Logistics demanded a fourth plant west of the Rockies, but West Liberty Foods seized the opportunity to upgrade its production flow and material-handling safeguards.
Eighteen wind turbines make an elegant statement along the roofline of Kettle Foods’ southern Wisconsin plant. The low-power installation was preferred over solar as an alternative energy source. Source: AeroVation
Reclamation of thermal heat is a conspicuous example of the many energy
initiatives underway as the food industry rethinks the ROI on energy
management.
With customers demanding less material waste and manufacturing looking
for ways to trim transportation costs, the trend toward sustainable packaging
is gathering momentum.
Market conditions pushed Fresherized Foods to get back to basics this
year, but the innovator in high pressure processing expects to emerge even
stronger in global guacamole production.
While American food companies have progressed from flirtation to serious courtship of plastic containers, manufacturers in Europe, South America and Asia are tapping an expanding lineup of can shaping technology to revive flagging sales in some categories and kick-start consumer interest in others, according to Carolyn Takata, marketing director for Woodland Hills, CA-based Silgan Containers Corp.
In the coming months, IPM Foods LLC, a start-up contract manufacturer, will try to resurrect low-acid canning without the can, using Tetra Pak’s Recart packaging system.