Along with BEMA’s Winter Summit, this week’s BakingTech 2014, at the Marriott Downtown Chicago Magnificent Mile in Chicago, presented a wide variety of conferences. The American Society of Baking's (ASB) annual convention featured keynote speakers Karl Schoemer from VisionQuest, motivational speaker Eric Wahl and the MarketPlace in the afternoons. Exhibitors included a wide array of companies with the latest in products and services in the grain-based food industry.

Recent developments across the globe have put an increasing focus on the traceability of foods. In an effort to better protect public health from foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls, governments across the world are in the process of implementing new regulations around food traceability. The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) announces a new Journal of Food Science supplement on this topic.

Archer Daniels Midland Co. promotes COO Juan R. Luciano to president, a position previously held by Patricia Woertz, ADM chairman and CEO.

Michael J. Cornelis will head the International Baking Industry Expo’s (IBIE) 2016 committee, as the trade event begins planning for the next Baking Expo, to be held Oct. 8-11 in Las Vegas.

One hundred years ago today, Tastykakes snack cakes appeared on store shelves in Philadelphia. In celebration of its centennial birthday, the iconic snack cake brand is partnering with the USO this year and offering limited edition Birthday Kake Cupcakes.

BEMA, Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds, Overland Park, Kan., is holding two special events during its 2014 Winter Summit—a welcome reception on March 1 and a luncheon on March 2.

There are plenty of reasons to make the move. The way consumers view and interact with packaged products is changing. With more needs for convenience and sustainability, conventional package types are being replaced by flexible options designed to meet these consumer needs. The flexible packaging market is estimated to be worth $351 billion by 2018, so it’s quickly gaining market share from other sectors such as rigid containers.

Pizza’s pretty popular. Nearly 13% of Americans eat pizza on any given day, according to a survey from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. The report also factored in the nutrient contribution of pizza consumption.

Leclerc Foods USA’s new Phoenix manufacturing facility will enable the cookie, snack bar and cracker manufacturer to better serve its West Coast customers.

Spoon desserts, hand pies, crepes and small-batch desserts make the Food Channel’s “Top Ten Dessert Trends for 2014” list.