Plant Operations
Baby Formula Rule Could Hurt Mead Johnson Sales
February 26, 2013 12:06 pm | News | CommentsShares of Mead Johnson fell after the maker of infant formula disclosed on Monday that a new regulation in Hong Kong could affect the company's sales there as well as in mainland China. The Glenview, Ill. company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that Hong Kong's government will begin restricting the flow of formula milk products out of the territory.
Integrating LEAN Process Improvement
February 26, 2013 10:14 am | by Stephen J. Benefield, enVista | Articles | CommentsCompanies can see tremendous improvement by focusing on the principals of LEAN Process Improvement. Previously developed improvement approaches can be rejuvenated and modified to capture past success while maximizing future opportunities through LEAN Process Improvement.
Va. Pasta Maker Celebrates 20th Anniversary
February 26, 2013 9:34 am | by REBECCA LAYNE,The Winchester Star | News | CommentsA local pasta manufacturing plant is celebrating its 20th year in Winchester. Every day, the New World Pasta facility, located at 300 Park Center Drive in Frederick County, produces more than 625,000 pounds of spaghetti, macaroni, ziti and lasagna. Annually, the volume reaches 200 million pounds.
CEO of Tabasco Sauce Company Dies
February 26, 2013 9:30 am | News | CommentsPaul C.P. McIlhenny, chief executive and chairman of the board of the McIlhenny Co. that makes the trademarked line of Tabasco hot pepper sauces sold the world over, has died. He was 68. The company, based on south Louisiana's Avery Island, said in a statement that McIlhenny had died Saturday.
Mobile Manufacturing Solution
February 26, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsCompany's Espresso mobile solution is targeted at manufacturing and distribution executives who require immediate access to decision-making information, as well as employees who are not office bound and who require secure access to real-time data.
Kellogg Elects New Board Member
February 25, 2013 12:10 pm | News | CommentsKellogg Co. said Friday that Cynthia Milligan has been elected to its board. Milligan, 66, is dean emeritus of the College of Business Administration at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and trustee of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Prior to her tenure with the University of Nebraska, Milligan served as director of banking and finance for the state of Nebraska. She will be added to the board effective immediately.
Clean Steam Separator
February 25, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsThe CS10 Clean Steam Separator features an enhanced surface finish as standard.
Hawaiian Coffee Farms Fined for Labor Violations
February 22, 2013 12:26 pm | News | CommentsThe U.S. Department of Labor is fining seven Big Island coffee farms and farm labor contractors $42,000 for violating labor laws. The department said Thursday it imposed the penalties after finding many workers who hand-harvested or processed coffee cherries weren't paid legally required wages.
Daily Sound Bite: Aging in the Ocean
February 22, 2013 10:45 am | News | CommentsMira Winery of St. Helena, Calif., is trying something new to age its wines. The company tossed four cases of Cabernet Sauvignon into Charleston Harbor this week, all in the name of aging. After three months, the wine will undergo chemical tests as well as pass under the noses of rigorous tasters to determine the difference between it and the company's land-aged wine.
Moving to Cloud ERP: Three Strategic Reasons
February 22, 2013 8:34 am | by Kenandy Inc. | Articles | CommentsMost companies understand that cloud services can save money and provide good service levels. Nucleus Research found that cloud applications deliver 1.7 times more ROI than on-premise applications. So if you haven’t moved your ERP to the cloud yet, it’s for reasons other than ROI.
Beer Companies, DOJ in Resolution Talks
February 21, 2013 12:14 pm | News | CommentsThe U.S. Department of Justice is talking with beer makers Anheuser-Busch InBev and Grupo Modelo about potentially resolving a legal challenge to their $20.1 billion deal. The beer companies and the government are asking the court for a stay of all litigation proceedings until March 19. There is no guarantee a resolution will be found.
La. Brewery Expanding Operations
February 21, 2013 9:37 am | News | CommentsWhat started years ago as a love of brewing beer and sharing it with friends and family has blossomed into a profitable multistate beer business for a family in St. Martin Parish. The Knott brothers of Arnaudville, Karlos, Byron and Dorsey, and their families on Monday officially welcomed visitors to Bayou Teche Brewing's new facility.
Smucker Decides to Keep Memphis Plant Open
February 21, 2013 9:35 am | News | CommentsStrong demand for peanut butter and a $6 million tax break persuaded J.M. Smucker to reverse its decision to close its Memphis plant. According to The Commercial Appeal, the Orrville, Ohio-based company announced Monday it will invest $55 million in new equipment at the plant and add 65 jobs.
