Last week, I was watching the weather forecaster gleefully report that the Baltimore Washington area would set a number of new record lows dating back almost 100 years. I pulled up the weather forecast for Orlando, where this year’s annual meeting is being held, to see the forecast was for 83 degrees and mostly sunny. Judging by the larger than expected turn out for the annual meeting, I don’t think I am the only one who can’t wait to soak up a few of those 83 degree days.
On a more serious note, I do believe that it is more than the desire to escape an abnormally cold winter that is drawing the industry’s top leaders to Orlando. We have another substantive, thought provoking and exciting program in store. The center-piece will be the release of new baking category research that illustrates how strong and powerful a role baking plays for our key retail and foodservice customers. Todd Hale’s work will open eyes to new opportunities as well as provide a few cautionary notes for the industry to heed.
As for the speaker line-up, this may be one of ABA’s most impressive ever. Dr. Ben Carson, John Rand from Kantar Retail, Liz Claman, and Rudy Giuliani, just to drop a name or two.
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