Do you know what year the bread loaf slicing machine was invented? How about the founding years of key industry associations?
As ABA celebrates its 125th anniversary, here’s a quick and fun look at facts and dates that relay the industry’s story. The information outlines how ABA and this industry took leading roles on topics ranging from nutrition to government affairs.
Whether you’re a history buff or just wondering about the industry’s evolution, you’ll want to read on. Best of all, there will not be a quiz at the end.
INDUSTRY ROOTS
Many leading baking industry associations trace their roots back more than 100 years.
- ABA was founded in 1897 at the first National Convention of the Master Bakers in Boston, and was incorporated in 1916 in Chicago.
- The Baking Equipment Manufacturers Association (BEMA) was founded in 1918.
- The Allied Trades of the Baking Industry (ATBI) was founded in 1920.
GROWING PROFESSIONALISM
The commercial baking industry emphasized productivity, science and training as it developed.
- In the early 1900s, the industry was experiencing a new era of productivity driven by the invention and introduction of new equipment— including the dough divider (1902), electric stand mixer (1908) and sliced bread loaf machine (1928).
- The addition of the first chemist to a bakery staff in 1903 signaled increased professionalization for the industry.
- The growth of manufacturing education received a boost from the introduction of the original Cookie and Cracker Correspondence Course in 1941 by the Biscuits and Cracker Manufacturer’s Association (B&CMA). That organization merged with ABA in 2017, and today the course is still an essential educational tool — and is offered as part of ABA’s Baking Manufacturing Academy.
NUTRITION FOCUS
ABA and the baking industry have long been at the forefront of promoting the nutritional value of bread and baked goods.
- Enrichment standards for baked goods in the 1930s provided a vehicle for improved nutrition. ABA’s tagline at the time was, “Bread is the Staff of Life.”
- ABA focused on the promotion and marketing of bread and baked goods between 1939 and 1945, during World War II. The association’s messaging included the message, “America Needs You Strong.”
- The enriched bread standard was finalized in 1952, thanks in part to ABA’s marketing efforts.
- ABA was instrumental in working with the FDA on the addition of folic acid to enriched bread. The move was authorized in 1996 and implemented in 1998, and was pivotal to preventing neural birth defects.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
ABA increased its focus over the years on influencing legislative and regulatory policies that impact the baking industry.
- In the 1960s ABA accelerated its legislative and regulatory efforts as the industry recognized the importance of having a bigger voice in government affairs.
- ABA moved its headquarters from Chicago to Washington DC in the 1970s to be closer to the center of national government.
- ABA pursued a stepped up advocacy role for the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the key efforts in 2020 was making sure that government agencies understood that the baking industry was part of the critical food and agriculture infrastructure addressing the national emergency.
BUSINESS CONNECTIONS
ABA’s industry events — and those of its association partners — have fostered business connections, education, and camaraderie.
- The ABA Convention has been an essential gathering place for the industry over the years.
- In 1981, The Bakery Expo was renamed IBIE, the International Baking Industry Exposition, which is the largest and most significant baking-focused event in the Western Hemisphere. IBIE is owned by American Bakers Association (ABA) and the Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds (BEMA) — and is supported by the Retail Bakers of America (RBA).
- In ABA’s Centennial year in 1997, the association marked the occasion with a gathering that welcomed a wide variety of industry veterans and retired members to emphasize the community aspect of the baking business.
- The industry is now gearing up for the upcoming IBIE, which takes place September 17-21 of this year in Las Vegas.
As ABA marks its 125th anniversary, its membership now includes some 300 companies operating more than 1600 facilities.
“ABA has played a leadership role throughout its history in representing and promoting the industry and spotlighting the importance of commercial baked goods,” said Robb MacKie, ABA’s President and CEO.
