ABA, ASB unveils strategic partnership with US$500,000 investment for workforce development

USA – American Bakers Association (ABA) and the American Society of Baking (ASB) have announced a new strategic partnership backed by a US$500,000 investment from ABA over the next five years.

The collaboration aims to strengthen the commercial baking industry through expanded education, workforce development, and unified advocacy efforts.

Under the agreement, ABA will commit US$500,000 to help ASB design and scale accessible, industry‑focused educational programs that build the baking workforce’s technical and professional skills.

With ASB’s mission centered on delivering education and training for industry advancement, the organization will leverage this investment to expand its educational offerings for the baking sector.

For ABA, this investment is a natural extension of its strategic focus on establishing the commercial baking industry as a destination workplace by supporting enhanced workforce development offerings for current and future industry professionals.  

Both organizations say the funding will support the creation of new training modules, online learning pathways, and career‑development resources tailored to bakers, technicians, engineers, and other food‑manufacturing professionals.

The move responds to persistent labor and skills gaps in the baking sector, where manufacturers have long cited shortages of trained operators and maintenance staff.

The collaboration also strengthens the two organizations’ shared advocacy work.

ABA will enhance its presence at ASB’s annual BakingTECH event by delivering timely advocacy programming from both ABA’s professional staff and government relations experts.

ABA’s Bakers Manufacturing Academy courses are now integrated into ASB’s Education Hub learning‑management platform, allowing members and industry professionals to access technical programs, such as process optimization, equipment maintenance, and food‑safety protocols, through a single digital interface.

This builds upon the existing policy briefings already provided by ABA in ASB’s member communications.

This expanded presence will help ensure that baking professionals at every level are well informed, engaged, and aligned on the policy issues shaping the industry.

ASB CEO Kristen L. Spriggs said the investment positions the organization to accelerate efforts to close the industry’s technical training gap, calling the ABA’s financial commitment a meaningful step toward strengthening the future of their shared industry.

Eric Dell, President and CEO of the ABA, emphasized that the investment is a natural extension of the association’s mission to keep the industry competitive in a global market.

With over 330,000 professionals employed across more than 600 commercial plants nationwide, this half-million-dollar initiative is seen as a vital step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of the American baking sector.

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