Baker Perkins Inc. is preparing for growth in its established and emerging markets by strengthening its sales and marketing organization.
The company, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan serves the baked products, confectionery, extrusion and cereal sectors of the food industry, and also provides twin-screw extruders for industrial applications.
Mark Beaver, appointed director of sales and business development, says “Baker Perkins recognizes expansion opportunities in all these areas. This re-structuring will take full advantage of ongoing investment in facilities, product development and people. It will give customers a clear focus on the company’s unique products and technologies.
“All the people appointed have been with Baker Perkins for many years, and have hands-on experience of the company’s expertise, and of working with our customers. They are backed by service technicians with wide experience, and by an extensive equipment range in the Grand Rapids Innovation Center where customers can develop new products and processes.”
Mark Beaver has wide managerial experience with Baker Perkins and other companies in the UK and USA. His role is to expand and develop the company’s products and services.
Baked Products and Extrusion
Katie Winkle is appointed to the new position of product manager, and Mark Glover senior account manager, for the baked products and extrusion sectors. In her new role Katie is responsible for managing and developing the sales and sales support functions and supporting the Baker Perkins development teams in the UK and USA. Karen Brooks is sales support co-ordinator.
Baker Perkins’ service to the baked product sectors includes cookies and crackers, bread, pet treats and frozen dough. Extrusion covers a range of applications, from snacks and ingredients to TVP and biodegradable packaging.
Technologies – from unit machines to complete systems – are backed by a century of process know-how. Development is continuous: a patent has recently been granted for the servo driven mechanism of the new TruClean™ wirecut, and further patents are in the pipeline.
Confectionery and Cereal
Colin McCallion is appointed to the new position of product manager for confectionery and cereal. Tammy Christian was also recently promoted to account manager to support this growing sector. Aaron Rietema provides technical sales support.
Baker Perkins is world leader in starch-free confectionery cooking and depositing systems – increasingly recognized as the most hygienic, accurate, efficient and versatile method of making high-quality confectionery. There is rapid growth in products which cannot be made by any other method, including functional and medicated confectionery, and in specialities such as 3-dimensional products.
In the cereal industry a focus is on Baker Perkins’ ability to supply production and process expertise for the growing market in cereal clusters and granola bars. Systems for ready-to-eat cereals are based on either extrusion or rotary cereal cookers.
Industrial Extrusion
Randy Kincer continues as product manager for industrial extrusion. Baker Perkins’ twin-screw extrusion machines and systems are purpose-designed for applications such as powder coating and pharmaceuticals. Sales and commercial support is provided by Kristen Stacey.
Lifetime Support
All teams are supported for aftermarket and die services by our aftermarket and die account managers Wade Madsen and Tim Reminga, who provide service for existing equipment including parts, rebuilds, refurbishments and dies.
