Grant Gerke

Woman with wired headphones is on her phone laying on her stomach on the floor and holding a green protein shake.

Alternative Protein

Alt Protein Targets Scale and New Product Development

Protein products geared toward a healthy lifestyle are ubiquitous in North America. As demand increases across the board, producers are evaluating alternative protein manufacturing and precision fermentation.

Grant Gerke

August 31, 2026

With rising demand for protein, food manufacturers are turning to plant-based proteins, precision fermentation, and AI-powered tools for innovation. Pea protein is becoming popular, and new partnerships and digital technologies are aiding in reformulation and product development.

A cropped image of a person wearing a white lab coat and blue gloves, looking at a tablet while standing in front of a line of bottles.

Processing

Data Modeling in Processing Targets Micro-Stops to Increase Quality

Food and dairy producers evaluate digital twin technology to improve quality and yield as operators begin to optimize real-time data analytics. As data modeling matures and adoption grows, operators are the essential players to support innovation and higher throughput.

Grant Gerke

July 23, 2026

AI may dominate industry conversations, but data modeling is delivering measurable results today. Discover how food, dairy and pet food manufacturers are using real-time production data to improve quality, increase throughput and give operators the insights needed to drive smarter decisions.

Quality assurance staff checking food moving along a conveyor belt in an automated production line.

Column | OEE

Contextual Data and Advanced Analytics Support OEE

Food and beverage management is sold on data standardization in plants to support AI-based strategies. This early wave of data standardization projects and solutions is delivering increased context on traditional metrics, such as OEE.

Grant Gerke

June 15, 2026

In an evolving manufacturing landscape, leaders are leveraging AI and advanced analytics to enhance efficiency and decision-making. Contextual data and real-time insights are driving innovation, allowing companies like Ruiz Foods and Kraft Heinz to unlock significant value and optimize operations.

Close up of blue water bottle outside with a blurred background showing greenery.

Sustainability

Sustainable Packaging Struggles While Energy Efficiency Gains Momentum

Consumer preferences for recycled packaging are not unanimous, but they remain interested in sustainability practices. Meanwhile, food processors are strategically advancing energy efficiency programs that leverage advanced analytics and automation technologies.

Grant Gerke

May 19, 2026

Consumer preferences for recycled packaging are not unanimous, but they remain interested in sustainability practices. Meanwhile, food processors are strategically advancing energy efficiency programs that leverage advanced analytics and automation technologies.

An engineer working on his desktop computer in an office and another engineer in the blurred background.

Maintenance Strategies

Digital Twin Technology Scales Predictive Maintenance Across Multiple Plants

Food producers are now modeling traditional maintenance data, such as vibration and frequency, and executing machine learning in the cloud with digital twin simulations. Anomalies are being modeled while also providing advanced analytics, reducing downtime and repurposing staff.

Grant Gerke

April 7, 2026

At the 2025 Automation Fair, Rockwell Automation CEO Blake Moret noted that manufacturers are enhancing efficiency with automation and AI. Food manufacturers use digital twin and cloud platforms for predictive maintenance, reducing workloads and improving visibility. This article covers strategies for effective implementation.

Manufacturing line operator placing bread in crates. She is surrounded by empty crates.

Staff Safety

Modernization Investments Improve Operator Safety

Manufacturers are improving operator safety through third-party services, such as continuous training from OEMs, risk assessments and new production line approaches from consultants. In addition, digital training at the machine level is increasing operator safety.

Grant Gerke

March 31, 2026

Operator safety is becoming a critical lever for performance in food and beverage manufacturing. As workforce challenges intensify, processors are investing in automation, advanced HMI design and safer equipment to improve both retention and productivity.

Connected Plants Lead to Advanced Packaging Line Optimization

Investments in automation and additional tools for data analytics keep coming to packaging lines as plants become more connected. Machine learning and digital twin technology are increasing throughput and driving innovation for large and small brands.

Grant Gerke

February 3, 2026

Investments in automation and additional tools for data analytics keep coming to packaging lines as plants become more connected. Machine learning and digital twin technology are increasing throughput and driving innovation for large and small brands.

Sous Vide Offers Brand Flexibility While Enhancing Taste

Sous vide cooking offers precise time and temperature control, and now companies are scaling this technology to help brands and institutions deliver on limited-time offerings. Taste wins with sous vide, and companies are employing new pasteurization techniques to retain flavor and expand into food segments, such as pet food, protein and overall clean label eating.

Grant Gerke

January 27, 2026

Sous vide cooking offers precise time and temperature control, and now companies are scaling this technology to help brands and institutions deliver on limited-time offerings. Taste wins with sous vide, and companies are employing new pasteurization techniques to retain flavor and expand into food segments, such as pet food, protein and overall clean label eating.

Digital KPIs Emerge but Are Brands Finding Accurate Data?

Grant Gerke

November 11, 2025

Food giants are closing legacy plants and building greenfield facilities to achieve higher volumes, greater flexibility and increased margins. So how are plant managers and corporate leadership executing, managing and delivering data to help operators find accurate KPIs and OEE metrics?

Backed Into a Corner, Alternative Protein Gets Creative

State legislative bans are targeting ingredients, dyes and cultivated products in 2025. Therefore, the market is forcing OEMs and alternative protein suppliers to get creative in manufacturing, lowering ingredient costs, and even going to market.

Grant Gerke

September 8, 2025

State legislative bans are targeting ingredients, dyes and cultivated products in 2025. Therefore, the market is forcing OEMs and alternative protein suppliers to get creative in manufacturing, lowering ingredient costs, and even going to market.