The Food For Thought podcast will be taking this week off, but don't worry, we will be back "on the air" next Wednesday, Dec. 4, with all the great insights and conversation you've come to expect! Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and here's to the best food holiday of the year!Oleh Food Processing

Circana’s vice president of Thought Leadership, Joan Driggs, joins the Food For Thought podcast to discuss the trends driving Thanksgiving shopping for food and beverage products this year. Shoppers are not wavering on the products they want on this American food-fest of a holiday, and retailers and processors, fortunately, are stepping up to offer…

The term “recycling” has been around for decades, but how much progress have food and beverage companies made? And how have consumers been supported in their efforts to recycle? John Hewitt, senior vice president of packaging and sustainability on behalf of the Consumer Brands Association, talks about where industry stands, and then offers a learni…

As consumers seek healthier options in their food choices, fermented foods have seen a resurgence in popularity, and Fermented Food Holdings, or FFH, hopes to take advantage of the rising demand. The company recently promoted Jorge Azevedo from chief operating officer to be its first CEO, and he joins the Food For Thought podcast to discuss the com…

Food and beverage plants are constantly chasing improved productivity and efficiency, and Bill Remy, CEO for TBM Consulting, joins the Food For Thought podcast to discuss strategies to help them reach those goals. Remy also reminds processors of the importance of getting skilled workers on board to maintain the equipment at a high level, despite th…

This episode is brought to you by Robroy Industries. For food and beverage processors, designing facilities, equipment and components requires a sharp focus on mitigating safety risks to product and the workforce. Taken singularly, the bar has been raised for most of these standards. Yet, as Steve Voelzke, president of the Electrical Division at Ro…

The popularity of private-label food and beverage products continues to grow, and it’s being driven by a variety of factors from inflation over the years to continued price pressure to the influence of the Gen Z shopper. Nichole Jones, principal in EY-Parthenon’s retail strategy practice, and Don Johnson, principal in the consumer products and reta…

This episode is brought to you by Regal Rexnord. Food and beverage processors aim every day to deliver increased sustainable productivity to get products out the door quicker. However, that goal often can be impeded by routine or unexpected conveyor line maintenance. Barry Voshell, strategic account manager for Regal Rexnord, joins us in this episo…

When it comes to cultivated meat, the food industry remains in a holding pattern around what the future might hold for this segment of the meat industry. Some folks see cultivated meat as an uncertainty — and maybe even a threat to the traditional meat industry. Others, however, believe cultivated meat should have a seat at the table regarding how …

This episode is sponsored by Marel. In many segments of the food industry, in particular meat, poultry and seafood, manufacturing products requires multiple processing steps to get from live animal to a food portion. Automation and robotics can help processors where speed and efficiency are needed to create uniform, consistent products and package …

Shawn Gilronan is a partner with CohnReznick and the leader of the company’s digital advisory practice. He joins us today to offer insights as to how food and beverage processors can start in on their own digital transformation journey, as well as how the latest wave of innovation has impacted the data revolution. Additionally, Gilronan gives his t…

Today’s episode is brought to you by Ingredion and is the third in a three-part series. Episode 1 aired on Aug. 14, and Episode 2 aired on Aug. 28, on this channel. This episode is part 3 of a three-part series, in which we’ve been speaking with experts about beverage trends and ready-to-mix proteins. In this episode, we will dig into the trends dr…

In this episode, Karina Zimerfeld, global vice president of R&D for Mars Food & Nutrition, discusses how her company is aiming to help at-home cooks address the three primary demands they have when it comes to meal planning and preparation. Zimerfeld also talks about the technologies that have opened the door for companies to more easily address co…

Today’s episode is brought to you by Ingredion and is the second in a three-part series. Episode 1 aired on Aug. 14, and Episode 3 will air on Sept. 11, 2024, on this channel. In this episode, we will dig into the formulation, development and regulatory side of creating ready-to-mix protein products that help consumers meet their health and wellnes…

Earlier this month, we talked ice cream trends — in today’s episode, we’re actually moving backward on the backyard barbecue timeline and discussing cheeseburger trends with Mike Bierbach, marketing director, Meals Cheese Business for Sargento. To kick off the summer grilling season, the Plymouth, Wisconsin-based cheese processor decided to survey …

Today’s episode is brought to you by Ingredion and is the first in a three-part series. Episodes 2 and 3 will air on Aug. 28 and Sept. 11, 2024, on this channel. Ready-to-mix protein products are sought after by consumers to meet their needs for a wide range of lifestyles, but those consumers seek added benefits beyond the protein packed into those…

