The Australian Society of Baking’s (ASB) conference on the Gold Coast, to be held 4-5 May, has moved due to an international rugby league reschedule.

“Due to the unfortunate earthquakes in Christchurch, the Four Nations rugby league match scheduled for May has been relocated to the Gold Coast, which coincides with the ASB conference,” ASB chairman, Lindsay Weber said.

“As a consequence the hotel group has offered a proposal to relocate the conference from the Holiday Inn at Surfers Paradise to the Crown Plaza at Broadbeach.

“We apologise for any inconvenience that the change in venue will cause to anyone who has already booked or anyone intending to book for the conference.”

ASB board member, Janet Blythman said the conference will be an excellent opportunity to network and catch up with the latest trends and happenings within the local and international baking industry.

“If you read the conference topics, we actually have a really good cross-section (of topics). We are covering OH&S, we are covering trends, the history of Clancy Pie’s (and) the Ferrari campaign (by Frutex’s Andrew Collins),” Mrs Blythman told Baking Business.

The ASB meeting will have two renowned international speakers, with US-based Rich’s senior vice president, Dennis Lanning and Dawn Foods and former ASB chairman, Ashley Gurney, to discuss new product trends.

The ASB conference will include a cocktail night, an industry tour and a golf day.

Goldstein’s Bakery’s Joshua Goldstein said bakers were welcome to visit his production facility, see its equipment and its full range of pies, cakes and biscuits during the tour.

“I think you can get different points of view, see what you are doing right and vice versa,” he said.

Mr Goldstein said the baking industry needs to work together and “think of better ways to have a united front”.

Bakers that haven’t already booked should give it serious consideration, Mr Weber said.

“The committee has arranged a sensational technical program with two overseas speakers. Coupled with the cocktail party featuring a retired baker who is a respected bush poet and your choice of an industry tour or a game of golf at the world-class Royal Pines course on the following day, it promises to be an informative and entertaining conference,” he said.

“As well, you will be contributing to the rebuilding of the Queensland economy. Perhaps you could take that well-earned break and stay for the weekend.”