Baking & Snack - May 2022 - 18

MEET THE IBIE COMMITTEE
Meet
Ken newsome
The IBIE committee member is looking forward to " aha moments " and finding solutions.
by Alex Greenwood
serves on the International Baking Industry
Exposition (IBIE) 2022 committee and has
worked in the baking industry for more than
25 years. He is a 2022 inductee into the ASB
Baking Hall of Fame.
K
What are you looking forward to most about
IBIE 2022?
I'm most looking forward to being together as an industry
to share new ideas. Since IBIE 2022 is one of the first
international shows to take place in the last two years,
the community is eager to reunite, get inspired and to
discuss ways to overcome today's challenges and emerging
opportunities.
How is IBIE partnering with the international
community to drive international
attendance?
IBIE has a strong International Delegation Program that
provides benefits like discounts on registration and education
for participants. This has been instrumental in
drawing large groups from around the world and more
importantly ensures they have the support and resources
they need to have an incredible Expo.
Our work with the US Commercial Services Trade
Event Partner Program and participating in virtual events
with our partner shows such as iba.ConnectingExperts
have also kept us top of mind with global audiences. And
finally, we know education is a top priority for this market,
and our star-studded speaker roster has enormous reach.
What do you hope people take away from
the show?
Solutions for their current challenges, new efficiencies,
and ways to make machines and production lines simpler
to operate.
18 Baking & Snack May 2022 / www.bakingbusiness.com
Ken Newsome is chief executive officer of
Markel Food Group in Richmond, Va. He
What's your favorite part about IBIE?
Discussing the needs of customers. As an IBIE exhibitor
there's nothing quite like the power of face-to-face conversations.
From that " aha moment " when a baker sees
the solution they've been searching for to the in-depth
conversations on technical aspects, the exhibit hall is
filled with problem solving. It's also a great venue for exhibitors
to get feedback from customers on what is important
to them.
What new features should people check out
at this year's event?
I'd recommend the Innovation Showcase to see the latest
advancements. While this is one of the returning show
features, everything shown within it is new and cutting
edge. We will also have two new topic-based pavilions:
one focused on cannabis baked goods and the other
on sanitation.
How is the labor crunch impacting the
investment in automation?
Naturally, as the availability of people is an issue, it's
more important than ever to automate repetitive activities.
That's why we've made a point to highlight the
IBIEducate sessions and relevant exhibitors that can
equip bakers with the information they need.
What new technology do you find the most
exciting? What technology holds the most
promise for the baking industry?
Personally, I think it's all about robotics, vision and artificial
intelligence.
What's the top reason people come to IBIE?
To see the latest products, equipment and technology. If
you plan to build your business over time, you need to
be on top of the production trends. You will see the future
at IBIE 2022.
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Baking & Snack - May 2022

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