Wanted: More Muscular Information Systems in Food and Beverage

As food companies upgrade their enterprise software, the opportunity to replace manufacturing systems with a leaner, less costly software layer beckons.

The old joke in food automation is that the most popular software is Excel. Another leg-slapper maintains MES is short for Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. “People can be very creative in adapting Excel for electronic record-keeping,” allows one enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendor, and the cost is a fraction of sophisticated business and manufacturing software. But as an enterprise-wide database, Excel isn’t a practical solution While the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 merely encouraged food and beverage manufacturers to junk paper and adopt electronic records, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) gives them a strong shove in that direction. Meeting the act’s…

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Don't Miss These Online Exclusives

2018 Webcast Schedule

Food Processing's online events offer you an interactive experience to listen and talk with experts in all facets of the food and beverage industry. Join Food Processing editors and other industry experts as they dive into topics that hit home for food and beverage manufacturers. Learn more about the 2018 Online Event Series.

2018 Influential Women in Manufacturing

Food Processing and its parent company, Putman Media, are proud and honored to present our inaugural class of Influential Women in Manufacturing in this e-book. Download Now

2018 E-Handbook Series

Food Processing E-Handbooks are information-rich reports on critical industry topics that aggregate our content, as well as blend original content from multiple sponsors, to provide readers with detailed thought-leadership pieces on the topics most important to them. See what's in store for 2018

Top 100© Food & Beverage Companies

Who are the top food and beverage companies year over year? We've compiled an archive of the last 13 years' of Food Processing Top 100© lists, analysis, and data and put them in one easy-to-use space. Visit the Top 100© Library

Food & Beverage Focus

Green Plant of the Year 2018: Nature's Path

In addition to greening up its three plants, Nature's Path tries to save the world by embracing the entire planet.
2018 Dairy Trends Take a Closer Look at Products and Production

Indulgence is driving growth in this steady category; new filtration methods are improving processes.
Automation in the Food Industry: Past, Present and Future

Automation will not replace people, but will require new skills from them.
2018 Influential Women in Manufacturing

Food Processing and its parent company, Putman Media, are proud and honored to present our inaugural class of Influential Women in Manufacturing in this e-book.

Industry News

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Events

Smart Industry 2018
September 24-26, Rosemont, IL

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The Scoop Blog

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Market View: The Right and Wrong Kinds of Food Industry Growth

By John Stanton, Contributing Editor

Growth is the mantra of the food industry. It doesn’t matter how much success you’ve experienced in the past; every product is expected to grow next year.How we obtain growth has been more or less restricted to two ways: incremental/organic growth and acquisition growth. Incremental growth is…
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Influential Women in Manufacturing: Kelly Finch

By Erin Hallstrom, Food Processing Digital

Food Processing and its parent company, Putman Media, are proud and honored to present the inaugural class of Influential Women in Manufacturing. The program, which launched in early 2018, seeks to recognize women who are effecting change in manufacturing and industrial production. There are 22…
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Editor's Plate: Are Recent Acquisitions Signs of Desperation?

By Dave Fusaro, Editor in Chief

In the past month, Coca-Cola Co. agreed to pay $5.1 billion for a British coffeehouse chain. And who knows what obscene amount for sports-drink company BodyArmor. And pocket change for a little beverage brand called Moxie. PepsiCo’s buying what’s essentially a kitchen appliance-making company…
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Wanted: More Muscular Information Systems in Food and Beverage

By Kevin T. Higgins, Managing Editor

The old joke in food automation is that the most popular software is Excel. Another leg-slapper maintains MES is short for Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. “People can be very creative in adapting Excel for electronic record-keeping,” allows one enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendor, and the…
Full Story
Ingredient Round Up: September 2018

Blueberries for the brain Antioxidants are thought to help protect the body against the damaging effects of free radicals and the chronic diseases associated with the aging process. Blueberries contain many of these naturally occurring antioxidants and have the potential to reduce the effects of…
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September 2018 Food Funny Cartoon Caption Contest

By Illustration by Jerry King

Hold on to your Pumpkin Spice Lattes ladies and gents, we're not quite finished with summer yet. We are, however, finishing up summer vacation. As the chill of fall starts to enter the air, so do the reminders that it's time for all the kids to head back to school. Pack an extra laugh by voting on…
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Latest Products

Schuman Cheese Introduces Artisanally Convenient Cheeses

Cello Quick Fix and Cello Cheese Flights make snacking effortless with portioned combinations of Schuman Cheeses, Olli Salumeria’s artisan slow-cured salami and artisan crackers.

