Baking Buzz
 Launched in 2005, the Baking Buzz keeps you updated on the latest news in the baking industry, and also includes other news of interest for your business.  Updated weekly, the stories work with our member publication, “Beyond Baking,” to bring you the latest news.  Clicking on the italicized type in navy throughout the page will take you to various links!

 

If you have news you want to share or have any questions about 'the Buzz,' please email bakingbuzz@wibakers.com.

 

 

OCT. 21, 2011

WBA & MEMBER HEADLINES
 WBA Director, Dave Schmidt, and staff members had the opportunity to attend All Things Baking 2011 in Schaumburg, IL on Monday, October 10th.  Check out the photos on our Facebook page.

 Be sure to get us your information to receive the email newsletter!
As you know, we transitioned to an email newsletter earlier this year.  This means no more print copies of "Beyond Baking" are mailed out.  To sign up, please download the form here and mail, email, or fax it back to us.  Any questions?  Please contact the WBA Member Services Center.  You don't want to miss any of the news coming from the WBA.  We have emailed the past few issues to those we got the forms from, and the issues have been turning out well.  We look forward to sharing future issues with you! 

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Can't get thoughts of Original Cream Puffs out of your head?  You can order an Original Cream Puff gift card all year round! Redeem it at the 2012 Wisconsin State Fair!
 3-Pack Gift Cards - $10 Each
6-Pack Gift Cards - $18 Each
Savor the world famous “Original Cream Puffs”(R) at the Wisconsin State Fair! Packed in our signature 3 or 6-pack boxes, these legendary pastries are made fresh continuously every day of the Fair and filled with the sweetest of Wisconsin’s whipping cream to give every single bite that sensation of sinful satisfaction.
Order gift cards now!
Visit www.originalcreampuffs.com/giftcards.htm to place your gift card order.  Original Cream Puff gift cards are redeemable only during the Wisconsin State Fair dates as published at the Original Cream Puff Pavilion, Original Cream Puff Express locations, or during the morning drive thru service at Wisconsin State Fair Park. Card may be used for any products sold by OCP Bakers, LLC during the Wisconsin State Fair.  Questions on ordering gift cards?  Please contact the WBA Member Services Center.
 

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ITEMS FOR SALE/ITEMS NEEDED
 Are you a WBA member looking to sell some items, or looking to fill an open job position?  Let us know and we can post it here! 
We can post the items for up to one month.

Bakery for sale in Fitchburg, WI (posted Oct. 21)
The Rolling Pin Bake Shop located on Fish Hatchery Road in Fitchburg is for sale.  Please click here for more information.

WBA member needs your help! (posted Sept. 16)
 WBA member Bob and Bonnie’s Donuts (Fond du Lac, Wis.) is looking for a regular 1 or 2-door glass upright display freezer.  Contact Bob or Bonnie at (920) 923-4321 if you can help them out with what they are looking for!

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INDUSTRY HEADLINES (and other news you can use)
 CFTC Vote Includes ABA Proposal on Position Limits – More Needs to be Done (More)
Spanish & Culture Seminar for Restaurant & Food Service Operations (More)
All Things Baking show deemed a success (More)
Winners announced in America's Best Raisin Bread Contest (More)
ABA President’s Letter:  ABA Leading Even if Washington Won’t (More)
Big choux to fill (More)
More U.S. companies having difficulty attracting critical-skill employees (More)
Looking to save money on utilities? (More)


 UPCOMING EVENTS HEADLINES
See our Calendar of Events for upcoming events.
 Please Note:  The November Bakers Forum has been cancelled
 

FULL STORIES
 CFTC Vote Includes ABA Proposal on Position Limits – More Needs to be Done
As reported by American Bakers Association (ABA):  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Commodity Future Trading Commission (CFTC) voted in favor of implementing contract limits on index funds investing in the wheat futures markets. “CFTC’s vote in favor of position limits is a step in the right direction, although we were hoping for more,” said Robb MacKie, ABA president and CEO.
Please click here to download the ABA press release for more information.

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Spanish & Culture Seminar for Restaurant & Food Service Operations
 Learn basic Spanish phrases used in restaurants and food service operations including tools to improve communication, teamwork, safety, food quality and productivity. Participants will improve their understanding of Spanish speaking workers and their culture in the workplace.  Click here to find out how to register

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All Things Baking show deemed a success
As reported by Baking Buyer:  All Things Baking, which took place in Schaumburg, Ill., Oct. 2-4, lived up to its tagline as “All the things you’ve ever wanted in a baking show.” Thousands of attendees showed up ready to take advantage of the education, hands-on demonstrations, bakery tours and the latest innovations from 145 leading vendors.
Click here for the full story

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Winners announced in America's Best Raisin Bread Contest
As reported by Baking Buyer:  Thirty-seven finalists in America's Best Raisin Bread Contest, the only professional baking competition in the U.S., gathered October 14-15 at the American Institute of Baking (AIB) in Manhattan, KS to compete for industry honors, industry recognition and a prize that includes a California tour of the raisin industry, Napa Valley, and the Culinary Institute of America.
Click here for the full story

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ABA President’s Letter:  ABA Leading Even if Washington Won’t
 As reported by American Bakers Association (ABA): I recently had the opportunity to co-host an event for long-time friend of the industry Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO). He astutely remarked that Congress, particularly the Senate, is highly dysfunctional. He ticked off numerous bi-partisan initiatives in the Senate that would either help spur economic growth or reduce government obstacles to economic growth. Unfortunately, none of them nor the many pieces of legislation the House has passed and sent to the Senate are likely to see the light of day. He then remarked that, “the regulatory agencies, however, are fully “functional” and listed a dozen or so major regulatory proposals that, if finalized, would add further obstacles to economic growth.
Click here for the full letter

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Big choux to fill
As reported by Modern Baking:  In a feat of massive pâte à choux proportions, Original Cream Puffs and the Wisconsin Bakers Association (WBA) set the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest cream puff during the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair in Milwaukee.  It’s not something I ever hope to have to do again,” laughs Dave Schmidt, Certified Master Baker and executive director of the WBA. “But we’ve got the world’s best cream puff operation so there’s no reason we shouldn’t set the record.”  The minimum weight required for the record was 44 lbs., and the shell had to be baked in one piece, which presented the biggest challenge. “When we spoke with the Guinness people, we understood why no one had gone for it. Trying to bake a pâte à choux that size is a feat in itself because it’s so hard to control.”
Click here for the full story

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 More U.S. companies having difficulty attracting critical-skill employees
As reported in the BeneCo of Wisconsin, Inc. HR Source newsletter Oct. 19:  With the U.S. economy still unsteady, many companies are finding it relatively easy to attract or retain workers, with one major exception: critical-skill employees. A new survey from Towers Watson and WorldatWork shows that for the second consecutive year, the number of U.S. companies having difficulty finding and keeping critical-skill workers has increased.
Click here to read more  

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Looking to save money on utilities?
 As reported by The Kiplinger Letter Vol. 88, No. 41:  Your water heater might be the ticket.  After years of little technological innovation, next generation water heaters now offer big gains in energy efficiency, requiring less water to do the same work.  For offices and schools, on-demand water heaters can be a profitable upgrade.  Instead of one large central boiler heating more water than the facility needs, a network of small electric units near faucets can heat water in appropriate amounts.  One Tennessee school made the switch and realized a 90% savings over its old boiler.  Many utilities offer rebates for replacing old heaters with new ones.

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