Jonathan Warburton and Sir John Timpson are among speakers at an event being billed as the UK’s biggest bakery conference.

The International Association of Plant Bakeries (Association Internationale de la Boulangerie Industrielle/AIBI) is holding its 36th biennial congress from 30 May to 2 June 2019 at The Midland Hotel, Manchester.

With a theme of ‘The Bakery of the Future’, the event will be hosted by Cyrille Filott, global strategist for consumer foods, at food and agribusiness bank Rabobank. The speakers will include:

  • Jonathan Warburton – who oversaw Warburton’s transition from a local family business to one of the UK’s leading bakery brands
  • Sir John Timpson – chairman of 900-store shoe repair and key cutting chain Timpson’s, who will share how his radical management thinking can benefit the bakery sector
  • Robb MacKie – president and CEO of the American Bakers’ Association (ABA), who will give an update on the latest trends in the US
  • Sebastian Marcu – founder of Bake in Space, which seeks to address the challenges relating to production of fresh food in space
  • Jimmy Griffin – head of a four-generation Irish family business and coach of the Ireland team, which won gold in the European Bakery Championships.

“This year’s event will be an exciting opportunity for the whole industry – large and small bakers right through to the supply chain including millers and ingredient manufacturers – to network and discuss the key issues facing the bakery sector,” said AIBI president Joseph Street.

“Manchester has a rich industrial heritage, including the food industry, and we look forward to welcoming delegates from the UK, Europe and the US.”

Founded in Paris in 1956, the AIBI comprises 16 national member organisations including the UK’s Federation of Bakers. The AIBI’s key task is to represent its members’ interests, especially concerning European and international institutions such as the EU Commission, European Council and European Parliament.

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