KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, U.S. — The American Society of Baking (ASB) will induct eight industry leaders into the Baking Hall of Fame on March 1, 2015, during a special ceremony at BakingTech 2015, to be held in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

They and their affiliated organizations are:

• George Deese, Flowers Foods

• Don Dubois, American Institute of Baking

• Kermit (Kit) and Pete Murphy, Mother Murphy’s Laboratories

• Gary Prince, Bimbo Bakeries USA

• Jonathan, Bret and Ross Warburton, Warburtons Ltd.

“This year’s list of nominees was an impressive one, giving the selection committee much to consider in selecting our finalists,” said John Del Campo, chair of the ASB Baking Hall of Fame Evaluation Committee and owner of Brandywine Ingredient Technology, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. “All were extraordinary candidates.”

• George Deese, executive chairman of the board, Flowers Foods, Thomasville, Georgia, U.S., has given his company and the baking industry more than five decades of service. He presided over the exceptional growth of Flowers Foods from a regional baking company to one that now reaches three-quarters of the U.S. population. Since taking the helm, he supported steady investment in plant and people and enabled the company to double annual sales of $1.5 billion in 2004 to $3 billion now.

• Don Dubois (deceased), most recently an instructor at the American Institute of Baking (AIB), Manhattan, Kansas, U.S., touched many lives in the baking industry during the more than 60 years he worked in the allied trades and later as a teacher and researcher. Dubois wrote nearly 100 technical reports and bulletins. He traveled extensively to assist bakers worldwide and was particularly valuable in assisting the birth and growth of American-style baking in China. He was a 50-year member of the ASB.

• Kermit (Kit) and Pete Murphy (both deceased), founders of Mother Murphy’s Laboratory, Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S., got into the flavor business in the 1940s, creating a lasting organization well known for its specialized bakery ingredients. They were heavily involved in industry organizations, enabling allied tradesmen to fully participate in many groups and setting up an AIB scholarship. They received several awards for their service. Kermit Murphy was a 50-year member of the ASB.

• Gary Prince, executive vice-president of Grupo Bimbo, Mexico City, in his previous role as president of Bimbo Bakeries USA, Horsham, Pennsylvania, U.S., presided over the rapid evolution of a regional baking business with $300 million in sales into a national power commanding $6 billion in sales and the top position among North American baking companies. He understood and insisted on the need to renew the industry with much needed capital investment, building new bakeries and installing new lines at the fastest rate ever seen in the industry, all with a long-term focus.

• Jonathan, Bret and Ross Warburton, chairman and executive directors, respectively, Warburtons Ltd., Bolton, U.K., took their family business founded in 1870 into realms that the first four generations could never have imagined. Assuming leadership in 1991, the cousins accelerated expansion and growth in Europe’s most difficult and competitive bread markets. The three bakeries built between 2005 and 2011, the most recent of six such projects, use state-of-the-art technology and are the most advanced — and largest — bakeries in Europe.

“These individuals all showed magnificent leadership and represent the best qualities of compassion, forward thinking and personal judgment,” Del Campo said. “Speaking for all members of the evaluation committee, it is an honor for us to look at their accomplishments. They inspire our future by their examples.”

Since its launch in 2006, the Baking Hall of Fame has enshrined 58 individuals. They come from all walks of life in the baking industry — from bakeries, equipment vendors, ingredient suppliers, schools, service organizations and publishers. Their accomplishments can be read at www.asbe.org/about-us/baking-hall-fame-inductees.

The Baking Hall of Fame accepts nominations throughout the year and names its inductees in the fall. To start a nomination for future honors, visit www.asbe.org/about-us/the-baking-hall-of-fame.