südback Trend Award 2024

The winner in the "Marketing, Sales and Organization" category is BÄKO Head Office (BÄKO-ZENTRALE eG) with "BÄKO-AutoPOS - with AI-controlled tool for cashless, autonomous branch management". BÄKO-AutoPOS is an AI-based software solution that actively supports the shopping process of bakery branch customers, enabling them to shop freely and independently without the need for staff or cashiers.

"BÄKO-AutoPOS creates a cashless shopping experience without having to stand in queues at a till. This means that there is more time for personal advice. The automated processes also increase efficiency in branch operations while the digital payment prevents cash differences," said Stefan Strehle, CEO of the BÄKO Head Office (BÄKO-ZENTRALE eG) in Duisburg. "Here at BÄKO, we regard the award as a very important and relevant benchmark for innovative capacity that was attained here in particular through our strategic alliance with AUTONOMO Technologies and KORTE Ladenbau," said Strehle.

UNIFERM GmbH & Co. KG won in the "Raw Materials" category with its new "UNIFERM FermFresh® AromaDurum". This liquid fermentation product is based on durum wheat and uses a unique UNIFERM process - the original DuoFermentation. This process combines the advantages of sourdough fermentation and yeast fermentation in one product. The result is an incomparable aroma cuvée that considerably expands the variety of aromas and flavors.

"Fermentation is a viable and innovative concept," emphasised Elke Preissler, Head of Corporate and Marketing Communication at UNIFERM. "We are fortunate to have already won the südback Trend Award in 2017. We are therefore all the more delighted that we once again managed to impress the jury with our further development, i.e. duo fermentation, thanks to continuous research and development activities."