Outsiders Pizza Debuts Regional Pizza Concepts

The frozen pizza newcomer has made its debut with 6 pizza concepts: 3 from Detroit and 3 from Milwaukee.

Fishpeople Rolls Out Sustainable Salmon Snacks

Fishpeople Seafood hopes consumers think to snack on fish more often with the roll out of a new range of salmon products, all packed with protein and loaded with naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids.

Chameleon Cold Brew Makes Milk the Star of its New Line

Made from premium-crafted coffee grown sustainably and sourced ethically, Organic Chameleon Cold-Brew Coffee with Milk joins the brand’s portfolio of organic coffee offerings.

Stacy's Snacks Introduces Cheese Petites Baked Cheese Snacks

Designed to be enjoyed on-the-go cheese-and-cracker combination crackers come in Parmesan with Rosemary and Romano with Garlic and Pepper flavors.

Garden of Life Rolls Out Goal-Oriented Protein Bars

The GōL bars are made from 10 or fewer simple, clean, traceable, certified organic ingredients, including grass-fed milk, wild blueberries, nuts and pink Himalayan salt.

Mizkan Rolls Out Guilt-Free Ragu Pasta Sauce

Jarred shelf-stable Ragu Simply Pasta Sauces are made with wholesome ingredients, making for a quick-and-easy homemade-like meal.

Herdez Launching Taqueria Street Sauces in the U.S.

The brand, which is gaining popularity all over the U.S., is introducing a line of sauces that are inspired by the ever-evolving street taco trend in Mexico.

Quest Nutrition Rolling Out High-Protein Frozen Pizza

Quest Thin Crust Pizzas swap the normally carbohydrate-loaded crust with a gluten-free one made from whey protein. The 9-in. pizzas come in three varieties -- 4-Cheese, Uncured Pepperoni and Supreme.

Lean Cuisine Makes Meatless Mondays More Attainable with Origins Dishes

The Lean Cuisine’s Origins are 14 meatless comfort dishes made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients. The line includes seven new recipes and seven updated dishes from the Lean Cuisine Marketplace line.

Just Born Makes Peeps a Year-Round Treat

The manufacturer of the marshmallow treats introduces varieties that aren’t confined to holidays, including sour watermelon flavored and birthday cake flavored.

Country Archer Jerky Co. Adds Collagen Meat Bars to its Line-Up

Food Processing

Don't Miss These Online Exclusives

2018 Webcast Schedule

2018 Influential Women in Manufacturing

2018 E-Handbook Series

Top 100© Food & Beverage Companies

Food & Beverage Focus

Las Vegas Hotel Warns: Please, No Pot Products at Supply Side West!

Report: Coke Talks with Marijuana Producer

Tyson Gets New CEO

Cattlemen Want Country-of-Origin Labeling Back

Events

All Content

Schuman Cheese Introduces Artisanally Convenient Cheeses

Cello Quick Fix and Cello Cheese Flights make snacking effortless with portioned combinations of Schuman Cheeses, Olli Salumeria’s artisan slow-cured salami and artisan crackers.

Outsiders Pizza Debuts Regional Pizza Concepts

The frozen pizza newcomer has made its debut with 6 pizza concepts: 3 from Detroit and 3 from Milwaukee.

Fishpeople Rolls Out Sustainable Salmon Snacks

Fishpeople Seafood hopes consumers think to snack on fish more often with the roll out of a new range of salmon products, all packed with protein and loaded with naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids.

Chameleon Cold Brew Makes Milk the Star of its New Line

Made from premium-crafted coffee grown sustainably and sourced ethically, Organic Chameleon Cold-Brew Coffee with Milk joins the brand’s portfolio of organic coffee offerings.

