Washington, D.C.— Fresh off the 2013 event which saw more than 21,000 attendees from 100 countries and every segment of the grain-based food industry, the International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE) began preparations for its 2016 event at a two-day committee meeting in Tampa, FL, this January.
IBIE is the grain-based food industry’s largest, most important trade event. 2013’s expo included approximately half a million square feet of exhibition space, with the latest ingredient, equipment, technology, packaging and supply solutions from 815 exhibiting companies. This represents a 13 percent increase in exhibitors over 2010’s event, with 19 percent more square footage.
Looking to continue this growth trend, the IBIE committee met in Florida to appoint committee officers and set the strategic plan for the next Baking Expo™, which takes place October 8-11 2016, in Las Vegas. Leading the committee for the October 2016 event is new IBIE chairman, Michael J. Cornelis. Mr. Cornelis currently serves as Vice President at American Pan and brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the baking industry to IBIE. “I am truly honored to be elected chairman for IBIE 2016,” says Cornelis. “Michael Beaty did an incredible job as chairman of IBIE 2013. My goal is to build on the momentum he helped create in order to grow the expo and deliver even more value to our industry.”
“IBIE is fortunate to have a leader like Michael Cornelis,” states former IBIE chairman Michael Beaty. “I am confident he will have a strong positive impact on the expo and the industry at large.”
In addition to Michael Cornelis, the committee added two new members: Howard R. Alton, III, Esq., CEO, Pan-O-Gold Baking Company and Fred Springer, President and CEO, Burford Corp.
Mr. Alton, the committee’s ABA representative, currently serves as chairman of the American Bakers Association and sits on its executive committee. He also served on the Long Co. Board of Directors for several years and has been very active in industry associations.
Mr. Springer, BEMA’s committee representative, has been with Burford Corp. for over 40 years, working extensively in trade shows, marketing and new product development. He currently serves as President and CEO of Burford Corp. He’s also held several board and chairman positions throughout his career and is a recipient of the Robert A. Fischer Distinguished Service Award.
Joe Turano, President, Turano Baking Company will step into his new role as IBIE vice chairman and Chris Clark, Vice President of Operations, American Bakers Association will serve as IBIE assistant secretary and treasurer. Dennis Gunnell, President, Sales and Marketing, Formost Fuji Corporation, will return as IBIE secretary.
Along with new appointments, two members have resigned from the IBIE committee: R. Jack Lewis, Jr., President of Lewis Bakeries, Inc. and former IBIE chairman, and Hans van der Maarel, International Bakery Consulting Ltd. Both men served as IBIE committee members for 28 and 21 years respectively and were deeply committed to driving the baking industry forward. IBIE would like to thank them for their years of dedication.
For more information about IBIE 2016 and to see highlights from IBIE 2013, visit www.IBIE2016.com.
IBIE, sponsored by the American Bakers Association (ABA), the Baking Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds (BEMA) and the Retail Bakers of America (RBA), is recognized worldwide as the grain-based food industry’s largest, most comprehensive trade event. A “working show,” where millions of dollars of business is conducted daily, IBIE brings the entire professional baking community together, offering the complete range of equipment, supply and ingredient solutions and showcasing the newest baking technology in 500,000 net square feet. The triennial event will next be held in Las Vegas, Nev. October 8-11, 2016.
Attendees include employees of: wholesale bakeries, suppliers and distributors; supermarket chains, central bakeries and commissaries; supermarket in-store bakeries; multi-store and single unit retail bakeries; intermediate wholesale bakeries; donut, pie and cookie retailers; cake and cupcake shops; foodservice operators; tortilla producers; snack food producers; biscuit & cracker producers.
Exhibitors include manufacturers and suppliers of: baking/food equipment and systems; ingredients, flavorings, spices & fillings; ingredient handling systems; packaging materials & systems; technology; sanitation equipment; transportation & distribution equipment; refrigeration equipment; business services.
Source: International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE)