Alyse Thompson-Richards

Alyse Thompson-Richards has held many positions with BNP Media, first serving as an intern at Candy Industry in summer 2012. She joined Candy Industry's staff full time as associate editor in August 2016 after a few years at newspapers in West-Central Illinois. Alyse has since served on Cannabis Products Insider and joined FOOD ENGINEERING in 2024. She has bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from Western Illinois University. Image courtesy of Thompson-Richards

Tilray Brands partners with Biondo Group on Happy Flower package design

Happy Flower offers four ready-to-drink CBD mocktails.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

April 25, 2023

Available in four varieties, Happy Flower is rolling out now to meet accelerating demand for healthier alternatives to alcohol.

Considering challenges with child-resistant cannabis packaging

Packaging professionals talk CR systems, senior consumers, testing and compliance.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

March 31, 2023

Cannabis Products Insider recently spoke with Shar Puskala at Berlin Packaging and Charles Haverfield at U.S. Packaging and Wrapping, about different child resistance systems, the role of testing in compliance, and how to encourage child resistance without barring seniors from consuming cannabis products.

How to choose equipment for baked cannabis products

Size, capacity, consistency among the important factors for selecting ovens, depositors, and other machinery.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

January 30, 2023

As cannabis food and beverage producers begin operations — or establish manufacturing in a new market — they need to dial in their expected output as their business expands.

Tinley’s to move bottling production to Blaze Life Holdings facility

Company’s canning customers will also be served by Blaze Life Holdings.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

January 24, 2023

Tinley’s will vacate its manufacturing facility in Long Beach, California during the latter half of Q2.

Odor Control Strategies for Cannabis Manufacturers

Cannabis odor control is being required by regulatory agencies.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

November 1, 2022

OMI Industries' Laura Haupert recently spoke to Cannabis Products about the odor challenges cannabis producers face and strategies for overcoming them.

Packaging Cannabis Food and Beverage Products for Peak Preservation

Packaging materials, laboratory testing for tightness are important considerations in maintaining product shelf life.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

July 11, 2022

Brand owners and manufacturers put considerable effort into the development of their cannabis-infused food and beverage products, but without proper packaging, their planning, production, and investment could go to waste.

How Cheeba Chews Keeps Taffy from Sticking to Blister Packs

Company rolls out proprietary “swabbing stations” in Colorado, Oklahoma.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

November 16, 2021

To make it easier to get its taffies out of the packaging, Cheeba Chews developed a proprietary “swabbing station” that coats each blister with a food-grade glazing agent.

Perfecting Panning for Cannabis-Infused Confections

Panned confectionery products are ideal cannabinoid delivery vehicles, but they require the right equipment and manufacturing expertise.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

November 8, 2021

Successful panning operations must manage many considerations, but these concerns can be alleviated with the right equipment and manufacturing knowhow.

Considerations for Chocolate Tempering

Proper chocolate tempering is critical to achieving snappy, glossy chocolate.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

June 8, 2021

Chocolate is an ideal medium for delivering cannabinoids—given its natural fat content and its popularity and familiarity among consumers—but its unique properties make using chocolate as challenging as it is appealing.

How the Cannabis and Hemp Industries Can Use Carbon-14 Analysis for Product Authentication

Beta Analytic offers insights on carbon-14 analysis and its potential for certification programs.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

April 28, 2021

Beta Analytic, which provides bio-based content testing for a variety of industries, suggests a new possibility for hemp and CBD manufacturers. They could turn to carbon-14 analysis to authenticate the “naturalness” of their products.

On Demand Kelley Rodriguez, Editor in Chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, will be joined in this 60-minute webinar by industry experts to help unpack the latest research.

On Demand Driven by climate goals, business risk, client interest, and resilience considerations, food and beverage companies are increasingly turning their attention to decarbonizing their production processes.