Summer is winding down, and even though ice cream is associated with summer, that doesn’t mean the frozen treat is overlooked any other time of the year. According to data from 84.51°, however, it seems that retail sales for ice cream products this year have been a bit sluggish. Bridget Allerton is a director of insights consulting for the retail d…

Johanna Velez, vice president of quality assurance for Monin Americas, sits down with us to discuss how technology has impacted quality assurance and quality control for food and beverage processors in recent years. In addition, Velez explains how corporate culture initiatives must involve the QA and QC teams, what success looks like in that arena,…

Today's episode is sponsored by Horizon Systems. Food and beverage processors are constantly on the lookout for a competitive edge that will help their products stand out amongst the crowd. Often, those companies look to new varieties, flavors and functionalities for their products, swapping out ingredients or introducing new formulations devised b…

How important is employee wellness to your company? Maybe you have support from above to take care of your team members’ physical health, or maybe their mental and emotional needs. What about their digital wellness? Bethany Baker, Wellness Director for Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company, joins the Food For Thought podcast to talk about how the b…

Zane Adams is co-founder and executive vice president of strategy and development for FedUp Foods, one of the biggest private-label manufacturers of functional beverages in North America. Adams joins the Food For Thought podcast to discuss what is driving the private-label business today — and how economic conditions should continue to drive it in …

The Food For Thought podcast checks in with Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive vice president and chief advisor in consumer goods and foodservice insights for Circana, for a mid-year update on how the food and beverage industry has fared through the first half of the year. In this episode, Lyons Wyatt shares insights on inflation and how consumers…

Sarah Gallo, vice president of Product Policy at the Consumer Brands Association, discusses the increasing activity around state legislatures attempting to flex their muscle and ban or restrict food additives in recent years. Gallo shares her thoughts on how processors can navigate their way through the highly charged political atmosphere while def…

Food safety remains one of the issues that keeps food and beverage processors up at night, and many experts in the field will suggest that, by building a strong food safety culture, processors can drive successful implementation and execution of their food safety strategies across all operations. Sharon Beals, current owner of SKKB LLC and former f…

In this bonus audio, Food Processing senior editor Andy Hanacek asks what has various federal agencies particularly concerned about the most recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during a Town Hall panel at the Food Safety Summit in Rosemont, Ill. To read the news article summarizing the Town Hall takeaways, visit www.foodproc…

Food Processing editor-in-chief Dave Fusaro stops by the studios to discuss his trip to Natural Products Expo West. Fusaro is a veteran attendee of the show, and he’ll recount the sights — and tastes — that caught his eye while in Anaheim this spring. From mushroom-based products to tinned fish, Fusaro discusses a variety of products exhibitors had…

Today’s episode is sponsored by Loadsmart In this episode, George Swartz, vice president of sales for Loadsmart’s Transportation Solutions Group, talks about the logistics challenges that food and beverage processors face currently, as well as the trends leading operations into the future. Swartz also offers his viewpoints on how the industry can m…

In this episode of the Food For Thought podcast, Andy Hanacek, senior editor of Food Processing, joins the editors of several brands in the Endeavor Business Media family, of which Food Processing is a member, to discuss what the outcome of the upcoming presidential election could mean for the various segments of the manufacturing industry they cov…

Having recently retired from her role as chief strategy and brand officer for Bon Appetit Management Co., Maisie Ganzler still has a special place in her heart for helping the food and beverage industry reach its sustainability potential. Ganzler remains a strategic advisor for Bon Appetit, but she also has published a book titled, “You Can’t Marke…

Amanda Buonopane, senior manager of strategic insights for Rich Products, says social gatherings are in flux, and Rich’s sees consumer preferences shifting accordingly. In this episode of the podcast, Buonopane shares the research Rich’s has gathered around the eating occasions that come with social gatherings today, and also shares some of the ana…

Brett Erickson, director of Prepared and Packaged Solutions for Certified Angus Beef, discusses how value-added product trends are driving changes for consumers, foodservice operators and processors — and how innovation is helping to push the envelope further. Additionally, Erickson offers his insights into how CAB and the industry can adjust to co…

Eric Mittenthal, chief strategy officer for the North American Meat Institute, joined me during last month’s International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta. We discussed the Institute’s Protein PACT initiative, its success thus far and goals moving forward, as well as what any segment of the food industry can learn from how Protein PA…

Food Processing attended the International Production & Processing Expo, or IPPE, in Atlanta, and participated in a news conference with Alexis Taylor, under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs at USDA. With the small group of journalists in attendance, under secretary Taylor offered her thoughts on the export markets currently, an…

Cindy Wu, vice president of marketing for Sukhi’s Gourmet Indian Food, joins us for this episode of the Food For Thought podcast. In today’s episode, she and Andy Hanacek discuss the growth in popularity of Indian cuisine and how Sukhi’s is doing its part to help build growth in those flavors and styles in the U.S. In addition, Wu offers her insigh…

