Baking and snack food companies have long relied on association buyers’ guides and published directories to keep in touch with one another and with their suppliers — ultimately affecting how they do business. With the proliferation of Internet sites in recent years, information abounds but is more decentralized and difficult to track. Several key associations have banded together to help change that.

American Bakers Association (ABA), the American Society of Baking (ASB), BEMA and the Biscuit & Cracker Manufacturers’ Association (BCMA) pooled their resources to launch esource, a dynamic electronic directory and buyers’ guide for the grain-based foods industry, on April 1.

Driven by Sosland Publishing, Baking & Snack’s parent company, esource is a hub for all companies, products, services, trade groups and anyone who does business in the baking industry.

A key element that sets esource apart is that it was developed and is managed by groups that are part of the baking industry rather than a third-party provider that doesn’t have an understanding of the complexities of their operations.

Sosland Publishing is proud to be the driving force behind the new site, according to Paul Lattan, publisher, Baking & Snack. “For the first time, bakers have a well-designed, easy-to-use, single online source for everything they need or want to locate in the industry,” he said. “It will become their go-to site for finding information online.”

Sponsorship opportunities for esource will be tiered, with free listings of basic information. Click here to watch a demonstration video.