TINLEY PARK, ILL. — John Lupo, a certified master baker and owner of Grandma’s Bakery in White Bear Lake, Minn., has been named president of the Retail Bakers of America (R.B.A.). He succeeds Beth Fahey, who becomes immediate past president.
Mr. Lupo was instrumental in the development of the first-ever National Bakery Day, which took place at independent retail bakeries throughout the country last September. The idea was inspired by the enormous success of Record Store Day, a widely-recognized event that celebrates local independent record stores.
Retail bakeries, Mr. Lupo said, “play such an important part of the fabric of their community.”
He first opened his bakery in 1978 in White Bear Lake, a remote suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul, where he has managed a bakery business that since has grown to two retail locations with a thriving wholesale operation and more than 100 employees.
Mr. Lupo most recently was vice-president of the R.B.A.
The R.B.A. was founded in 1918. It is a not-for-profit trade association committed to the success of the retail baking industry. The R.B.A. works to connect buyers and sellers; provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among industry professionals; create opportunities to network, learn, and mentor; develop training and small business programs; and, create industry standards through professional certification, industry research, and school programs.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the R.B.A. The organization is celebrating its centennial throughout the year with new and improved roadshows, new certification designations, a huge celebration later in the year, and National Bakery Day 2018 on Sept. 14.
