Wednesday marked the final day of the ABA 2026 Convention, closing out a week of connection, collaboration and industry engagement. Following an evening of specialty activities that strengthened relationships and gave back to the community, attendees gathered for a day focused on the policy issues and consumer trends shaping the future of commercial baking.
Federal Policy Takes Center Stage
The day began with the ABA Gist Breakfast: Federal Affairs, led by Rasma Zvaners, Vice President of Regulatory & Technical Services at ABA, who provided an overview of key federal policy developments impacting the baking industry.
Zvaners highlighted legislative activity on Capitol Hill, recent regulatory shifts and emerging issues at the national level, helping attendees better understand how federal actions may affect their businesses and operations.
Former US Trade Representative, Katherine Thai, continued the discussion in the session “USMCA Ahead: What’s Next for North American Trade and Baking,” offering a high-level look at the upcoming review of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement. The session explored potential changes to trade flows and regulatory frameworks across North America, as well as key areas for industry leaders to watch as trade policy evolves.
In the Policy Deep Dive: The New Nutrition Agenda, Zvaners examined the rapidly shifting federal nutrition landscape, outlining priorities from the Administration and what they signal for FDA and USDA direction. The session also provided insight into ABA’s advocacy efforts and explored how changing policies, combined with evolving consumer expectations, could shape the future of baking.
Recognizing Industry Leadership and Excellence
Wednesday’s programming celebrated the achievements of ABA member companies through several award presentations.
The Champions for a Better Tomorrow Awards recognized companies making meaningful contributions to their communities, workplaces and the environment, highlighting the baking industry’s commitment to positive impact beyond business operations.
Community
Recognizing initiatives that support local communities through charitable efforts, food insecurity solutions, volunteerism, partnerships, or social impact programs.
Community – Baker: Rich Products – Generations of Good: food that fuels communities and reduces waste
Rich Products launched a scalable food donation program that redirects surplus, high-quality food to communities in need through strong nonprofit partnerships and a tech-enabled distribution model. The initiative has delivered 240,000 meals, reduced waste, and created both social and operational value by turning potential landfill-bound products into meaningful community support.
Community – Allied: WorkForge – Operation Breakthrough
WorkForge partners with Operation Breakthrough’s high school Ignition Lab to provide free, industry-relevant training for students in workforce development programs. By improving access to technical and career-readiness education, the program helps students build skills, confidence, and pathways into manufacturing and skilled trades careers.
Workplace
Celebrating programs and practices that advance employee development, company culture and camaraderie, or employee well-being to create workplaces where individuals thrive.
Workplace – Baker: The Bama Companies – Bama Wellness Program
Bama Companies’ “Bama Wellness Program” combines health assessments, personalized care plans, and incentives to help employees improve health outcomes and reduce risk factors. The program has driven measurable improvements in key health metrics and increased the number of employees moving into lower-risk health categories.
Workplace – Allied: Bundy Baking Solutions – Be Well at Bundy
Bundy Baking Solutions promotes holistic employee well-being through wellness resources, educational webinars, preventive care, mental health support, and incentive-based engagement. The program has increased participation in health screenings, improved preventive care metrics, and reduced health risks.
Planet
Honoring programs that minimize environmental impact through waste reduction, tree planting or garden development, sustainable employee transportation programs, sustainability education, or other eco-friendly programs.
Planet - Baker: Flowers Foods – Enterprise Water Metering Initiative
Flowers Foods implemented an enterprise-wide, real-time water metering system that uses advanced sensors and customized alerts to monitor usage, detect leaks, and improve water management across its bakeries. The program has conserved nearly 14 million gallons of water, reduced operating costs, and strengthened the company’s sustainability efforts.
Planet – Allied: PureField Ingredients – Carbon Capture and Sequestration Program
PureField Ingredients developed a first-of-its-kind carbon capture system integrated into wheat processing and vital wheat gluten manufacturing, capturing and storing CO₂ from fermentation to reduce emissions. The program cuts production emissions by about 40% and lowers farm-to-customer lifecycle emissions by 57%.
ABA also honored 181 facilities through the Safety Recognition Program Awards, celebrating excellence in workplace safety and the implementation of strong safety and health management systems. The program underscores the industry’s ongoing commitment to protecting employees and fostering a culture of safety across baking operations.
Consumer Insights to Drive Future Growth
The Convention concluded with the business session “Bakery Playbook: Connecting with Today’s Consumer,” presented by Anne-Marie Roerink.
Drawing from ABA’s Bakery Playbook research, Roerink shared the latest insights into consumer purchasing behaviors and marketplace trends. She highlighted how bakers can better connect with today’s consumers by understanding evolving preferences and crafting experiences that resonate across retail and foodservice channels.
The session concluded with a discussion featuring grocery and foodservice leaders, who shared perspectives on how the baking category can contribute to business growth moving forward.
Together, Wednesday’s sessions equipped attendees with the policy insights, industry recognition and consumer intelligence needed to return to their organizations informed, prepared and ready to lead.
