Other industries have long been ahead of food and beverage in areas such as automation, but processors are drawing on that knowledge to modernize their own operations.

Burns & McDonnell launches its first new brand in the firm’s history with 1898 & Co., a future-focused consulting and technology solutions arm to deliver on clients’ biggest challenges.

So, how 'bout this weather we're having, huh? You're probably rolling your eyes right about now about how lame that opening sentence was, and nobody could blame you. But it's actually a valid question.