Food Engineering's 2008 Plant of the Year Call for Entries

1. When are the entries due?
They are due at the Food Engineering office in West Chester, PA, on December 3, 2007.

2. What plants are eligible?
Any new food/beverage plant or major retrofit that became fully operational in calendar year 2007. Note: Plant should produce processed food/beverage products (not simply value-added commodities) designed for human consumption.
Plant visit: Any plant entered in the competition must be available by January 2008 for an editorial visit to be part of our April issue. Please do not submit a plant that will not be available.

3. Are renovations eligible?
Yes, major renovations/expansions of existing facilities are eligible. Renovations will be judged on an equal footing with greenfield plants. Projects must have been completed in calendar year 2007.

4. Who may submit entries?
Food companies, A/E firms, suppliers or any others qualified to provide a detailed rationale for a particular plant.

Address for Entries and Further Information
Joyce Fassl
Food Engineering
600 Willowbrook Lane
Suite 610
West Chester, PA 19382

Tel: 610-436-4220 ext. 8519
Email: fasslj@bnpmedia.com

What are the judging criteria?

1. The plant’s contribution (actual/projected) to the company’s long-term business plans/strategies.
2. The level of innovation in processing and packaging line design (creative new technology or creatively used existing technology). This can include post-production materials handling.
3. Building and site innovations.
4. Productive integration of workers into overall plan.

What is required?
A detailed narrative (maximum 10 pages, 8 1/2 x 11-inch page size) in support of the entry. Narrative should document the ways in which the plant excels with reference to the stated judging criteria. However, if there are additional relevant matters that go beyond the stated criteria, please be sure to call them to the judges’ attention in the narrative. These might include: on-time/on-budget performance; environmental impact; worker safety innovations; food safety innovations; automation and software technologies; size; manufacturing teams; flexible manufacturing; supply chain management; and enterprise resource planning.
Clearly captioned illustrations, drawings, photos, etc. should be submitted if directly relevant, but must be reduced to an 8 1/2 x 11 inch size, and should be able to be photocopied. The materials will be photocopied by Food Engineering. Please send high quality photos, not color copies. Four copies of each entry should be submitted in a durable folder that also allows for easy removal for photocopying. It is not recommended that the entries be submitted as loose sheets.
All entries should have a copy of the official Entry Form attached to the front.

Download Entry Form (Microsoft Word Format)
Download Entry Form (PDF format)

Important Dates
Entries due: December 3, 2007

Final selection of winner: January 2008

Plant visit by FE editors: January/February 2008

Specially featured on the cover of Food Engineering: April 2008

Award presentation at Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference in Clearwater Beach, FL: April 6-9, 2008

Past Plant of the Year Award Winners

2007   T. Marzetti
2006   Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream
2005   Bell & Evans
2004   Pepperidge Farm
2003   American Italian Pasta Company
2002   Future Beef Operations, LLC
2001   Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee USA Ltd.
2000   The Dannon Co., Inc.
1999   Hunt-Wesson, Inc.
1998   Wyandot, Inc.
1997   Hudson Foods, Kentucky Div.
1996   Nabisco Specialty Products
1995   Dole Value-Added Products
1994   Jerome Cheese
1993   Carolina Food Processors
1992   Pepperidge Farm
1991   General Mills
1990   Mazza Cheese
1989   Carnation Co.
1988   Coors
1987   Steuben Foods
1986   Golden Cheese
1985   Frito-Lay
1984   Anheuser-Busch
1983   Campbell Soup