Trisha McRoberts, corporate vice president and chief procurement officer for Golden State Foods, joins us for this episode of the Food For Thought podcast to share her insights on sustainable sourcing and packaging. Where does the industry stand after years of innovation and advancement, what is holding North American consumers and companies back, …

In our latest cover story, we profiled the rise of JBS USA from its creation in 2007 through parent company JBS S.A.'s acquisition of Swift & Co., to today's successes, leading to the company being named Food Processing's 2023 Processor of the Year. Senior editor Andy Hanacek dictates the story, which was written for our November/December 2023 prin…

In this episode, Andy Hanacek, senior editor of Food Processing, reads his cover story feature from the October 2023 issue, detailing the successful sustainability initiatives of Hormel Foods' Fontanini Foods plant in McCook, Ill., in case you missed it or would rather listen to it. Article Written By: Andy Hanacek Read By: Andy Hanacek Read the ar…

This episode is the second in a two-part series sponsored by RSM. Listen to Part 1 here. When it comes to innovative technology, today is a great time be in the food and beverage processing industry, as it wrestles with the future: a future driven by automation, the digital and data revolution, artificial intelligence and augmented reality. In toda…

It has been nearly 20 years since the Enivronmental Protection Agency (EPA) has updated the effluent limitation guidelines for meat and poultry processing plants, and the agency is now quietly taking steps to make a proposal on new standards. Chris Young, executive director for the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP), joins the Food For …

This episode is the first in a two-part series sponsored by RSM. Listen to Part 2 here. Creating resiliency throughout a food and beverage business has been a target of many companies in the industry, and technology today can help them attain their goals in many instances. In today’s Food For Thought episode, which is the first of a two-part series…

Stephanie Powell, director of marketing for Alpha Baking Co., discusses the results of a survey Alpha Baking commissioned to determine how consumers construct sandwiches using their Thanksgiving leftovers. From their choice of bread type and whether they use turkey or ham, to pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes — plus a few non-leftover "must haves" — …

This episode is sponsored by IDS Imaging Development Systems. Artificial intelligence is here, and food and beverage processors, as well as manufacturing at large, would be best served to take notice and get moving, or they might miss out on the benefits that AI and machine learning can bring. Philip Freidin, an applications engineer at IDS Imaging…

As the 2023 calendar year winds down, the protein industry sits in an interesting position. Each segment of the industry — whether conventional animal protein, plant-based, alternative and cultivated animal products — stands at a different point in its evolution, and the short-term future is certainly intriguing for all. We sat down with Nicole Joh…

When Tyson Foods announced a partnership with insect ingredients company Protix in mid-October, it made significant headlines and raised a positively curious eyebrow or two, at least among consumers. And although Tyson’s initial plan focuses on insect protein as a feed and pet food ingredient, we wanted to discuss the idea of insects as a food sour…

To be successful in the food and beverage processing world, processors must keep up with the ever-increasing pace of innovation in operations. Plant and equipment design standards are always on the move, and we spoke with Paul Krechel, vice president of Sales, Service and Parts for Deville Technologies to get his take on how collaboration between p…

Geoff Coltman is a vice president at Catena Solutions, a supply chain-focused consultancy with deep ties to the food and beverage space. In today's episode of the Food For Thought podcast, Geoff gives his insights on the recently announced acquisition of Hostess Brands by J. M. Smucker, analyzing what it means for each company, its customers and th…

The unsung heroes of a processing plant’s operation, drives and motors keep operations running effectively and efficiently — and often aren’t noticed unless they’re not performing up to standards for throughput, efficiency and food safety. Tony Pariseau, key market specialist for food and beverage at Nord Drivesystems, joined us recently to share w…

Kristin Demoranville is the founder and CEO of AnzenSage, a cybersecurity firm focused on the food sector. In this episode of the Food For Thought podcast, Kristin offers her thoughts on where the food and beverage industry stands on cybersecurity and what processors should be doing to bolster their defenses and champion the cause within their orga…

Today's episode is sponsored by Motion. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has taken hold of much of the manufacturing world, and food and beverage processors who haven’t yet implemented the technology will soon fall behind. In this episode, we spoke with James Howe, executive vice president - chief commercial officer/chief technology officer…

Sandra Eskin, deputy under secretary for Food Safety with USDA-FSIS, joins us to discuss a variety of topics, from worker and food safety impacts of increased poultry and pork line speeds to the data revolution and how it could affect the agency's efforts, as well as FSIS' proposal to declare Salmonella an adulterant in breaded, stuffed, raw chicke…