Held from March 11-13 in Brisbane, this year’s Fine Food Queensland was a standout event that demonstrated the resilience and success of Queensland businesses across the food, beverage, catering and hospitality industries.

This year’s tradeshow featured the popular Bakery World, with the inclusion of the all-new Queensland Baking Show. Here, bakers demonstrated artisan bread-making, traditional cake decorating and making perfect pies and pasties, culminating in a baking competition over 20 categories.

Baking Associations of Australia (BAA) president Stewart Latter said 75 bakeries entered the competition and he was encouraged to see skills in the trade being passed on.

Rob Reeves from Reeves Hot Bread, Toowoomba, was the most successful trade exhibitor. His 680g white hi-top half-married was named the champion loaf of the show. Rob told Australian Baking Business that his bakery will benefit from the award.

“I was very excited by it. A lot of people are talking about it here. It’s going to be good for business,” the 63-year-old baker said.

The plain traditional beef pie and pastie award went to Creative Crust’s Elliot Paranihi-Doyle, while Horners of Sorrento’s Samuel Horner won the gourmet pie award. Beefy’s took home the plain meat pie and gourmet pies. The Queensland Baking Show Perpetual Trophy went to Bakers Delight Hope Island.

Meat pie and pastie judge Ron Taylor gave demonstrations on how to make cupcakes, quick and easy meringues, and the art of cake decorating. He said the BAA Queensland show was one of the best he had ever been involved with in his 15 years as a judge.

“It’s been very, very successful, a great response,” Ron said. “It’s really been excellent.”

New South Wales baker Matt McAllister demonstrated sourdoughs and artisan baking, while Bakels showed how to make macarons using their new mix.

In addition to the excitement generated by the baking competition, Bakery World featured a host of the latest equipment and ingredients available to bakers. Complete Display Equipment boasted an impressive stand while W&P Reedy showed off its big mixers and Unox provided demonstrations of its innovative oven range. Lindsay Pie Making Equipment’s pie demonstrations were well-received by the hungry masses, and Ready Bake’s new product offerings garnered well-deserved attention.

Fine Food Australia is taking place 10-13 September in Melbourne. Food Queensland will return to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 9-11 March, 2014.