The British Society of Baking’s Golden Jubilee Spring Conference, held at Food & Bake, will provide bakers with an insight into business issues affecting the whole of the industry. Speakers from Greggs, Tesco and Allied Bakeries will be among the roll call.

On the Monday, Sir Michael Darrington, MD of Greggs, will speak at the conference, as well as Tony Reed, category director for bakery of Tesco, and Alex Waugh, director general of millers’ association Nabim.

Sir Michael Darrington has been at the helm of Greggs for 23 years, during which time the Newcastle-based bakery firm has become the third biggest seller of sandwiches in the country with sales of bread and rolls reduced to just 9% of annual turnover. Sir Michael will give an insight into how Greggs continues to be successful through its people.

As category director for bakery of Tesco, Tony Reed controls bakery in 1,800 stores in the UK. He first joined Tesco 28 years ago on his 15th birthday as a trolley boy and worked his way up to become a director.

Brian Robinson, the new chief executive of Allied Bakeries, will compare the progress of the Australian baking industry with that of the UK.

These speakers will be joined by Professor Christiani Jeya Henry, head of food science and human nutrition at Oxford Brookes University, and Royal Society visiting professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

A board member of the Food Standards Agency, Professor Henry will be sharing his thoughts on the glycaemic index and opportunities and challenges for the food industry.

On the Tuesday, speakers include craft baker Chris Freeman, organiser of National Doughnut Week; Trevor Mooney, joint-MD of Chatwins in Nantwich; John Slattery of Slattery’s in Manchester; Alan Stuart from Dubbie Bakery in Fife; and John Waterfield of Waterfields.

Interest in the event has been such that tickets for the gala dinner on Monday, March 20, are completely sold out. But limited tickets for the conference are still available. They cost £60 per day for members and £79 per day for non-members.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.foodandbake.com or call the BSB on tel: 0161 427 1772.

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