appreciation by buying lunch for the staff often, usually from a restaurant customer. Sanchez estimated that key management personnel have all been at Slow Dough for 5 to 7 years — half of the company’s lifespan. https://ow.ly/p7Bl50VhlZe #workforce #foodindustry

Jason Frye, Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries, and secretary for 2025 International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE)’s planning committee, shared how the baking industry trade show provides an opportunity for the baking supply chain to come together for collaboration and problem solving. https://ow.ly/X8SY50Vhjmy #IBIE #IBIE2025 #BakingExpo

Hostess Brands, a subsidiary of The J.M. Smucker Co., has partnered with sports nutrition company REDCON1 for a multi-year partnership that will bring Hostess flavors to protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes. “Our collaboration with REDCON1 reflects our continued commitment to innovation and finding new ways to delight our fans," said Becky Yadav, Hostess senior brand manager of The J.M. Smucker Co. https://ow.ly/Op1S50Vgv53 #foodindustry