Bakery Showcase 2022 preview

Bakery Showcase is pleased to present a demonstration of bread shaping and scoring by Master Baker Marcus Mariathas on Monday, April 11, at the Main Stage Demo Area.

Originally from a small island off the coast of Sri Lanka, Marcus came with his family during the Civil War.

He began with the ACE bakery brand in Toronto in 1995 and now is vice-president of product development at one of North America’s largest artisan bakeries, Weston Foods, now part of FGF Brands.

“I have been in the bakery business for 28 years and have been fortunate enough to be taught by incredibly talented master bakers from various countries,” Marcus says. “I learned not only about baking, but about business, operations, sales. I still work at the same bakery ACE Brand, in Toronto. I started working there in 1995, and it went from being one small bakery, to one of North America’s largest artisan bakeries.

“I am proud that I have been with the same organization since the beginning, delivering authentic artisan breads to consumers across the continent. It makes me very happy to see someone enjoy and appreciate true authentic breads, and for it to be achievable and accessible for them.”

Marcus is a highly competitive, award-winning baker who has been part of the Louis Lesaffre competition for since 2014. In 2015, he competed as part of Team Canada to win the Coupe Louis Lesaffre Americas, representing the Baguettes and Breads of the World category. The team qualified for the Coupe de la Boulangerie, a first ever for Canada! Among many other achievements, he was one of the finalists in world Masters’ competition 2018.

Check out this exciting demonstration and don’t miss this chance to watch and learn bread shaping and scoring techniques from a master!

Justine Martin, uilty Pleasures Bakery + Catering. Photo: © Rebecca Bose Photographer www.rebeccabose.com

Martin Barnett, Executive Director and General Manager, BAC

Mahathi Mundluru, Great Canadian Baking Show finalist.

Chef Anna Olson will be at the BAC booth on Sunday, April 10, from 2-3 p.m. to sign books!

Education sessions to focus on small bakeries

Here’s a taste of our exciting lineup of inspirational speakers, education sessions, competitions and demonstrations. You’ll find details about all speakers, competitions and sessions in the Bakery Showcase event guide in our April issue.

BAC Annual General Meeting and Meet-and-Greet: Get up to date with the busy BAC and its work and activities on behalf of members. Meet the directors and chat over continental breakfast!

Communicate Your Passion: Justine Martin will share the inspiring story of how she built on her strengths – creativity, flexibility and communication skills – to build a thriving business, Guilty Pleasures Bakery + Catering. Learn how deciding on the right opportunity at the right time can mean successfully scaling up for your custom baking business.

Announcing Inspirational Bakery of the Year: Join Bakers Journal and founding sponsor Ardent Mills as they announce the Jake the Baker Inspirational Bakery of the Year! Congratulate our winner and get a taste of their inspiring story!

Adventures in Baking: Mahathi Mundluru baked up a storm on the Great Canadian Baking Show. Mahathi shares why she entered the competition, what it’s like to bake under the tent, how she handled the special pressure that comes with competing and details of her specialties. Bring your questions for Mahathi!

Thriving in a Labour Shortage: A panel of experts tackle challenges for Canadian bakeries. This informative session will show you how to get grants and other recuperating funds for your bakery, how to find and keep skilled employees and how automation can help your bakery be efficient and less dependent on skilled labour.

Jake the Baker Student Cake Decorating Contest: Award-winning cake artist Justine Martin will emcee as the next generation of bakers craft and sculpt their cakes throughout the day. Watch student decorators work, cheer them on as they present their creations to the judges and be see winners announced!

Plant-Based Baking Primer: Looking for tips and strategies for making the most of plant-based baking in a non-plant-based market? If you’re a bakery or bakery-café, you need to know more about this important and growing shift in customer demand. Our panellists, bakery owner-operators, have successfully served a market seeking better-for-you plant-based bakery treats and will join us to share their experiences. You’ll learn why all bakeries should care about the plant-based market, what factors you should consider in your marketing approach and more!

Educating the Next Generation: Join leaders in bakery education as we tackle key questions, such as: How is the baking industry educating the next generation of bakers? What can be done to standardize certification across Canada to make it portable for the bakers of tomorrow?

The Art and Business of Baking with Cannabis: In what promises to be a hot topic, this roundtable discussion brings together experts in cannabis education and licensing. Our panel will discuss the difference between CBD and THC and implications of using them in edible goods, why might bakers consider cooking with cannabis and a future state when cannabis edibles are sold in retail locations such as a bakery.

Top 5 Trends and Opportunities for Your Bakery: Jane Dummer, Registered Dietitian, and columnist in Bakers Journal, will present a look ahead at baking trends and suggest ways you can act on these shifts in the market to ensure your bakery or bakery café thrives into the future. From e-commerce and added nutrition to emotional well-being and good for the planet, learn from Jane why these trends are important to your bakery and how to make the most of these growing opportunities.

Demonstration: Incorporating Raisins, Peanuts and Peanut Butter in Functional Baked Goods: The new consumer is searching for functional baked goods: sweets and treats that aren’t just decadent but also promote good health. Join California Raisins and the Peanut Bureau of Canada, as our expert demonstrates how to incorporate California Raisins, peanuts and peanut butter in high-protein, naturally sweet and nutrient-dense baked goods.

Meet Chef Anna Olson!

Renowned baker, cookbook author and Food Network star Anna Olson will be at the Baking Association of Canada booth (104/106) on Sunday, April 10, from 2-3 p.m. to sign copies of her newest book, Baking Day with Anna Olson, winner of the Taste Canada Gold Award! Come by the booth to meet Anna and to chat with the folks at BAC who are working hard on your behalf and keen to meet you!

A chance to meet reps

Joanne and Patrick Hamilton, owners of Hamilton’s Bakery in Strathroy, Ont., are looking forward to Bakery Showcase.

Pat has carried on as baker running the business started by his parents, Alan and Helen Hamilton, in 1946.

Pat is the baker and Joanne does “everything else.”

“Every year there has been a Showcase, we’ve been there,” Joanne says. “We like to get away, take a break from the store.” 

They often pick up new information or a helpful product. At the last show, they found a 7×10 inch bake pan. “It was very helpful to us,” Joanne says. “It meant we could just make a quarter slab without making the whole cake.”

Baker Showcase is also their opportunity to meet with representatives. Being in Strathroy, a town of about 20,000 west of London, they are somewhat isolated, Joanne says. 

“We don’t even know sometimes if companies come out this far. We do a lot of pickups on our own because we want certain products and we don’t have distributors for them.”

The Baking Association of Canada presents an important opportunity to connect in person through Bakery Showcase April 10-11, 2022, at the Toronto Congress Centre.

Check out our exciting lineup of inspirational speakers, education sessions, competitions and demonstrations!

Register now!