The Leading Source for Food Manufacturing News
Group Files Suit over Cold Beer Sales Law in Ind.
May 16, 2013 9:44 am | by TOM COYNE,Associated Press | News | CommentsIndiana convenience stores and gas stations seeking the right to sell cold beer to customers filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday aimed at lifting a ban on the practice. The Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association argued Indiana's law is arbitrary and discriminates against grocery and convenience stores.
Poland’s Kosher and Halal Industry in Limbo
May 16, 2013 9:42 am | by VANESSA GERA,Associated Press | News | CommentsIn a victory for a growing animal rights movement, activists succeeded in getting a ban on religious slaughter. But with economic decline deepening and exports seen as a possible salvation, the government faces pressure to get the practice reinstated legally — and is scrambling to do so.
SD Beef Plant Courts Laid-Off Workers
May 16, 2013 9:40 am | News | CommentsA beef processing plant in the South Dakota city of Yankton is recruiting dozens of workers laid off from their jobs at the Northern Beef Packers plant. Representatives from the Cimpl's beef plant in Yankton conducted job interviews in Aberdeen on Tuesday and had more scheduled Wednesday, the American News reported.
Chef Plans To Feast on Cicadas During Invasion
May 16, 2013 9:38 am | News | CommentsConnecticut chef Bun Lai is already known for his Mexican grasshopper dish and his fried rice with meal worms and crickets. But he might soon also be recognized as the cicada chef. Lai, owner of Miya's Sushi, tells the New Haven Register that he plans to fill a big freezer full of Brood II cicadas, once the red-eyed bugs' 17-year life cycle brings them above ground for about five weeks.
Photo of the Day: Bosnia Looks To Expand Halal Industry
May 16, 2013 9:34 am | News | CommentsIn this photo taken Monday May 13, 2013, Bosnian workers package chicken in the "Ovako" chicken factory that produces halal food products, near Bosnian town of Visoko, 35 kms north of Sarajevo. Bosnia is working hard to position itself as an exporter of halal products. The country opened its first halal fair Wednesday May 15 in Sarajevo, welcoming representatives of the Islamic world to take a look at Bosnian products.
Labor Productivity & Global Competiveness
May 16, 2013 9:22 am | by Simon Macpherson, Senior Director Operations, Kronos EMEA | Articles | CommentsWith tremendous price competition from developing countries and a world where products can be replicated across the globe and transported with ease, manufactures need to look at every aspect of their operations for competitive advantage and productivity improvements.
Food Safety at OSU
May 16, 2013 9:22 am | by OSU Extension | Videos | CommentsFaculty from the Ohio State University (OSU) Extension introduce the Food Safety program at OSU Extension and explain how it can help train students to become food safety professionals who secure the safety and quality of the U.S. food supply.
Automatic Power Factor Correction Bank
May 16, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsThe lower kVAR cost efficient StacoVAR® mini is a wall-mountable automatic power factor correction bank that maintains the desired power factor level through a microprocessor-based controller which adjusts to system load conditions.
Ultrasonic Meter
May 16, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsCompany is expanding its E-Series Ultrasonic Meter offering with the addition of the Cold Water Engineered Polymer Meter available in two initial sizes: 5/8" x 3/4" and 3/4".
Twin Screw Pumps
May 16, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsCompany introduces its S Series line of twin screw pumps. These pumps are ATEX-certified for use in explosive or dangerous environments.
Daily Sound Bite: Hellmann's Celebrates a Century
May 15, 2013 12:43 pm | News | CommentsTo celebrate Hellmann's centennial birthday, owner Unilever is launching a marketing campaign to drum up attention for the country's top-selling mayonnaise, whose formula remains almost the same as it was a century ago. Media spending is undisclosed, but it's the largest ever campaign for the brand.
ND Pasta Plant To Restart Production
May 15, 2013 12:39 pm | News | CommentsThe former Noodles by Leonardo plant in Cando will start producing pasta again next week after six months of closed doors. The facility is now owned by Cando Pasta LLC, a partnership of local businessmen Jim and Bruce Gibbens and two other investors. The plant should have as many as 20 employees later this month and as many as 40 by next year.
U.S. Wholesale Prices Fall Most in 3 Years
May 15, 2013 12:36 pm | by CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER,AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsSharp drops in fuel and food costs reduced a measure of U.S. wholesale prices in April by the most in three years. Outside those volatile categories, inflation stayed tame. The producer price index, which measures price changes before they reach the consumer, fell a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent in April from March, the Labor Department said Wednesday. It was the second straight monthly decline and the steepest since February 2010.
Pinnacle Foods’ 1Q Net Jumps on Lower Costs
May 15, 2013 12:35 pm | News | CommentsPinnacle Foods Inc., which went public in March, said Wednesday that its first-quarter net income more than doubled. The company paid less interest as its debt decreased and curbed some costs, offsetting a dip in sales. The maker of Birds Eye frozen foods, Duncan Hines frosting and cake mixes and Vlasic pickles earned $24.8 million, or 29 cents per share, up from $9.5 million, or 11 cents per share, in the same quarter of 2012.
Bellisio Foods Buys Overhill Farms for $80M
May 15, 2013 12:33 pm | News | CommentsFrozen foods supplier Overhill Farms has agreed to be purchased for approximately $80 million by Bellisio Foods, allowing the company to expand its position in the frozen entree and snack markets. Overhill announced in August that it was considering strategic options. Often this includes a potential sale of a company.
House Panel Set To Approve Food Stamp Cuts
May 15, 2013 12:32 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | News | CommentsThe House Agriculture Committee is considering a five-year farm bill that would make small cuts to the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program. The cuts are part of massive legislation that costs almost $100 billion annually and would set policy for farm subsidies, rural programs and the food aid. The House panel started work on the legislation Wednesday, one day after the Senate Agriculture Committee approved its version.
Consumer Trends: A Cheesy Wedding Tradition
May 15, 2013 12:00 pm | News | CommentsMove over cupcakes and cake-pops, this season's tastiest wedding trend has officially arrived, wedding cheese cakes. Elegant wheels of cheese stack up to create a savory spin on the classic wedding cake and offer couples a tasty way to personalize their special day.
The Hidden Cost of Summer Heat
May 15, 2013 11:37 am | by Megan Browning, Big Ass Fans | Articles | CommentsUncomfortable working conditions lead to heat-related illnesses and decreased productivity, which negatively affect the bottom line of the business. When working conditions become distracting and debilitating to workers, personal comfort must be addressed to regain lost productivity.
Monster Shares Gain Some Traction
May 15, 2013 9:41 am | News | CommentsMonster Beverage shares are gaining some traction less than a week after the energy drink maker reported disappointing first-quarter results and a slowdown in sales. Last Wednesday, Monster Beverage Corp. said that its quarterly profit fell as it was hurt by distributor termination obligations, foreign currency exchange rates and legal costs tied to regulatory matters and litigation regarding its namesake drink.
Americans Eating More Smoked Seafood
May 15, 2013 9:39 am | by CLARKE CANFIELD,Associated Press | News | CommentsThere's no smoke and mirrors about it — Americans are eating a lot more smoked seafood than they used to. And that demand — part of a larger trend of infusing everything from salts and cocktails to fruit and teas with a kiss of smoky flavor — has smoked seafood producers like Maine's Ducktrap River moving fast to expand production.
