Industry News
Thought Leadership, Insights
and More From BEMA
Thought Leadership: Unlocking Year-Round Value Through BEMA Events and Engagement
IBIE may happen every three years, but BEMA brings the industry together all year long. Renewing your membership ensures you stay connected to the people, ideas, and opportunities that move your business forward.
Press Release: BEMA’s Board of Directors Is Building A Vision And Setting A Path
Building on a series of successful BEMA events -- Convention, NEXUS and IBIE to highlight a few -- where members were celebrated and the focus was on connections, BEMA’s Board of Directors is spending late October proactively planning for the next era of member resources, industry collaborations, and the advancement of impactful educational partnerships.
On A Roll Ep15: A Distinguished Career In Baking That Spans The Globe
In this episode of On a Roll, Kerwin Brown sits down with Jorge Zarate, Senior Executive with Grupo Bimbo, for a fascinating conversation about his nearly four decades in the baking industry.
On A Roll Ep14: Turning A Childhood Passion For Baking Into A Career
In this episode of On a Roll, Kerwin Brown interviews Marissa Sertich Velie, Executive Director of The Retail Bakers of America. In the conversation, they chat about her journey from childhood baker to baker to industry leader.
CEO Insights: It’s a Small World for the Baking Industry
From the Caribbean to Japan, the baking industry is more connected than ever. BEMA is embracing this global reality by breaking language barriers, fostering international relationships, and ensuring bakers everywhere can share knowledge, innovation, and opportunity.
On A Roll Ep13: The Value Of Volunteering In the Baking Industry
The Value Of Volunteering In the Baking Industry
Convention 2025 Reflection: How AI is Reshaping the Future of the Baking Industry
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the baking industry by streamlining production, enhancing efficiency, and reshaping workforce skills, as experts revealed during the “From Tasks to Transformation: AI Across the Product Spectrum” panel.
Convention 2025 Reflection: AI In The Real World Of Manufacturing
Efficiency and productivity improvements through standardized methods and real-time information are at the core of AI’s value in manufacturing.
Convention 2025 Reflection: Ask-A-Baker
At BEMA Convention's ever-popular Ask-A-Baker panel, five influential baking leaders - three of them first-time attendees - shared candid insights on topics ranging from equipment design and workforce challenges to adapting family business values in a modern industry.
Convention 2025 Reflection: Navigating Cross-border Trade in Uncertain Times
As global trade policies shift rapidly under new leadership, manufacturers face mounting uncertainty. At BEMA Convention 2025, Shawn Marie Jarosz, Chief Trade Strategist at TradeMoves, led an in-depth session examining the current trade environment and what U.S. baking manufacturers should expect next.
Convention 2025 Reflection: Talent to Compete
At BEMA Convention 2025, Carolyn Lee of the Manufacturing Institute addressed the urgent labor shortage in manufacturing, highlighting the need to upskill current employees, engage future talent, and invest in second-chance hiring. From mentorship to workforce development, her message was clear: building a resilient talent pipeline starts from within and extends into the community.
Convention 2025 Reflection: Taste of the Tropics
At BEMA Convention 2025, panelists from Puerto Rico and Jamaica shared firsthand insights into the Caribbean baking market, from the popularity of Pan Sobao and dense white loaves to labor challenges and equipment logistics. Their stories highlighted regional resilience, export growth, and the power of elevating the profession of baking across borders.
