PepsiCo appointed Dr. Mehmood Kahn to the newly created position of chief scientific officer, reporting to Indra Nooyi, chairman and chief executive officer. Most recently, Kahn served as president of Takeda Pharmaceuticals Global Research and Development Center.



Paula Deen made a surprise visit to Smithfield’s Plant City, FL processing plant to thank the 250 workers who produce her personal recipe, Smithfield Glazed Spiral Sliced Ham. Sales of this product have exceeded all estimates, and the ham is now distributed nationwide.



Michael Foods, Inc. appointed David S. Johnson to CEO and Gregg A. Ostrander was named executive chairman of the board of directors.



PepsiCo and Strauss Group have formed a joint venture partnership to operate Sabra, a hummus maker, with sales of nearly $56 million through September of 2007.



Paul Kelly was appointed executive vice president of PneumaticScaleAngelus, a supplier of filling, capping, can seaming, labeling and centrifugation equipment.

The Hershey Company has named John P. Bilbrey senior vice president, president Hershey North America; Michele Buck senior vice president, global chief marketing officer; and Ted Jastrzebski senior vice president, president Hershey International.



Nestlé has formed a new partnership with luxury chocolate maker, Brussels-based Pierre Marcolini. This partnership will provide inspiration for future Nestlé chocolate product lines, while helping Pierre Marcolini expand its network of boutiques around the world.



Frutarom Industries has won the 2007 European Frost & Sullivan Fastest Growing Company of the Year Award in the food flavors market.

Bosch Packaging Technology has appointed Sören Brätigam as its new global marketing director.

 

Nestlé opened a Professional Beverage Centre, the company’s first R&D facility dedicated to its out-of-home beverage business. The facility is located at the company’s worldwide center for coffee and cereals in Orbe, Switzerland. The company is upgrading its existing FoodServices Strategic Business Division into Nestlé Professional, a globally managed business unit dedicated to the out-of-home food and beverage market.