Suppliers to the baking industry can get a jumpstart on logistics and marketing strategies for the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) 2013 by attending a planning meeting in Las Vegas next month.

The IBIE 2013 Exhibitor Meeting is open to representatives of any company that already selected and confirmed their exhibit space or is considering exhibiting at Baking Expo 2013, which will be held Oct. 6-9. The exhibitor meeting will take place 7:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Feb. 12, at the home of IBIE 2013, the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The face-to-face meeting offers an opportunity to review the new Online Exhibitors Service Manual and to meet key people who will be helping exhibitors facilitate their orders. Attendees also can physically walk the exhibit hall and loading dock areas.

“We can’t stress strongly enough how important we feel it is for your company to be represented at this meeting,” said Kerwin Brown, president and CEO of BEMA, which is co-sponsoring the triennial show along with the American Bakers Association and the Retail Bakers of America.

In addition, exhibitors will receive details on marketing opportunities and the online exhibitor company and product search function. “Both of these will extend the life of your participation well beyond the four days of the show,” Mr. Brown said. “So it’s important to have your marketing personnel as well as the show logistics staff attend.”