Honoring West Liberty Foods, our 2022 Frozen Foods Processor of the Year
Congratulations to West Liberty Foods, our 2022 Frozen Foods Processor of the Year.
Founded in 1996, when 47 farmers formed the Iowa Turkey Growers Co-Operative to purchase a turkey processing plant in West Liberty, Iowa, from Kraft Foods. In over two decades, West Liberty has grown to four facilities in three states, with a fifth location planned for construction in 2023. Read more in our cover story.
Other highlights in this issue include a look at what makes Atlanta a “hot” city for cold storage and the latest technology and trends impacting food and beverage pallets. Our C-Suite Q&A this issue features Carrie-Ann Flank, vice president of sales at Thermo King.
Brian King, of A M King, writes about real estate strategies to consider before building a cold facility and our departments focus on new retail plant-based foods and beverages, lubricants and refrigerant technology and in packaging: shrink sleeve, vacuum packaging and flow-wrapping equipment.
Apollo Nguyen, interim CEO of Van’s Kitchen, accepts the company’s award for being named R&FF’s 2022 Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year after addressing the FA&M Symposium.
As the trade show and convention season winds down, I’d like to thank my colleagues at FOOD ENGINEERING for inviting me to emcee the Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo, in September.
Held in Miami, Florida, FA&M featured world-class speakers presenting leading-edge solutions in the key aspects of food and beverage manufacturing, including engineering, automation, sustainability, supply chain and food safety. The FA&M annual symposium is where the industry’s key stakeholders benefit from attending to gain insights from some of the top leaders at the manufacturing and supplier level. This two-and-a-half-day event opens with a golf tournament, and is followed by a one-day expo, and is packed with educational sessions throughout this intimate networking event.
Kelley Rodriguez, editor in chief of R&FF (left), moderates a panel on “Operating Strategies from Outside the Food Manufacturing Industry” with Dan Stauft, director of Operational Technology at SugarCreek, Ayeshah Abuelhiga, founder & CEO, Mason Dixie Foods, Christie Lagally, founder & CEO, Rebellyous Foods.
It was great to connect with and learn from some of the best and brightest in the food industry. I was honored to emcee, interview, and meet so many attendees. I highly encourage you to consider attending next year!
As always, thank you for reading.
