More than 600 exhibiting companies demonstrated their wares at the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association’s (IDDBA) show and expo. Low and no trans fat foods and ingredients were the hot-button products across all three departments, and particularly for bakery products. Zero grams trans fat donuts, muffins, icings, shortenings and pan releases were among a long list of products on display to help bakers deal with the challenge.

Cupcakes in all shapes, sizes and packaging also continue to prove popular among in-store bakery operators and their customers. IDDBA exhibitors offered everything from the mixes and icings to decorations and finished, packaged cupcakes to meet the needs of most in-store bakery operators.
Always a highlight for show attendees, the twelfth annual IDDBA Cake Decorating Challenge showcased the talents of three top cake decorators from supermarkets around the country. Sunnie Guraedy, Arrowhead Miracle Mart, Minot, N.D., won the challenge. Second place went to Danny Lane, Harp’s Marketplace, Fort Smith, Ark. The third place winner was Ben Raffle, Fry’s & Fry’s Marketplace, Phoenix.

“Not everyone can decorate a cake and not everyone has the stamina and fortitude to participate in an intensive

three-day long contest to show off just how talented they are,” said IDDBA Executive Director Carol Christison of the contestants. “But, that’s exactly what our cake decorators do. If I were to choose a phrase to describe them, it would be ‘grace under pressure.’”