IDDBA News

• On the closing event of the IDDBA’s Dairy-Deli-Bake in New Orleans last month, one industry professional went to the head of the class: Steve Beekhuizen, president of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association, awarded the 2012 IDDBA President’s Award to Mike Beltrame, president of Beltrame Leffler Advertising in Indianapolis.

“The IDDBA President’s Award is given to an individual who has made an extraordinary commitment to serving a cause, an organization, an industry or a country. Mike Beltrame holds the distinction of outstanding service and dedication,” Beekhuizen said. “He has been an integral part of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association since 1981.” Beltrame co-founded the firm in 1999 with partner Karl Leffler, and IDDBA was the agency’s first client.

• IDDBA also capped its annual meeting with the release of new original research that explores the “consumer decision tree.” The research, conducted by Dataessential, sought to determine to “buying triggers” for dairy, deli and bakery consumers that combine to create a decision tree. Among those triggers: variety, better information, speed of service, and pre-slicing. IDDBA is releasing the full report this summer.