Milling & Baking News - April 18, 2023 - 33

Dell bringing baking industry
priorities into tighter focus
AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. - Workforce
and immigration, supply chain, sustainability,
and protecting members from
overly burdensome regulations stand as
priority issues for the US baking industry,
said Eric Dell, the new president and
chief executive officer of the American
Bakers Association.
Mr. Dell highlighted the issues and
other areas of ABA activity in remarks
March 26 at the group's annual
meeting at The Ritz-Carlton,
Amelia Island.
" ABA's proactive presence
in Washington is critical to the
industry's success, " he said. " You
look to ABA to be the first line of
defense on legislative and regulatory
decisions being made to
ensure you're aware of potential
actions that could impact your
businesses. We are working with
our professional groups and food
and beverage industry partners
to ensure that happens. "
During his first 90 days at the
Gist, a resource Mr. Dell said is meant to
empower and educate ABA members on
key issues affecting the baking industry.
The strategic planning process has
been launched with the objective of developing
a plan with " clear, laser-focused
direction with meaningful and measurable
outcomes and goals. "
Jim Meffert, principal consultant with
Tecker International, Yardley, Pa., has
In a one-on-one discussion after his
presentation with ABA chair Cordia
Harrington, Mr. Dell said advocacy in
the future will include fly-ins into Washington
in which all ABA members are
invited, not just bakers.
" Bakers understand advocacy, " he said.
" We just need to take it to the next level. "
Mr. Dell said providing solutions for
members requires " being on the front
foot and not the back foot. "
Asked by Ms. Harrington for an examABA
helm, Mr. Dell has concentrated
on outreach to members
in order to learn about the industry and
its members' concerns. He said his priorities
in addition to elevating government
relations and networking include implementing
outcomes-focused leadership and
initiating a strategic planning process.
Steps already taken by ABA staff
Dell
been engaged to facilitate the strategic
planning process. Mr. Dell said the ABA
will be ambitious in its approach to developing
the plan.
" We will think big, we will lead, and we
include the introduction last month of The
will be a part of the solution on major societal
issues impacting your businesses, your
customers and their customers, " he said.
ABA recognizes 19 companies for
notable safety performance
WASHINGTON - The American Bakers
Association (ABA) published its 2022
Safety Recognition Awards, honoring 19
member companies that have exhibited
notable safety performance and an adherence
to effective safety and health management
systems.
" In 2022, despite supply chain and
bakingbusiness.com
other challenges, more facilities received
the award than the previous three years,
demonstrating the baking industry's continued
commitment to workforce safety, "
said Eric Dell, president and chief executive
officer of the ABA.
The 19 companies awarded included:
AB Mauri, AbiMar Foods, ADM Milling
ple from earlier in his career Mr. Dell
said the National Automatic Merchandising
Association (NAMA), which represents
owners and operators
of vending businesses, joined
forces with Partnership for a
Healthier America, a not for
profit in the nutrition space.
Typically, NAMA and the
Partnership had an adversarial
relationship. NAMA made
commitments to increase the
proportion of healthier foods
in its vending machines as part
of the partnership. Mr. Dell
described the effort and what
he intends to pursue when
appropriate at the ABA as " forward-leaning
commitments to
non-traditional partners. "
Such initiatives always
should be done with an eye toward end
consumers, whom Mr. Dell said are
" demanding more and more. "
" We need to look at what they are
focused on, " he said. " That includes sustainability.
Food equity issues. We can do
the right things for society, but also build
our businesses at the same time. " MBN
Co., Alpha Baking Co., Ardent Mills,
Aspire Bakeries, Baker Boy, Bimbo Bakeries
USA, Crown Bakeries, LLC, Dawn
Food Products, Inc., Flowers Foods, Grain
Craft, Hearthside Food Solutions, IFF, The
Kroger Co., Nation Pizza & Foods, New
Horizons Baking Co., Newly Weds Foods,
and Schulze & Burch Biscuit Co.
The ABA created the Safety Recognition
Award in 2016. Enhanced employee
safety in the workplace positively impacts
a company's financial health, according to
the association. MBN
MILLING & BAKING NEWS 33
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