Stacy's Snacks Introduces Cheese Petites Baked Cheese Snacks

Designed to be enjoyed on-the-go cheese-and-cracker combination crackers come in Parmesan with Rosemary and Romano with Garlic and Pepper flavors.

Garden of Life Rolls Out Goal-Oriented Protein Bars

The GōL bars are made from 10 or fewer simple, clean, traceable, certified organic ingredients, including grass-fed milk, wild blueberries, nuts and pink Himalayan salt.

Mizkan Rolls Out Guilt-Free Ragu Pasta Sauce

Jarred shelf-stable Ragu Simply Pasta Sauces are made with wholesome ingredients, making for a quick-and-easy homemade-like meal.

Herdez Launching Taqueria Street Sauces in the U.S.

The brand, which is gaining popularity all over the U.S., is introducing a line of sauces that are inspired by the ever-evolving street taco trend in Mexico.

Quest Nutrition Rolling Out High-Protein Frozen Pizza

Quest Thin Crust Pizzas swap the normally carbohydrate-loaded crust with a gluten-free one made from whey protein. The 9-in. pizzas come in three varieties -- 4-Cheese, Uncured Pepperoni and Supreme.

Lean Cuisine Makes Meatless Mondays More Attainable with Origins Dishes

The Lean Cuisine’s Origins are 14 meatless comfort dishes made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients. The line includes seven new recipes and seven updated dishes from the Lean Cuisine Marketplace line.

Just Born Makes Peeps a Year-Round Treat

The manufacturer of the marshmallow treats introduces varieties that aren’t confined to holidays, including sour watermelon flavored and birthday cake flavored.

Country Archer Jerky Co. Adds Collagen Meat Bars to its Line-Up

The company, which makes gourmet jerky, meat sticks, and meat bars, added the bars, which contain 15 grams of protein and come in three varieties.

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Report: Coke Talks with Marijuana Producer

Coca-Cola is reported to be in negotiations with a major producer of…

Buffett Negative on Kraft Heinz Play for Campbell

In an interview, Kraft Heinz's top shareholder says it's "very hard" for…

Tyson Gets New CEO

Tyson replaces its CEO, Tom Hayes, after less than two years.

Influential Women in Manufacturing: Kelly Finch

Kelly Finch is one of the 22 women being honored as part of the inaugural…

Hershey To Buy B&G’s Pirate’s Booty for $420 Million

Strengthens Hershey’s salty snacks portfolio, allows B&G more…

Kellogg Honey Smacks Salmonella Cases Reach 130

Recall under way, but source has not been identified.

Automation in the Food Industry: Past, Present and Future

Automation will not replace people, but will require new skills from them.

Report: Coke Talks with Marijuana Producer

Coca-Cola is reported to be in negotiations with a major producer of…

Green Plant of the Year 2018: Nature's Path

In addition to greening up its three plants, Nature's Path tries to save…

Missouri Prohibits Marketing Analogue Products as Meat

First state to say veggie burgers aren’t meat; lawsuits challenge new…

Will Zero-Sugar Gatorade Make a Splash?

PepsiCo says G Zero, the name of the new Gatorade, is the first no-sugar…

Stouffer's Goes Upscale with Culinary-inspired, Bistro-style Entrees

The new line of single-serve, culinary-inspired meals include premium…

Former CEO Wants to Rescue Necco

Al Gulachenski wants crowdfunding support to buy New England Confectionery…

Seven CEOs to Watch in Food and Beverage

We've highlighted seven fairly new CEOs that have taken the helm at food…

2018 Capital Spending Outlook: A Flat Year for Food Plant Investments

With only a 2 percent increase in the Capital Expenditure budget, capital…

Is Algae DHA As Healthy as Fish Oil DHA?

A review of research in 2012 found mostly good news in this vegetarian…

2014 Food and Beverage Industry Outlook

We've developed a list of five issues we foresee as having an impact on…

Research Data for Top 100 Food and Beverage Companies 2005 - 2008

Food Processing presents research data for the top 100 Food and Beverage…

Understanding Polydextrose and How It Works

Lengthen shorter chain polymers of different sugars and you get this…

Top 100 Food Companies: Profiles 1-25

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