Biscuit World Spring 2013 | Page 4

p.4 Comment - BW Spring 2013_p.4 Comment - BW Spring 2013.qxd 02/04/2013 13:45 Page 4 Tougher Andre Erasmus Editor times? F or the industry, 2013 could well turn out to be a crucial year. Major world economy players like the United Kingdom and the United States are now facing up to the triple-dip recession and are seeing their credit ratings slip and the ripple effect will be felt in all spheres. An early indicator of this is the announcement at the end of February that SIAB, billed as a major event for the bakery industry in Italy, has been postponed to 2014. Is this the sign of things to come? A press release from event organisers Veronafiere gives the reason as a plea from exhibiting companies, quoting Fabio Montresor, Sales Director of Cimav Forni Srl as saying: “Exhibiting companies thank Veronafiere for accepting their request to move Siab to 2014. It is a decision which responds to the needs of the sector, which has worked in a context of enduring crisis for some considerable time”. And Edvino Jerian, Honorary President of the Italian Federation of Bakers, Bakers-Confectioners and Allied Trades, is quoted as saying there is ‘little doubt that the bakery sector, like many others, is experiencing one of the most difficult periods in the last 60 years’. Or is this an excuse for another game plan? It appears Veronafiere and SIAB will, instead, go ‘on tour’ as the release goes on to say there will be an expansion of activities abroad, ‘whereby they will organise 14 events in nine different countries this year – with Russia and Brazil already identified. Whatever the real reason is, the change of plan is one way we can face up to the ongoing and possibly worsening situation. Do not sit back and ‘go with the flow’ but find a new way to sell your products. Innovative and aggressive ideas in the face of hardship could well be the basis of a successful game plan for the future. Watch this space.... Subscribe Today! Biscuit World 4 issues BW + EB (Discount rate) 4 issues + 6 issues BW + APB (Discount rate) 4 issues + 4 issues BW + APB + EB (Discount rate) 4 issues + 4 issues + 6 issues 1 year 2 years GBP £ 40 £ 75 EUR € 45 € 85 USD $ 65 $ 90 1 year 2 years £ 80 £ 150 € 95 € 170 $ 125 $ 180 1 year 2 years £ 80 £ 150 € 95 € 170 $ 125 $ 180 1 year 2 years £ 120 £ 200 € 140 € 240 $ 190 $ 300 Editor Andre Erasmus [email protected] Contributing writers Simon Jones Gary Tucker Bernadette Tournay Sales Nick Thorp [email protected] 00 44 (0)7986 096877 Sales Svjetlana Krznaric [email protected] 00 385 99 6214 594 Production Robert Goldring [email protected] IT support [email protected] Administration offic