STORY: CBA VISITS LESAFFRE INTERNATIONAL BAKING CENTER

Craft Bakers Association visits Lesaffre International Baking Center™ in Lille, France

Lesaffre Group, the world's leading yeast manufacturer and fermentation expert, welcomed a team of 19 bakers, members of the Craft Bakers Association, to the Baking Center™ in Lille, France on 29-30 October 2024. Organised by Lesaffre UK & Ireland in partnership with the Craft Bakers Association, this two-day visit was part of the celebration program for the 50th anniversary of the Lesaffre Baking Center™. During the event, the bakers experienced a range of activities, including workshops, training and product innovation.

Lesaffre Group, the world's leading yeast manufacturer and fermentation expert, welcomed a team of 19 bakers, members of the Craft Bakers Association, to the Baking Center™ in Lille, France on 29-30 October 2024. Established 50 years ago as a hub for innovation, education, and collaboration in the baking industry, the Baking Center™ provides bakers with access to the latest technologies, techniques, and product developments.

As part of the 50^th anniversary celebration program, this two-day visit to the Lesaffre Baking Center™ in Lille, aimed to share the breadth of experience and knowledge that the centre's experts can provide, enabling the participating bakers to experience new baking techniques and learn about baking innovations in the state-of-the-art facility.

The Craft Bakers Association, a leading industry body representing independent and family-owned bakeries across the United Kingdom, was represented at this visit by the President, John Foster MBE, CEO Karen Dear, and Chairman Nick Harris. Commenting on the event, President John Foster MBE said: “As someone with over 50 years of experience in baking, I still learned a great deal from this recent experience. It was a fun and rewarding process, filled with a sense of camaraderie among the bakers. It's truly remarkable to have access to such skilled technical facilities and highly qualified, technical bakers within the Lesaffre team. Their support and expertise have been invaluable.”

Further commenting on the event, Karen Dear, CEO of the Craft Bakers Association, stated: "The CBA and its members were very grateful for the opportunity to visit Lesaffre learn more about the company and the products they produce for craft bakers. We all thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on work interspersed with discussion and an excellent platform to network and share knowledge. Thank you to the Lesaffre team for their in incredible hospitality and the opportunity to visit and learn more about the business.”

Along with the opportunity to showcase Lesaffre's innovative solutions for the baking industry, the visitors were also invited to tour the Lesaffre Campus. This state-of-the-art facility is home to over 700 R&D experts who are dedicated to exploring the frontiers of fermentation, working towards a better future for the industry.

The Lesaffre Campus serves as a hub for innovative research and development, where the company's team of highly skilled scientists and technicians collaborate to push the boundaries of what's possible in the world of baking and fermentation.

Roy Parton, Commercial Director for Lesaffre UK & Ireland, commented: “It was an honour to welcome the Craft Bakers Association and its esteemed members to our Baking Center™ in Lille. This visit embodies our commitment to supporting the craft baking community through innovation and collaboration. We are deeply grateful to the CBA leadership and each baker and bakery business who joined us, sharing their passion and expertise. Together, we’ve strengthened our shared vision to elevate and inspire the baking industry. The solidarity and insights exchanged over these two days were invaluable, and we look forward to continuing this journey alongside such dedicated professionals."

In addition to showcasing Lesaffre's baking innovations, this experience provided CBA members with a unique opportunity to come together in a creative environment and share their knowledge and experiences. As they departed, the CBA members were able to take home a wealth of insights and inspiration, empowering them to apply what they had learned to drive innovation within their own bakeries.