Milling & Baking News - May 17, 2011 - 7

Strength of family ties leads to Baker of the Year
eeking to identify aspects of grain-based that has not prevailed in every family business, foods that make this industry unique including many with stormy records. Taking care prompts the conclusion that hardly anything of customers holds the second priority, while third defines this business better than the role of fami- place is assigned to a passion for baking, which lies in how the industry evolved and has pros- in this case means quality of product and efficient pered. Yes, companies that once were the pride of operations. family owners have become publicly-owned enYet, family ties have an overriding role, as terprises where founding families are remembered evidenced by this statement made by one of the only when histories are written. But there are also brothers in an interview: “The three of us have large companies ranking at or near the top of bak- been working together for the last 49 years. Our ing, flour milling and grain that are family-owned children grew up in this environment. For many and also family-directed businesses. Grain-based years, we lived near one another and our children foods may well have more family companies than grew up as brothers and sisters. They have those any major industry. values. They still see one another that way.” Most telling are people singled out for As impressive as this family dedication may inclusion in the American Society of Baking’s be, the Turanos were chosen Baker of the Year Hall of Fame. Of the first because of the way they have Grain-based foods may well inductees in 2006, half were managed their business. This have more family companies from enterprises identified as record has incredible parts, than any major industry. family businesses. That ratio such as recovering from has been well maintained the withdrawal of a major through succeeding years, highlighted by three of customer for whom a totally new baking plant had the four inductees in 2011 being from families that been built, creating a new business in frozen parhave had multiple generations in baking. In the baked Italian style bread and rolls, entering and case of flour milling, five of the top ten companies making a success of the sliced white bread business are considered family enterprises. Declaring the in a highly competitive region and embracing the prominence of family ownership in the grain latest baking technology. From a strategic point of business needs no explanation. view, the ability of the Turanos to rebound from Just how very important family can be to success events that might be severely damaging stands in this industry is underscored by the amazing out. This is best illustrated by not just the recovery, story of the Turano Baking Co., selected as the but the lesson learned from that early debacle 2011 Baker of the Year by this magazine and its of losing the large customer. The Turanos now sister publication, Baking & Snack. Three brothers, manage so that no single customer accounts for Renato (Ron), Giancarlo and Umberto (Tony), are more than 10 per cent of the business. Thus, it has the current family leaders, following their late been decided, “When you add one large customer, father, Mariano, who had immigrated into the you need to add several others.” United States from Italy in the early 1950s. Now, This may sound simple but that is not so when the three brothers’ offspring are in the company all its implications are faced. It is this approach and will soon take the lead. that has led the family to build on family pride and Family unity, which in the case of the Turanos product quality. While surely tough competitors, means respect and love for one another, ranks the Turanos also symbolize what makes baking first in the priorities that guide the business. the great business it has been and will be for future This is no small commitment. It is an attitude generations of their family and for all baking. MBN MORTON SOSLAND, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Editor-in-chief Morton I. Sosland Executive editor, markets Neil N. Sosland Editor L. Joshua Sosland Senior editor, markets Jay S. Sjerven Managing editor Eric J. Schroeder Associate editor Jeff Gelski Assistant editor Ron Sterk Internet editor Allison Gibeson Graphic designer, market graphics, data Christina Sullivan

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Milling &bakingbusiness.com /May 17, 2011 / 7 Baking News  world-grain.com

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Milling & Baking News - May 17, 2011

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