Plant Operations
Coca-Cola’s Profit Beats Expectations
April 16, 2013 9:30 am | by CANDICE CHOI,AP Food Industry Writer | News | CommentsCoca-Cola's first-quarter results came in above expectations as the world's biggest beverage maker sold more of its drinks in emerging markets. The Atlanta-based company said Tuesday that global volume rose 4 percent in the quarter, with Thailand, India and Russia posting strong gains.
Dutch Company Linked To Horsemeat Fraud Is Bankrupt
April 16, 2013 9:28 am | by MIKE CORDER,Associated Press | News | CommentsA meat processing plant and wholesaler suspected of mixing undeclared horse meat with beef has been declared bankrupt. A court in the eastern Dutch city of Den Bosch court declared the Willy Selten meat works bankrupt Tuesday. The company is at the center of a huge recall announced last week of suspect beef across the European Union.
A Holistic Approach to Food Safety
April 15, 2013 2:32 pm | by Jean-Pierre Berlan, Sales and Marketing Director for Processing, Dairy & Cheese Categories, Tetra Pak US and Canada | Articles | CommentsToday, the assurance that food will not cause harm to consumers, in other words, food safety, is viewed as the number one priority across the food industry. Adopting a holistic view on the entire production process is the only answer.
Food Companies Making Ends Meet with Fraud
April 15, 2013 2:12 pm | by CNN Money | Videos | CommentsCenter for Science in the Public Interest has released the results of a new investigation, which found that fraud in the food industry is up 60 percent this year, as companies look for ways to battle rising commodity, fuel, energy and other operating costs.
How Wearable Technology Is Transforming Facilities
April 15, 2013 1:59 pm | Articles | CommentsMobile devices are necessary tools to increase the efficiency and productivity of workers across many industries and markets, including the warehouse. But wearable, voice-directed and multimodal mobile technologies are helping to transform the warehouse environment at an even faster pace than standard mobile tools in other markets.
American Crystal Sugar Workers Approve Contract
April 15, 2013 12:20 pm | News | CommentsUnion workers in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa who have been locked out of their jobs for 20 months at American Crystal Sugar Co. approved a new contract Saturday. Leaders of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International union said in a news release that the workers voted 55 percent to accept company management's contract offer.
Thermo Fisher Buying Life Technologies for $13.6 Billion
April 15, 2013 9:45 am | by TOM MURPHY,AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has offered to pay about $13.6 billion to buy genetic testing equipment maker Life Technologies in a cash deal that will create a giant company serving research and specialty diagnostics. The Waltham, Massachusetts, company said Monday it has agreed to pay $76 in cash for each share of Life Technologies, which is based in Carlsbad, California.
Secrets From The Potato Chip Factory
April 15, 2013 9:24 am | by NPR | Videos | CommentsPotato chip maker Herr's is based in Nottingham, Pa. The company used to process just a few potatoes per hour, and most of the labor was manual. As the company grew, so did the scale and automation of its processes. Today, Herr's churns through a several tons of spuds per hour.
Starbucks Lowering Price of Bagged Coffee
April 12, 2013 12:15 pm | News | CommentsStarbucks is cutting the suggested retail price of its bagged coffee sold in supermarkets, following similar moves by competitors amid falling commodity costs. The Seattle-based chain says 12-ounce bags of its whole and ground coffee will be $8.99, down from $9.99. The list price of its Seattle's Best coffee will also be slashed to $6.99 a bag, from $7.99. The new prices go into effect May 10.
Dutch Coffee Company Agrees to $9.8 Billion Buyout
April 12, 2013 12:13 pm | News | CommentsThe management of Dutch coffee maker D.E. Master Blenders 1753 NV says it has agreed to a 7.5 billion euro ($9.8 billion) buyout offer from a group led by private German investment company Joh. A. Benckiser GmbH. The offer of 12.50 euros per share announced Friday is 30 percent higher than where Master Blenders shares closed on March 27, the day before it announced it was in takeover talks with Benckiser.
Raising the Bar
April 12, 2013 11:47 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | Articles | CommentsHearthside Food Solutions is a young company with deep roots. Co-founded in 2009 by a group of investors led by Hearthside Chairman and CEO Rich Scalise, the company strives to be the largest and best contract manufacturer of snacks in the country.
ND Pasta Plant May Reopen Under New Ownership
April 12, 2013 9:38 am | News | CommentsA shuttered pasta plant in the northeastern North Dakota city of Cando might reopen soon under new ownership. A group of local buyers hopes to close a deal to purchase the former Noodles by Leonardo plant by the end of the month, Towner County Economic Development Director JoAnn Rodenbiker told the Grand Forks Herald.
