What’s cooking? Bakery Fair offers opportunities 

The Bakery Fair 2025, set to take place on 6 to 8 March at the World Trade Center, promises to be a rare informative event for those in the baking industry. 

Filipino Chinese Bakery Association Inc. (FCBAI), the event’s organizer, emphasized that the fair will provide an invaluable opportunity for bakers, suppliers, and stakeholders to come together to explore innovations, industry trends, and essential business practices.

“It is a testament to our unwavering faith in the future of the Philippine economy and our commitment to uplifting the entire baking industry,” FCBAI president Christopher Ah said on Wednesday, 26 February.

The three-day event will offer bakers and business owners a good time through exclusive baking workshops, tasting sessions and live competitions. 

More in store

FCBAI first vice president Jerry Midel said guests can also expect innovations to be showcased including the shift from traditional chemical additives to more natural preservatives.

“Before, we would normally add chemical additives to bread. But in the US, they use enzymes — which are more natural. That’s the innovation in our ingredients that can also help refresh our market,” FCBAI first vice president Jerry Midel said.

The shift toward more natural options benefits consumers with healthier, safer food while also supporting sustainability within the industry. 

Major challenges

The increasing costs of labor and ingredients are a major challenge for many bakeries, particularly small businesses, but the fair will present solutions through the new technology. 

“That’s why we’re inviting everyone to the Bakery Fair 2025, because we have suppliers there who have different and new technology, ingredients,” he said.

According to Midel, these advancements can help bakeries reduce costs while still delivering high-quality products for both large and small-scale bakeries alike.

There will also be guest speakers at the event who will touch on topics relevant to the baking industry, from food safety to business modernization.

Ah said that attendees will get the chance to learn practical skills they can directly apply to their business operations.

Influencing the next generation

FCBAI intends to make the fair an inclusive event, as one of the issues by the baking industry is finding the next generation of bakers.

‘Before, we would normally add chemical additives to bread. But in the US, they use enzymes — which are more natural. That’s the innovation in our ingredients that can also help refresh our market.’

Ah noted that succession planning is a global issue for the baking community. Therefore, the event also aims to encourage young people to follow in the footsteps of seasoned bakers and preserve the industry’s legacy.

Through collaborations with educational institutions like TESDA, the association is helping to provide training and education that will help the next generation enter the field and sustain the business in the future.