In an effort to strengthen the IBIE bakery trade show through strategic alliances with related exhibitions, the IBIE Committee announced that the Retail Bakers of America (RBA) will become a new partner of the triennial IBIE show, along with the American Bakers Association (ABA) and BEMA.
IBIE Committee Chairman Rich Hoskins and RBA Executive Committee Member Paul Sapienza made the announcement during the wholesale bakery conference, ASB's BakingTech, held this month in Chicago. As part of the agreement, RBA will not hold its stand-alone event, the American Retail Bakery Exposition, in 2010.
While details of the agreement are being finalized, RBA exhibitors will be integrated into the IBIE show floor, rather than placed in a separate hall or pavilion. RBA will continue to provide demos and education on the show floor, and a targeted marketing campaign will be used to attract more retail bakers to the show. RBA will continue to hold ARBE in non-IBIE years.