Please Turn Out the Lights
April 12, 2013 9:27 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe U.S. manufacturing sector has decrease total energy consumption by 17 percent between 2002 and 2010, according to a report released last month by the EIA. After years of advice, prodding, urging and incentivizing, manufacturers are greener than ever, and so are their pocket books.
Q&A: Safety On Ice
April 11, 2013 12:50 pm | by Lindsey Jahn, Associated Editor | News | CommentsAmmonia refrigeration leaks pose both safety and economic risks to food companies, but many are unaware of these hazards. Attorney J. Tom Boer spoke with Food Manufacturing about ammonia refrigeration regulations and how manufacturers can ensure their system’s safety.
Burger King CEO Takes Top Job at Heinz
April 11, 2013 12:26 pm | by CANDICE CHOI,AP Food Industry Writer | News | CommentsHeinz is bringing in Burger King CEO Bernardo Hees as its next top executive, signaling what may be the first of many changes planned by the ketchup maker's new owners. The Pittsburgh-based company, which also makes baked beans, vinegar and Classico pasta sauce, had announced in February that it was being acquired and taken private by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital.
Texas Judge Shutters Egg Roll Factory
April 11, 2013 9:49 am | by NBC News | Videos | CommentsA federal Judge in Texas has ordered the closure of a factory that manufactures Chung's egg rolls in Houston citing multiple failed FDA inspections. The FDA says the company was uncooperative and did not respond to problems with corrective measures.
The Job Of A Leader
April 10, 2013 4:24 pm | by Paul Glover, Founder, The Glover Group | Articles | CommentsThe primary purpose of every leader is to recharge the workforce each day. It may sound cheerleader-ish, but when you think about the amount of energy required to do a job, it makes sense for leaders to make sure that their employees have the energy or fuel necessary to perform.
Companies Post More Jobs But Fill Them Slowly
April 10, 2013 12:29 pm | by CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER,AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. employers advertised the most job openings in nearly five years in February, but they boosted hiring at a much slower pace. The figures suggest that companies remain too cautious about the economy to quickly fill open jobs. The number of openings rose 8.7 percent in February from January to a seasonally adjusted 3.93 million, the Labor Department said Tuesday.
Cargill 3Q Falls on Higher Costs
April 10, 2013 9:34 am | News | CommentsCargill said Tuesday that its fiscal third-quarter net income fell 42 percent, hurt by higher costs at its meat processing businesses. For the quarter ended Feb. 28, the privately held agribusiness company earned $445 million, down from $766 million in the same period a year ago. Revenue edged up 1 percent to $32.2 billion.
Court Approves Sale of Hostess’ Last Core Assets
April 10, 2013 9:33 am | News | CommentsHostess Brands Inc. won approval Tuesday to sell off the last of its major cake and bread brands, bringing the total proceeds from its liquidation to about $860 million. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in New York approved the two deals, said Hostess spokeswoman Anita-Marie Laurie.
Where Salt Is Hiding
April 10, 2013 9:30 am | by CNN | Videos | CommentsThe U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends an average daily salt intake of about 2,300 mg per day, but the average American diet looks much different. CNN reports on the CDC's list of foods containing "hidden salt," outing many of the food processing industry's worst culprits.
The Challenges of Food Safety Training
April 9, 2013 12:24 pm | News | CommentsA new survey questioned 649 food and drink manufacturers and processors worldwide to identify the needs, effectiveness and challenges of food safety training in the industry. While companies recognized improved product quality and higher employee morale as the greatest benefits of effective food safety training, over 70 percent of those surveyed said finding the time for training was the greatest challenge.
Replenishing The “Brain Drain”
April 9, 2013 11:49 am | by Paul Michalicka, SKF USA Inc. | Articles | CommentsIt is a phenomenon that is referred to with a catchy rhyme: “the brain drain.” Older workers are leaving companies, taking their experience and knowledge with them. And, for various reasons, the reservoir is not being refilled at the same rate.
Vodka Producer Files for Bankruptcy
April 9, 2013 9:41 am | News | CommentsVodka producer Central European Distribution Corp. is seeking bankruptcy protection to cut more than $665 million of its debt. The company is asking a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware to approve a reorganization plan, which would give ownership of the company to Roust Trading. Roust is owned by CEDC Chairman Roustam Tariko.
DOJ Closer to Settlement on AB InBev-Modelo Deal
April 9, 2013 9:35 am | News | CommentsAnheuser-Busch InBev has reached a tentative agreement with the Department of Justice over its disputed $20.1 billion acquisition of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo. The world's largest brewer has been trying since June to buy the half of Grupo Modelo that it doesn't already own. The Justice Department sued to block the deal on concerns that it would stifle competition in the U.S.
