Finally it is Spring and, fittingly, there has been much discussion about “green shoots” of economic recovery in South Africa and globally. It is certainly easier to feel optimistic about the future with the cold, dreary winter behind us and the avalanche of negativity we have been surrounded with by the media since the beginning of the year, starting to lift.
October is just around the corner and with it comes iba – the world’s greatest baking fair and exhibition. In this edition we take a look at who will be there and some of the innovations visitors will find.
In line with the crisp, clean feel of Spring, we have a HACCP/Hygiene feature on spring cleaning – an interesting new take on using this opportune time to take your facility to the next level. And while we are talking about new ideas and trends, our Logistics article considers new developments in the fields of pallets and returnable transit packaging which is not only more hygienic, but also more environmentally, and budget, friendly. If your spring cleaning also involves replacing your equipment, you will find our article on bakery equipment, with a focus on essentials for smaller bakeries, both insightful and helpful.
We also look at sugar and sweeteners in the baking industry, and offer some insight into baking without sugar in our Small Baker’s Forum. We consider whether enzymes will be the emulsifiers of the future and investigate the trend towards paper in our packaging article.
Spring is a celebration of colours and textures, and so is our Toppings and Fillings article, written specifically to inspire bakers to create baked goods that are as beautiful to look at as they are good to eat.
In this edition, we also introduce our new regular section covering Grains and Milling. Please feel free to send us your industry news and insights pertaining to this industry sector.
It is another bumper edition of The Baker/The Butcher, but it contains just a fraction of the information and resources we have put at your disposal. Visit our website www.thebaker.co.za for all the resources and a wealth of information to assist you in spring cleaning your facility, recipes, procedures and more this year!
Until next time!
Happy Baking!
Letters to the editor:
The Baker, PO Box 130676,
Bryanston, 2021 or
E-mail: newstr1@mweb.co.za
Inside Track
Our snippets on movers and shakers in the baking/confectionery and related industries include:
Ovipro achieves HACCP accreditation
Emfundisweni Bakery - Taking bread to the people
A"Hole" Lot More Donuts from Ola Milky Lane
Terry Sharp joins Snackworks
Wholegrain Tortillas
South Africa gets its first Plastics Hall of Fame
Congratulations Carst & Walker on 75 years in the industry
Letter from Europe - Enzyme regulations for Europe
At a recent Campden BRI conference on Food Enzyme Developments, there was an
update on developing EU legislation for food enzymes. This will be the first time that
enzymes have been regulated at EU level. Whilst this is still being finalised in discussions
with various groups, including industry, I thought I’d share the highlights with you. Read more...
Specialised Ingredients - Enzymes: The emulsifiers of the future?
Enzymes fulfill many roles in the baking industry, but one of the most prominent
in recent times is the ability to replace other baking ingredients, particularly emulsifiers. The Baker considers this trend and the possibility of enzymes
becoming the emulsifiers of the future. Read more...
Product Review - Cool, dry and
profitable: The role of Calcium
Propionate Agglomerate
Bacteria and moulds thrive in a warm, moist environment – the very atmosphere you find so frequently in the bread production process (as well as the distribution chain). Thanks to Calcium Propionate, bakers can counteract the effects of heat and moisture with effective inhibition of microbial growth. Read
more...
Sugar & Sweeteners – Sweet solutions
Sugar plays a vital role in the baking process and is nature’s own
100% natural sweetener. However, as consumers increasingly focus
on healthier lifestyles and the incidence of lifestyle diseases
increase,
bakers will do well to investigate the alternatives. Read
more...
Packaging – Packaging perspectives
As environmental concerns increasingly become a crucial factor in packaging, paper-based packaging is emerging as an ideal solution. Read
more...
Milling & Grains –Grains Symposium: quality and safety of grain crops and foods
A two and a half day international grains symposium will be held by Cereal Science and Technology-SA (CST-SA) under the auspices of the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology (ICC) between 3-5 February 2010 at the University of Pretoria Sanlam Conference Centre. Read more...
Toppings & Fillings – Over the top!
Toppings and fillings not only allow
bakers to express their creativity in
creating tasty and tempting treats that
look as good as they taste, they also
make it possible to charge customers
a premium for enhanced value. Read
more...
Small Baker's Forum – Baking without sugar
Baking without sugar can pose certain challenges to bakers,
but fortunately innovative suppliers and technology
ensures there are a range of options to explore. Read more...
Ovens & Baking Equipment – Smart strategies for smaller bakers
Considering the amount of equipment bakers need and the
hefty investment involved, it is vital that the right equipment
is sourced, that will offer reliability and will function
optimally for a considerable period of time. Read
more...
Logistics –Plastic pallets and
RTP - the way of the future
Supply chain logistics in the food industry are increasingly under
scrutiny as food safety remains under the spotlight and containing
costs in the current economy requires smarter solutions. The
Baker takes a look at the latest developments around
pallets and returnable transit packaging. Read more...
HACCP/Hygiene – Spring clean!
HACCP procedures and hygiene practices are daily priorities in the food industry. But as spring comes along, it
presents the
ideal opportunity to clean out all those neglected nooks and crannies, take preventative action,
review cleaning equipment,
practices and procedures, and consider going green. Read
more...
If you require further information please contact us on
Tel: (011) 447 1192 • Fax: (011) 447 8736 E-mail: newstr@mweb.co.za
PO Box 130676, Bryanston 2021, South Africa
This page and all its contents are copyright 2003-2008 by
Newstreet Publishers (Pty) Ltd.
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
