Food and Beverage Manufacturing Top Stories

Cultured Meat Faces Old and New Obstacles

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For cultured meats to succeed in the market, they will have to prove themselves cost-effective to produce, be as food-safe as their conventional counterparts and gain acceptance from consumers — though some states have already banned FDA-approved cultured meats.

FPSA, PMMI Unveil 2026 Processing State of the Industry Report

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:33:00 -0400

The organizations, which have long published parallel industry reports, have joined forces offer food manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) an overview of market performance and a glimpse at what to expect going forward.

PODCAST: Prioritizing Food Safety Over Audit Readiness

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In a recent podcast, Bonna Cannon, president, owner and principal consultant of Bonnafide LLC, discusses how to prioritize true food safety over audit preparation, turning audit insights into operational improvements and building food safety into plant design.

Sourcing Food-Safe Tubing Systems for Food and Beverage Operations

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Knowing how to find partners who can provide consistent, quality tubing that meets all regulatory requirements is essential for food manufacturing and supply chain professionals.

Designing Hygienic Drainage to Control Listeria in RTE Facilities

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:21:00 -0400

While Listeria remains a consistent threat in the ready-to-eat (RTE) space, experience and recall data indicate that upgraded drainage can reduce key risk vectors and provide better tools for staff and management to identify and control hazards.

Are Women Engineers Paid the Same as Men?

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In our annual Women in Engineering feature, we highlight inspiring stories of women like Halak Mehta and Dharma Prime. Despite progress, the pay gap persists, underscoring the need for ongoing efforts toward equality.

Control AI Access in the OT Environment

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Ever notice how ChatGPT or CoPilot saves all your AI chats? While this can help solve future problems more quickly, private data accumulated from an OT system saved on the public internet is a disaster waiting to happen. Fortunately, in most cases AI is embedded in the process and data stays private and protected.

Sustainable Decontamination Solutions for Next-Gen Aseptic Lines

Mon, 25 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

By combining sustainability, precision engineering and real-time intelligence, modern aseptic technologies are redefining what sterility looks like in practice.

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.