EAS Consulting Group has hired Maged Sharaf, Ph.D. as senior director, labeling, cannabis and claims consulting services. He will be responsible for managing and providing label review and claims substantiation consulting services for conventional foods, animal foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics. In addition, he will oversee client projects related to product detentions, NDI submissions and cannabis.

Triangle Package Machinery has named Michael Small director of operations. Small brings a diversified background with extensive experience in production and operations management in the manufacturing industry that spans over three decades. 

Kraft Heinz has completed the sale of certain assets in its global cheese business and the license of certain trademarks to an affiliate of Groupe Lactalis for total consideration of approximately $3.3 billion, including cash consideration of approximately $3.2 billion. 

Préval AG, an international agri-food company headquartered in Quebec, has acquired the assets of J&G Foods, located in Sutton, Massachusetts. J&G is a custom and specialty case-ready fresh meat provider specializing in portioned organic and grass-fed beef, organic and natural chicken, natural pork and beef, and a variety of marinated and value-added meats.

The J.M. Smucker Co. is investing $1.1 billion to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in McCalla, Alabama, dedicated to production of Smucker’s Uncrustables sandwiches. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in January 2022, with production planned for 2025. 

 Jona Smith, vice president of IT applications services, received a 2021 STEP Ahead Honoree award from The Manufacturing Institute for Excellence in Manufacturing.

Tyson Foods is building a $355 million bacon plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, primarily for the production of Wright Brand and Jimmy Dean retail and foodservice products. The 400,000-square-foot facility is expected to create 450 jobs with production beginning in late 2023.