Paula Frank

Welcome to Baking Management's 2010 Buyers' Guide. We hope you find it to be a valuable reference for your supplier needs. Given the current economic state, many bakers rely on ingredient suppliers for margin management, ingredient consolidation or other product development support. And equipment suppliers can assist bakers with improvements in production efficiency and other processes.

As I visit wholesale bakeries throughout the country, I often hear how bakers value the strong relationship they have with their suppliers. Many suppliers have built test facilities that allow bakers to run test batches before making substantial capital investments.

For example, Susan Bond, director of R&D, VICOM, the bakery division of American Blue Ribbon Holdings LLC, Denver, was heavily involved in the purchasing decision for the bakery's new oven. “I got to go out to the Boston area to test the oven, and just keep running product through it,” Bond says. “If you just increase it five degrees and increase the speed by a minute, then you have a whole new pie. It just presents endless possibilities. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to work on a project like this. Now you see pies coming out of there just like little soldiers all lined up.”

By providing this type of service, C. H. Babb, Raynham, Mass., manufacturer of customized conveyorized and tunnel ovens, was able to add value to the service it provided for VICOM. It's important to note that value isn't defined solely as price. Bakers who perceive value only in price may be missing other key attributes, such as providing assistance with product development, ensuring quality and timeliness in delivery and offering after-sales support.

This Buyers' Guide provides an important starting point; it is up to you to outsource for your needs and build relationships to ensure you're getting the products and service that meet your requirements. Vendors are essential to your business. Whether you use this print edition or source the Buyers' Guide on our website at www.baking-management.com, we hope you seek value from your vendors. It might be essential to your bakery's future growth.