WASHINGTON — Baking industry leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, DC, this week for the 2026 Bakers Fly-In and Policy Summit, hosted by the American Bakers Association (ABA) in partnership with the Retail Bakers of America (RBA) and the American Society of Baking (ASB). Bakers and suppliers connected directly with policymakers to advocate for the industry’s priorities and share the Baking Feeds America advocacy campaign, highlighting how the industry feeds families, creates jobs, supports communities and contributes to the nation’s economy.

“The baking industry has an incredible story to tell, and our advocacy communications campaign, Baking Feeds America, is helping us tell it in a bigger, more visible way,” said Eric Dell, ABA president and chief executive officer. “This week, commercial and retail baking leaders came together to tell that story directly to policymakers, demonstrating the strength of our collective voice and the impact we can have when we advocate for our industry.”

Representing the commercial and retail baking industries, 100 baking leaders met with approximately 100 congressional offices to discuss the policy issues shaping the future of this industry. The event featured special sessions with Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Kyle Diamantas, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Department of Labor Chief of Staff Courtney Walter and Representative Tony Wied (WI-08). 

“Retail bakeries are so much more than the products we make,” said Marissa Sertich, executive director of RBA. “They create jobs, support local economies and are often true gathering places in their communities. The Bakers Fly-In gives retail bakers an opportunity to share those stories directly with policymakers and make sure the voice of small bakery businesses is represented in the conversations and decisions that impact our industry.”

Programming also included expert speakers including Miriam Guggenheim, partner and co-chair of Covington & Burling LLP’s Food, Drug and Device Practice Group; Ryan Snyder, director of governmental and legislative affairs for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) at the US Department of Transportation; Arun Venkataraman, partner at Covington & Burling LLP and Danielle Waterfield, policy director and general counsel at AMERIPEN.

Baking industry leaders carried the Baking Feeds America message directly to policymakers, reinforcing the important role bread and baked goods play in American diets, families and communities. Participants highlighted that baked goods are found in nearly 99% of American households and that enriched and whole grain breads are important sources of fiber, iron, magnesium, B vitamins and other essential nutrients. The campaign amplified that message across Washington through advertisements at Reagan National Airport, bus shelters, a mobile digital billboard and materials provided to congressional offices, ensuring the industry’s story was visible both inside and outside the halls of Congress.

“Bringing baking professionals together in Washington strengthens the connections and collective voice needed to advance our industry,” said Kristen Spriggs, ASB CEO. “Through our partnership with ABA and RBA, leaders from across the baking community can share real-world perspectives with policymakers and demonstrate why the issues being debated in Washington matter to baking businesses, their employees and the communities they serve.”

The Food Technical and Regulatory Affairs Professionals Group (FTRAC) Professionals Group Conference concluded the week by bringing together baker and supplier leaders to examine the regulatory, food safety and nutrition issues shaping baked goods. David Acheson, MD, a former FDA Associate Commissioner for Foods and currently the president and CEO of The Acheson Group, shared his insights on how to manage supplier driven food safety issues. Erin Ball, president of the Grain Foods Research Institute, and Shelley Maniscalco, partner at Nutrition In Demand, presented new research. Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, president and CEO of the International Food Information Council (IFIC), shared the latest consumer research and insights on how Americans understand and perceive food processing. Additionally, attendees received timely updates on policy issues during a rapidly changing environment. environment.

Happening concurrently with the Bakers Fly-In, ABA’s NextGenBaker Leadership Forum convened professionals from baker and supplier companies for leadership development, industry education and relationship building. Keynote speaker Marc Palatucci of Future Today Strategy Group led interactive programming focused on strategic foresight and scenario planning, providing participants with practical tools to navigate uncertainty and make more informed decisions about the future. The Forum also provided emerging leaders with firsthand advocacy experience as attendees participated in the fly-in congressional meetings.

It was also announced that at the NextGenBaker Brunch, held at the 2027 ABA Convention, May 1-5, 2027 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz., the keynote speaker will be Mickey Bergman, a political hostage negotiator. Bergman will speak to what it takes to think clearly, build trust and find a path forward under extraordinary pressure.