The International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) has grown to keep up with the challenges and opportunities facing the industrial and retail baking industries it serves. Much of that has to do with the planning committee taking attendee and exhibitor feedback into consideration, said Michael Cornelis, former IBIE chair and vice president of international sales and development for American Pan, a Bundy Baking Solution.
“IBIE is known as a show where people go to see the latest products and technology; everything bakers need is in one place and that’s why attendees keep coming back,” he said.
He recalled that when he joined the planning committee for IBIE in 2000, there wasn’t any educational programming. IBIE 2025 — which will take place Sept. 13-17 in Las Vegas — will feature more than 250 sessions, nearly all of which will be included in the cost of registration.
In his position with American Pan, Cornelis also has a view of the global industry and how it’s continued to evolve in light of recent upheaval and opportunities. While he noted that Europe and North America lead the way in innovation and automation — likely due to their labor costs — the rest of the world is right behind.
“Finding skilled labor is no longer a first world problem anymore,” he said. “It’s a global problem in any market and any condition. We also have been seeing the development of Western-style bread in many different nontraditional markets, such as the Middle East and Asian markets.”
IBIE has leaned into the “international” part of its name and seen global attendance grow, particularly from Central and South America, South and Central Asia, and even Japan.
“We’re not getting every baker, but we’re getting almost every major company coming to IBIE,” Cornelis elaborated. “It’s one of the shows that’s a must-attend event if you’re an intermediate to large-size wholesale bakery.”
To facilitate a successful experience for international attendees, IBIE will continue to offer its international delegation program, as well as delivering more educational sessions presented in Spanish. Additionally, the show will offer AI-facilitated translation of sessions — the new app provides real-time translation and live captioning in more than 60 languages.
As baking companies from around the world deal with the rising costs of ingredients, labor and energy in the midst of softening sales, Cornelis believes IBIE 2025 will provide a forum for bakers to formulate a game plan for dealing with these challenges, whether through technology found on the trade show floor or insights from educational sessions.
