Food and Beverage Manufacturing Top Stories

Sustainable Packaging Struggles While Energy Efficiency Gains Momentum

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Food Plant Openings and Expansions April 2026

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

EIC Alyse Thompson-Richards summarizes recent food and beverage industry updates, including Mars' investments, Campbell's chip plant closure, and expansions by Chobani, Bel Group, and Rise Baking Company.

Looking Toward Water-Smart Cleaning and Sanitation

Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As the call is on to conserve water and lower usage, modern cleaning and sanitation systems employ digital tools and AI to curb wasteful water usage.

How Food Manufacturers Navigate Labor Shortages and Traceability Demands with ERP Solutions

Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In an era where visibility and agility are becoming more essential, many food and beverage manufacturers are moving toward enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions that help create a single system of record.

All Roads Lead to Growth for Hummus Maker Little Sesame

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

From opening to a fast-casual restaurant in D.C. to quintupling its CPG production capacity when its new Maryland facility becomes fully operational, Little Sesame is on a journey of creativity, inspiration and growth.

Food Plant Openings and Expansions March 2026

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

EIC Alyse Thompson-Richards highlights recent food and beverage industry expansions, including Smithfield Foods’ South Dakota facility, Nestlé Purina’s Brazilian pet food plant, J.M. Smucker’s pet food expansion, DrinkPAK’s Texas beverage facility, Dainty Foods’ Ohio plant, and Tovala’s Illinois processing facility.

What Manufacturing CEOs Are Asking Their Project Delivery Partners in 2026

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:51:00 -0400

Conversations with manufacturing CEOs are rooted in strategy, risk and performance, highlighting the evolving expectations placed on design and construction partners.

Is the Food Industry Making Progress on Food Waste?

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Food waste poses a significant challenge across the food industry. New research reveals that while many companies recognize the issue, only a fraction set tangible reduction targets. To align actions with global best practices, measuring and reporting food waste is crucial.

USDA Considers Proposals to Update Line Speed Rules

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The USDA’s proposals would update processing requirements for poultry and pork establishments operating under modern inspection systems.

Advancing Food Manufacturing Through Digital Transformation

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:13:00 -0400

Smart manufacturing technologies, such as digital tools and connected systems, can improve visibility, performance and decision-making on packaging lines.

Additive Manufacturing: Roles for 3D Printing and Robotics in Food Production

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Additive manufacturing can describe two technologies in food production — the more commonly known is 3D printing, which has been borrowed from 3D tool and parts making, but robotic work cells can also fit the definition of additive manufacturing.

How Digitalization Supports Pasteurization Recordkeeping

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Digital recorders and data management software ease recordkeeping and regulatory compliance — compared to traditional paper-based methods — increasing consumer safety and enhancing operational efficiency for processors.

The Evolving Role of Separation in Juice Processing

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:24:00 -0400

From apples to tropical blends, processors are using integrated separation strategies to maximize recovery, maintain product integrity and streamline operations.

Number of Food Recalls Up: Bad or Good?

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While at times the number of food safety recalls seems to be rising, in most cases, the recalls are smaller in lot size and don’t progress very far through the supply chain because the tools stop most major potential outbreaks.

UVC Disinfection Best Practices for Food, Packaging and Logistics Applications

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:07:00 -0400

The companies that treat UVC as a flexible, application-specific toolkit — rather than a single technology solution — will be best positioned to meet the microbial and operational challenges of the next decade.

Recipe for Growth: How CJ Schwan’s Powers Pizza Production with People and Automation

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Blending advanced automation with purposeful design, this year’s Plant of the Year reflects how food manufacturers are engineering smarter, more efficient operations to meet evolving industry demands.

Is ‘Desteaming’ Right for Your Food Manufacturing Facility?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Desteaming — the practice of replacing steam with a right-sized thermal solution like hot water — can improve the efficiency of hot water generation, helping to reduce operational expenses and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Improving Packaging Line Efficiency with Automated Technologies

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:32:00 -0400

In past years, customers have focused more on automation as part of broader sustainability or throughput goals. Now, the focus has shifted slightly, with more emphasis on how many operators can be reassigned or how much support a system will require post-install.

How Are Manufacturers Approaching Energy Efficiency?

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Rising energy costs and global pressures are pushing food manufacturers to prioritize efficiency. ABB research shows energy makes up about a quarter of operating costs, driving investments—but real gains require a holistic, system-wide approach.

Digital Twin Technology Scales Predictive Maintenance Across Multiple Plants

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

How Automated Conveying Transformed Private-Label Pie Manufacturing

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:33:00 -0400

Gardner Pie Company turned to Benchmark Automation to develop a series of conveyors to support manufacturing and packaging of baked and frozen pies without damaging tender, flaky crusts.

Friction, Flour and Failure: How to Select Bearings for Industrial Bakery Operations

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:07:00 -0400

Bakeries that view bearing selection through the lens of heat stability, contamination control and energy efficiency will reduce disruption and protect both product integrity and margin.

Modernization Investments Improve Operator Safety

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

How Food Manufacturing Process Visibility Protects Product Quality and Profitability

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:33:00 -0400

In an industry where product quality increasingly determines competitive advantage, the ability to see what you're processing isn't a luxury — it's a fundamental requirement for profitable operation.

Plant and Process Considerations for Switching to Natural Food Colors

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400

A synthetic dye that was once stable across wide pH ranges, heat loads and storage conditions may be replaced with a pigment that behaves very differently under shear, thermal cycling or light exposure.

End-of-Line Versus End-of-Life: Sustainability Throughout the Food Packaging Lifecycle

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:03:00 -0400

There are two key points in the lifecycle of food packaging where sustainability gains can be made: end-of-line and end-of-life. At first glance, these terms may appear interchangeable, but they describe distinct stages of food packaging manufacturing.

How to Select Automation Technologies for Food Manufacturing

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Black & Veatch’s Kim Lovan and Carrie Woehler discuss how food and beverage manufacturers are implementing automation, considerations for vetting solution providers, and how automation projects have evolved.

Precision Fermentation: Everything You Need to Know

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Fermentation has evolved into precision fermentation, utilizing biotechnology to engineer microorganisms that produce high-value food ingredients. These "cell factories" create proteins and compounds, enhancing quality and reducing environmental impact.

Future-Proof Food and Beverage Manufacturing Plants with Fluid Management

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:25:00 -0400

By integrating modern pump technology, hygienic design principles, clean-in-place (CIP)-ready systems and energy-efficient components into the plant layout from the start, manufacturers can reduce waste, secure lower long-term operating costs and meet stringent food safety requirements.

Simplifying the Alphabet Soup of Industrial Networks

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

It used to be that if you used one particular vendor’s automation products or sensors, you were locked in forever. With today’s open standards-based networks, users are no longer locked in and can shop around for sensors, industrial PCs, PLCs and industrial network devices.