Eric Dell, Paul Ziemnisky, Kat Shanahan
NOV 3, 2026 | Executive Aisle
What's next for the bakery industry as consumer expectations shift, economic pressures persist, and food policy continues to evolve?
In this Executive Aisle episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, host Kat Shanahan welcomes Eric Dell, President and CEO of the American Bakers Association (ABA), and IDDBA President and CEO Paul Ziemnisky for a conversation about the forces shaping commercial baking and the broader fresh food industry.
Eric and Paul explore the impact of tariffs, ingredient regulations, GLP-1 medications, and changing shopping habits. They also discuss how smaller portions, packaging innovation, and emerging technologies are creating new opportunities for manufacturers and retailers.
Looking ahead, the conversation examines how greater collaboration across bakery, dairy, and deli can help businesses translate industry insights into actionable strategies for growth.
American Bakers Association
President and CEO
President and CEO
VP of Marketing & Membership
Meet IDDBA President and CEO Paul Ziemnisky as he joins Kat Shanahan to discuss his career, leadership philosophy, and vision for the association.
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In this Executive Aisle episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, Kat Shanahan turns the table and asks David Haaf the questions. The president and CEO of IDDBA shares highlights from IDDBA’s brand refresh and what discusses what it signals for the organization’s next chapter.
David explains the industry shifts driving the need for clarity and support, including consolidation, evolving expectations around on-demand information, and the importance of welcoming the next generation of leaders (sometimes even people new to the dairy, deli, and bakery world). He walks through how IDDBA’s mission and vision remain steady, while the refreshed brand helps communicate who IDDBA is, how it serves members, and where IDDBA is headed.
In this episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, host Kat Shanahan welcomes Abby Despins, IDDBA Vice President of Education and Industry Relations, to explore the latest trends shaping dairy, deli, and bakery.