On the MIWE company premises in Arnstein, there are many trees that provide sanctuary for a number of different bird species. But this Golden Delicious apple tree, which grows and thrives wonderfully at this time of year, is one that we are particularly pleased about.

Major events such as trade fairs and conferences are still not permitted to be held live in most countries of the world. MIWE already took a creative approach last year and held German-language online trade fairs as well as an English-language virtual event this year. Thanks to the positive responses, the decision was quickly made to offer a permanently open virtual showroom.

Our baking oven and refrigeration technology is used all over the world. Over the past year, this has presented us with challenges that probably no one could have imagined just two years ago. But fortunately we have been able to rely on our nine subsidiaries and more than 50 sales agencies worldwide.

Today is German Bread Day! We are delighted with the many fine initiatives celebrating our country's extremely diverse bread culture today.

Since 2003 and in 23 issues as well as various special editions, MIWE impulse has provided up-to-the-minute reports on hot (and cold) bakery topics, presenting the latest technologies, features and systems, but also taking up a wide variety of cultural and historical topics related to baking

With visitors from 74 countries, we successfully completed our first international MIWE online exhibition in 24 hours at the start of February. Visitors had the opportunity to discover products from the entire MIWE portfolio at 27 virtual exhibition stands.

After a total of four event blocks, our assessment of the MIWE expo has been very gratifying. An in-house exhibition can be successfully carried out even in compliance with all the Corona requirements. There are certainly enough companies that gratefully took advantage of the opportunity to personally obtain information directly from the manufacturer on site, to be inspired, and to exchange ideas with one another.

After four eventful days, with 10 hours of trade fair time each, 14 different specialist presentations and plenty of interesting discussions in the expert chat, the first MIWE online trade fair was a complete success. Despite the holiday period, the virtual trade fair presence was met with great interest, the presentations were well attended throughout the event and the dialogue was also certainly well received.

We are pleased to welcome Frédéric Zuczec to our sales team in France. After a few days at the MIWE live baking centre at MIWE's headquarters in Arnstein, where he had the opportunity to get to know the parent company, all the products and his German colleagues up close, he is now returning to France with his head brimming with great ideas. There, he will be able to use his extensive experience in the bakery/confectionery sector to help our French customers plan and implement their projects.

The one-year anniversary of MIWE Middle East, our ninth and youngest subsidiary, is a special cause for celebration today! MIWE Middle East FZE, which is based in the Dubai Silicon Oasis free trade zone, started its operations on 31 March 2019 and has since been serving not only the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but also the other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), i.e. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain, as well as sub-Saharan Africa and Pakistan.