n The London & South Eastern Region of the National Association of Master Bakers (LASER) held its AGM last month, with 24 members in attendance. Anthony Kindred stepped up as the new president for 2007 and Ian Hedges as the president elect. Chris Beaney was the outgoing president.

n The Federation of Bakers has two new associate members, ABB Robotics, a manufacturer of robotic systems, and ingredients company Zeelandia. This extends the federation’s membership to 14.

n Three-shop bakery chain Joseph Hall has been bought out of administration by its former owner Joe Hall. The Lancashire chain applied for voluntary liquidation, following trading difficulties last month. It will now trade under the name of Hall’s Bakery.

n To mark the launch of its Artisan Supreme 60% Fruit Fillings range, BFP Wholesale is running a special offer on orders placed before 30 April, 2007. The four varieties are Black Cherry, Fruits of the Forest, Blackcurrant and Strawberry. Order one 6kg pail of each variety and get the lowest-priced free.

n The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, has visited a ground-breaking bakery in Bethesda, Wales. He sampled the products of Becws Pesda, a bakery being managed by NACRO, the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, and the North Wales Probation Service.

n Stan Cauvain and Linda Young have just published the second edition of Technology of Breadmaking. It sets out to identify and present new knowledge that has become available in last 10 years, as well as update information.