ConAgra Raises Profit Forecast
February 20, 2013 12:14 pm | News | CommentsConAgra Foods is raising its earnings forecast to account for its $5 billion acquisition of food maker Ralcorp and better-than-expected results from its consumer foods and commercial foods segments. The food company, whose brands include Banquet and Chef Boyardee, said Tuesday that it now foresees adjusted earnings of about $2.15 per share for fiscal 2013.
Ex-Hostess Workers Eligible for Federal Aid
February 20, 2013 12:08 pm | News | CommentsIowa workers who lost jobs when Hostess Brands went out of business are eligible for federal income, training and job search benefits. The maker of Twinkies and other snacks ceased operations in November, laying off dozens of workers at a Waterloo bakery and distribution center, as well as truck drivers and local retail employees in Iowa.
Consumer Trends: Consumers Love Canned Food
February 20, 2013 12:00 pm | News | CommentsThe Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) launched Cans Get You Cooking, a multi-year, fully-integrated campaign launching nationwide during National Canned Food Month this February. The campaign kicks off with an integration with ABC's The CHEW, as well as a robust consumer-facing public relations program, partnerships with in-store registered dieticians and a trade media advertising campaign.
Smucker Cuts Coffee Prices
February 20, 2013 9:36 am | News | CommentsJ.M. Smucker Co. is lowering the price for most of its packaged coffee products sold in the U.S. an average of 6 percent, as the price of unroasted coffee beans continues to drop. The food producer said Tuesday that the reduced prices are mostly for items sold under the Folgers and Dunkin' Donuts brands.
Grey Poupon to Air Famous Ad After 16 Years
February 20, 2013 9:27 am | by CANDICE CHOI,AP Food Industry Writer | News | CommentsGrey Poupon's famous "Pardon Me" TV commercial is returning for a moment of Oscar glory. After a 16-year hiatus, the mustard that mocked its own stuffy image in one of TV's most famous commercials will once again take to the airwaves during the Academy Awards show on Feb. 24.
Smart Motor Controller
February 20, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsThe Allen-Bradley SMC-50 smart motor controller includes a newly designed three-phase, fully solid-state, silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) power structure.
Amy’s Kitchen Expanding Oregon Plant
February 19, 2013 10:01 am | by GREG STILES,Mail Tribune | News | CommentsThere's more to growing an organic foods business than simply buying land, building factories and shipping a high-demand product. You also need access to organic crops, which is largely why Amy's Kitchen is building a $19 million expansion here instead of in South Carolina.
Smithfield Plans Packaged-Meats Joint Venture
February 19, 2013 9:59 am | News | CommentsSmithfield Foods Inc. plans to form a joint venture to help grow its packaged meats business. The pork producer said Friday that it signed a letter of intent with Kansas City Sausage Co. and its sister company Pine Ridge Farms. Terms were not disclosed but Smithfield said the transaction will be funded with cash on hand. It is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.
U.S. Alleges Insider Trading Ahead of Heinz Deal
February 19, 2013 9:52 am | by CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER,AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. federal regulators have alleged that a brokerage account in Switzerland was used for illegal insider trading ahead of the H.J. Heinz acquisition. The Securities and Exchange Commission obtained a court order Friday to freeze the account and prevent the assets from being moved.
Automated Sales and Use Tax Solution
February 18, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsCompany has announced the availability of an automated sales and use tax compliance solution through its strategic partnership with Avalara, a provider of sales tax and compliance automation services in the cloud.
Smucker 3Q Profit up 32 Percent
February 15, 2013 10:58 am | News | CommentsJ. M. Smucker Co. said Friday that its fiscal third-quarter net income jumped 32 percent, helped by strong demand for its profitable K-Cups coffees and peanut butter products. For the quarter ended Jan. 31, the Orrville, Ohio-based company earned $154.2 million, or $1.42 per share, up from $116.8 million, or $1.03 per share, in the same quarter last year.
Campbell Soup 2Q Profit Falls, Revenue Rises
February 15, 2013 10:54 am | News | CommentsCampbell Soup Co. said its net income fell by 7 percent in the latest quarter, as the world's biggest soup maker incurred costs for the closure of a plant in Mexico and other restructuring measures. On an adjusted basis, however, the company posted a profit and revenue growth in its fiscal second quarter that were better than Wall Street analysts expected.
