The day kicked off with the CBA’s 134th Annual General Meeting, which saw the installation of national president Patrick Wilkins and president elect John Foster, along with the appointment of two new directors – master bakers John Frost and Giles Grout.
It was an opportunity for former president Neil Woods to take his bow, following a year that saw three Prime Ministers take the country’s hot seat, the loss of a Queen and a new King crowned. Through it all, Woods said members proved there are opportunities to create something positive out of the negative and the CBA received reports of “members seeing increases in both sales and crucially margins. I congratulate you all.”
Make the most of the media
“The Business Day was a fantastic opportunity for those attending to discuss the challenges facing the industry, while also sharing knowledge and advice about what bakers can do to futureproof their businesses,” said Karen Dear, who was appointed CBA’s chief executive in April after nearly 23 years in key growth positions with the association.
“We were delighted to see so much engagement and passion for the bakery industry all in one space and hope the day delivered benefits for all.”
Among the lineup of industry voices sharing their insights was Amy North, editor of Bakery&Snacks’ sister publication British Baker, who gave a mini masterclass on how to engage the media.
“The media is a valuable resource to raise your profile,” said North, noting it could be used to attract staff, establish your footprint in your community and highlight you as a trailblazer.