Welcome to From the Cold Corner, a podcast dedicated to the refrigerated and frozen foods’ cold chain. Marty Khait, co-founder and managing principal at Yukon Real EstatePartners, and author of R&FF’s special series, Farm to Frozen, joins R&FF Editor in Chief Kelley Rodriguez to discuss what’s ahead in 2024 for the U.S. cold storage market.

With inflation anticipated to ease in 2024 and changing consumer preferences, new research indicates that specific grocery departments will lead the pack in volume growth. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president and practice leader at Circana, discusses what is ahead in the New Year.

Armored Fresh, a South Korean food tech startup, wants to be the cheese alternative everyone asks for. The company was the first in the world to create vegan cheese from plant-based milk using fermentation technology and patented processes it says creates a product nearly indistinguishable from dairy-based cheese. Andrew Yu, vice president of American operations at Armored Fresh, joins From the Cold Corner to discuss how the company’s patented tech could change the cheese game.

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we’re celebrating Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2023 Processor of the Year: SunOpta. A global pioneer in the sustainable food and beverage industry, SunOpta has achieved consistent growth and deep-rooted success for nearly 50 years. Collaborating with some of the most planet-friendly brands in the world, SunOpta produces 450 total organic, non-GMO plant-based and specialty products, including plant-based beverages and ingredients, and fruit-based ingredients and snacks. Lauren McNamara, vice president of Plant-based Food & Beverage Business, and Bryan Clark, Senior Vice President of Research & Development and Quality Assurance, join From the Cold Corner to discuss how the Minnesota-based company is focused on sustainably building a plant-based future.

To learn more about how food manufacturers and processors are creating the latest in craveable, consumable foods, this episode of From the Cold Corner features joined by Stacey Kinkaid, vice president of Product Development and Innovation at US Foods, and Chris Glab, chief innovation officer at Wild Brine/Bubbies. They talk about research into Gen Z dining and eating trends, how their companies approach R&D and what’s on the horizon for new refrigerated and frozen foods.

At Refrigerated and Frozen Foods, we talk a lot about how cold foods are produced, processed and manufactured. But what happens once those foods are ready to be distributed to retailers across the country where they will ultimately end up in consumer’s homes? This episode honors Longbow Advantage, R&FF’s 2023 Logistics Provider of the Year, and discusses the ways in which technology and automation are changing the food logistics landscape. We’re joined by Mike Babiak, director of supply chain technology at Longbow Advantage, and Pratik Jagad, chief product officer at nuVizz, a delivery and transportation platform specializing in last-mile delivery technology.