R&D Teams of the Year

Each year we ask for nominations from food or beverage companies about their Research and Development Teams. We look for R&D Teams of three different sizes: small business (less than $100 million in sales), medium ($100-$500 million) and large (more than $500 million in sales). We honor the companies each year in both the magazine and on the website. 

Highlights

Consumer Lab
Consumer Lab
Consumer Lab
Consumer Lab
Consumer Lab
Product Development

2023 R&D Teams of the Year: J. M. Smucker

July 14, 2023
Different product development teams work independently on human food, coffee and pet food, yet find ways to collaborate.
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2209-RDTeam-SophKitchen-HERO
2209-RDTeam-SophKitchen-HERO
2209-RDTeam-SophKitchen-HERO
2209-RDTeam-SophKitchen-HERO
R&D Teams of the Year

2022 R&D Team of the Year: Sophie’s Kitchen

Aug. 11, 2022
The two-person R&D Team for our third R&D Team of the Year has cast a net around faux fish, broadening the portfolio to include “seafood” burgers.
FP2208-EatJust-HERO
FP2208-EatJust-HERO
FP2208-EatJust-HERO
FP2208-EatJust-HERO
FP2208-EatJust-HERO
R&D Teams of the Year

2022 R&D Team of the Year: Eat Just

July 25, 2022
A pioneer in cultivated meats and now plant-based egg replacers, Eat Just’s product development team combines science with art.
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fp2207-rdteams-sunopta-HERO
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fp2207-rdteams-sunopta-HERO
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R&D Teams of the Year

2022 R&D Team of the Year: SunOpta

June 27, 2022
SunOpta leads off our 2022 crop of R&D Teams of the Year, with Just Egg and Sophie's Kitchen featured in coming months.
RDTeamGoldenState
RDTeamGoldenState
RDTeamGoldenState
RDTeamGoldenState
RDTeamGoldenState
R&D Teams of the Year

2021 R&D Team of the Year: Golden State Foods

July 15, 2021
Connected and skillful product development continued last year despite Covid restrictions.
talking-rain-rd-team
talking-rain-rd-team
talking-rain-rd-team
talking-rain-rd-team
talking-rain-rd-team
R&D Teams of the Year

2021 R&D Team of the Year: Talking Rain

July 15, 2021
The 29-year-old beverage Sparkling Ice added alcohol in the pandemic year.
R&D Teams of the Year

2021 R&D Teams of the Year: Overcoming the Pandemic Product Hurdle

July 15, 2021
The two winners of our annual R&D Teams of the year are Golden State Foods and Talking Rain.
R&D Teams of the Year

Food Processing Names 2021 R&D Teams of the Year

June 7, 2021
Food Processing is pleased to announce the winners of our 2021 R&D Teams of the Year: Golden State Foods and Talking Rain.
Marys-Gone-Crackers-Team-Photo
Marys-Gone-Crackers-Team-Photo
Marys-Gone-Crackers-Team-Photo
Marys-Gone-Crackers-Team-Photo
Marys-Gone-Crackers-Team-Photo
R&D Teams of the Year

2020 R&D Team of the Year: Mary's Gone Crackers

Aug. 31, 2020
Seeding innovation in the crackers category, Mary's Gone Crackers manages to bake excitement into the thin wafers.
Matt-Duffy-Nonni
Matt-Duffy-Nonni
Matt-Duffy-Nonni
Matt-Duffy-Nonni
Matt-Duffy-Nonni
R&D

2017 R&D Team of the Year: Nonni's Foods

May 10, 2017
Nonni's Foods, our small-company R&D Team of 2017, bakes the only nationally available line of biscotti in the U.S.
Among-Friends-baking-mix
Among-Friends-baking-mix
Among-Friends-baking-mix
Among-Friends-baking-mix
Among-Friends-baking-mix
R&D

2015 R&D Team of the Year: Among Friends

June 8, 2015
Two moms with a passion for healthier baked goods pre-mix delicious with nutritious.
RoseCenterSquare
RoseCenterSquare
RoseCenterSquare
RoseCenterSquare
RoseCenterSquare
R&D

2015 R&D Team of the Year: Ruiz Foods

June 8, 2015
Inspired by traditional Mexican family recipes, the third-generation company relies on staff and customers for fresh ideas in hand-held and roller-grill specialties.
Bolthouse-Family-Field
Bolthouse-Family-Field
Bolthouse-Family-Field
Bolthouse-Family-Field
Bolthouse-Family-Field
R&D

2015 R&D Team of the Year: Bolthouse Farms

June 8, 2015
Agile as a Small Company, Part of Something Bigger