June 26, 2026 – The American Bakers Association (ABA) and AIB Education & Research (AIB) today announced a new strategic collaboration to deliver food safety resources for the commercial baking industry through the development of a first-of-its-kind Bakery Playbook series on Food Safety.
Developed jointly by ABA and AIB, the collaborative initiative will deliver practical, bakery-specific guidance to continue the industry’s long tradition of excellence in food safety. The Playbook series will provide baking companies with benchmarking data, best practices, and actionable tools. The collaboration combines ABA’s popular Bakery Playbook research format and the insights of its member community with AIB’s expertise in food safety and guidance development. Together, the organizations will create resources that help baking manufacturers continue their operational excellence.
"Food safety remains the foundation of consumer confidence and business success for the industry," said Eric Dell, President and CEO of ABA. "Through this collaboration with AIB, we will be able to provide practical, bakery-specific resources that help ABA members continue their longstanding commitment to safe, high-quality operations."
"As part of our nonprofit mission to support the food industry, this collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing food safety throughout the commercial baking industry," said Aaron Edwards, President and CEO of AIB International. "ABA's leadership and industry engagement, combined with AIB's technical expertise, will help create a resource that enables bakery operators to continue their strong, resilient food safety programs."
Combining industry benchmarking, research, and practical guidance, the Bakery Playbook series on Food Safety will serve as a roadmap for food safety excellence in commercial baking. The first Playbook in the series will be released in 2027, with additional topics, research findings, and implementation tools to be announced as the initiative progresses. For questions about the Bakery Playbook series, please contact Christina Donnelly, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Initiatives for ABA at [email protected].
About the American Bakers Association
The American Bakers Association (ABA) is the largest, most established, and diverse trade association for the commercial baking industry in the United States. ABA’s community includes more than 350 member companies representing over 1,200 commercial baking facilities and the extensive industry supply chain.
Since 1897, ABA has served as the voice of the baking industry, offering compelling advocacy, insightful thought leadership, and comprehensive research on industry trends. ABA members also benefit from extensive business services including premier networking events, impactful knowledge sharing, and effective workforce development programs and training resources. ABA is committed to enhancing its mission by growing the category and promoting the industry as the destination workplace. In 2025, ABA earned the prestigious Great Place To Work® Certification, underscoring its commitment to delivering on the Higher Level Impact strategic objective by fostering a strong internal culture that drives excellence for the commercial baking industry.
About AIB Education & Research
AIB Education & Research is the nonprofit arm of AIB dedicated to advancing food safety and supporting a safer food system for all. Through complimentary educational resources, independent research, expert-led training, and training grants, we help food industry professionals build the knowledge and capabilities needed to strengthen food safety. Our mission is to empower decision-makers with practical, data-driven insights that enhance compliance, reduce risk, and protect public health—regardless of an organization's size or available resources.
