Casey Laughman

State of Food Manufacturing

2020 State of Food Manufacturing Survey

Annual industry survey reveals challenges food and beverage processors are facing

September 29, 2020

Constant changes, huge swings in demand or shifts in consumer behavior, employee safety, and a general uncertainty about what comes next are all present in the 2020 State of Food Manufacturing Survey.

Editor's Note

A strange year has processors trying to figure out what comes next

Casey Laughman

August 26, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has kicked food and beverage production into overdrive. A lot of us are feeling more worn out than ever.

2020 Top 100

The 2020 Top 100 Food and Beverage Companies

Top 5 largest food and beverage companies stay the same

Casey Laughman

August 21, 2020

Although the top 5 companies stayed the same, there was extensive movement throughout Food Engineering’s 2020 list of the Top 100 food and beverage companies.

Editor's Note

COVID-19 makes it hard to define normal for food and beverage

Upheaval from the COVID-19 pandemic forces new ways of thinking

Casey Laughman

July 28, 2020

We've all had our lives turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that's going to continue for at least a little while longer.

Editor's Note

Digital transformations require honest communication, admission of mistakes

Casey Laughman

July 10, 2020

Having honest and direct communication about what is and isn’t working is the difference between success and failure.

Fabulous Food Plants

Clif Bar’s visual bakery project has the company ahead of the game

Casey Laughman

June 30, 2020

Clif Bar's Twin Falls bakery was named Food Engineering’s Sustainable Plant of the Year in 2017. The Indianapolis bakery has a different—although equally successful—story to tell.

COVID-19

NiceLabel launches remote support program for organizations fighting COVID-19 pandemic

Casey Laughman

June 9, 2020

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced processors, customers and vendors to adapt quickly to a new way of working and buying. As just one example, NiceLabel has launched a program that offers free subscriptions to its cloud-based labeling and technical services to assist organizations that are involved in fighting or supporting those who are fighting the pandemic.

Editor's Note

Digital transformation begins now for Food Engineering

Casey Laughman

June 5, 2020

Beginning with our July issue, Food Engineering will be a 100% digital publication.

Social distancing at a Gray construction site meeting

Editor's Note

Although coronavirus dominates the headlines, other safety concerns still matter

Casey Laughman

May 12, 2020

Day-to-day operations are still the highest priority, even as food and beverage processors work to protect employees and contractors from coronavirus.

Site Selection

3 keys to site selection for food and beverage facilities

Site characteristics, hazards and ongoing pandemic affect the process

Casey Laughman

May 11, 2020

When processors work with design-build firms to identify sites for and begin work on new construction projects, safety concerns traditionally involve factors such as ingress/egress, law enforcement and fire/EMS coverage and electrical and mechanical hazards. But the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and potential disaster scenarios add another layer of complexity to the process.