Exclusives Stories

2022 Top 25 Refrigerated Foods Processors Report

rodriguezk@bnpmedia.com (Kelley Rodriguez) — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 12:32:00 -0500

Last year saw sales of refrigerated foods drifting back closer to normal after a pandemic-fueled peak in 2020.

Submit Your Company's Top Refrigerated Foods for our 2021 Best New Refrigerated Retail Products Contest!

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 14:08:00 -0400

We are now accepting entries for our 2021 Best New Refrigerated Retail Products Contest. Similar to our recent frozen foods contest, we'll select 25 finalists for daily voting throughout the month of August on our website. The top-five with the most votes will be highlighted in a special section of our December magazine, and the overall winner will also be featured on an episode of our Cold Corner podcast.

The Financial Footprint of Frozen Foods

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 13:25:00 -0400

Editor-in-Chief Michael Costa explains how the perception of frozen foods changed in 2020.

R&D Strategies for Plant-Based Foods

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500

In this excerpt from our Cold Corner Podcast, we go one-on-one with Nestlé’s Ryan Riddle about R&D strategies for plant-based foods.

2021 Top 25 Refrigerated Foods Processors Report: Retail Sales and Product Innovation Fuel Record Growth

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 12:32:00 -0500

The headline for last year’s Top 25 Refrigerated Foods Processors Report read, “Refrigerated Foods to Reign Supreme in 2020”. In no other year than 2020 could a headline that bold be an understatement.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation for Cold Chain Logistics

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 12:04:00 -0500

With the final FSMA IA rule in effect for small businesses since July and large businesses a year before that, coupled with changes to the food supply chain in response to the pandemic, risk assessment and mitigation should be a priority now more than ever. For the refrigeration and frozen food industry specifically, changes have also evolved with the implementation of the Sanitary Transportation rule.

New Cold Corner Podcast: Nestlé's Plant-Based Strategies

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 09:51:00 -0500

On our latest From the Cold Corner Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Michael Costa catches up with Ryan Riddle, senior R&D specialist for plant-based meal solutions at Nestlé and its Sweet Earth brand. They talk about why refrigerated and frozen plant-based foods are so popular today, which consumer markets are key targets for plant-based foods, how Nestlé incorporates its plant-based products into the brand’s freezer-aisle favorites like DiGiorno Pizza and Stouffer’s, plus much more.

How Fleet Adaptability Helps Distributors Meet e-Commerce and COVID-19 Challenges

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0500

How fleet adaptability can help distributors weather e-commerce and coronavirus challenges.

Cold Storage Construction and COVID-19

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Looking back on what we’ll call 2020 B.C. (Before Coronavirus), the pipeline for cold storage construction was already robust and healthy. According to research by commercial real estate firm CBRE, overall industrial construction—which encompasses cold storage, along with warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, self-storage, office and flex space—was at 298 million square feet (MSF) before COVID-19, bolstered by the ongoing rise of e-commerce.

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods' July 2020 Issue: The State of the Industry Report

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 13:18:00 -0400

Our annual July State of the Industry issue is now ready to read in our redesigned digital magazine--even easier to navigate than before. We also feature our annual North American Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Warehouse Guide. put together with the help of the Global Cold Chain Alliance. In this issue, we dive deeper into how COVID-19 has not just impacted, but altered many areas of the cold foods supply chain the first half of 2020. It's a mid-year snapshot that also serves as a map for what will likely continue the rest of the year.

Crescent Cold Storage Uses ERP to Maintain Inventory Accuracy

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 12:30:00 -0400

The ability to track inbound, outbound and all other warehouse-related activities with accuracy is a primary goal for Crescent Cold Storage. To be able to locate inventory and manage customer orders with precision was what prompted Crescent Cold Storage to seek out a better software solution. After extensive research it was clear that a customizable cloud-based ERP system was needed.

Cold Corner: Coronavirus Changes

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Tue, 12 May 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Editor-in-Chief Michael Costa details the cold chain's historic disruption and opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Podcast: How Washdown Motors Can Help Drive Efficiencies in Cold Foods Processing

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Sat, 09 May 2020 11:03:00 -0400

This week on our From the Cold Corner podcast, I talk washdown motors for food processing with Regal Beloit’s John Calloway. We also discuss how the IoT (Internet of Things) is creating new efficiencies for motors, and how Regal Beloit is pivoting its business strategy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tyson and Sysco Quarterly Reports Show the Impact of COVID-19 Foodservice Shutdowns

costam@bnpmedia.com (Michael Costa) — Mon, 04 May 2020 14:38:00 -0400

I read the recent quarterly reports from Tyson and Sysco (Q2, and Q3, respectively) and both reflect the deep impact of restaurant, hotel, catering and other volume foodservice shutdowns on each of their businesses (and by extension, the cold foods supply chain) due to COVID-19. Here are my thoughts on the future of foodservice and what companies along the cold chain can do prepare for it.

Reducing Product Effect in Chilled and Frozen Foods During Metal Detection

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Metal detection today remains the backbone of food safety compliance for the majority of the industry, but especially in the chilled and frozen food sector. Specifically, simultaneous multi-frequency scanning is making it much easier for manufacturers to identify hard-to-find metals in food products with high conductivity (so-called "wet" products). These products may, literally, have high water content. Additionally, above-average conductivity may also be linked to high levels of minerals, particularly salt. These can be found in products such as bacon, or ready meals.

How Properly Freezing Food Can Help Reduce Food Waste

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 10:02:00 -0500

Over one billion tons of food is wasted every year. The Food and Agriculture Organization also estimates that in developing countries, up to 40% of total food produced can be lost before it even reaches market. As such, implementing methods of safely storing and transporting food is crucial for being able to continue to feed the planet.

Why transparency is Kellogg’s must-have ingredient

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Mon, 16 May 2016 10:00:00 -0400

Kellogg Co. believes in transparency. It also believes in sustainability. That’s why it was named Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2016 Sustainable Processor of the Year.

Cold Food Trends Stand the Test of Time

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 13:30:00 -0400

Editor-in-chief Marina Mayer outlines the top trends within the cold food retail and foodservice industries.

From Milkman to Refrigerated Truck: How Food Gets Delivered to Today’s Shoppers

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 12:42:00 -0400

It used to be that the majority of Americans had their milk delivered straight to their front doors. Every day, the milkman would place bottles of milk in a “milk chute” that had a small cabinet with a door on the outside.

How Social Media Drives Expanded Consumer Base

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 13:49:00 -0400

These days, anything and everything is online. From recipes and do-it-yourself solutions to blogs and reviews, the worldwide web is chock-full of “information.”

Hormel Foods Surpasses Sustainable Measures

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

First order of business—congratulations to Hormel Foods Corp. for receiving Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2013 Sustainable Supply Chain of the Year award. We received a great deal of online nominations from some top-name processors, however Hormel Foods showcased exemplary efforts in surpassing its own sustainable measures.

How Sustainable is your Supply Chain?

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:40:00 -0500

Nominate your company or a refrigerated and/or frozen foods processor/customer today for Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ annual Sustainable Supply Chain of the Year award.

The Power of Processing and Production Under One Roof

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:30:00 -0500

IPPE 2013 sets the record with more than 1,150 exhibitors and 430,000 square feet.

New Year, New Look

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:00:00 -0500

We’ve all done it—made New Year’s resolutions that come March, might as well get thrown in the trash.

Dissecting the GMO Labeling Debate

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:00:00 -0500

This year’s election brought mudslinging, bad-mouthing and a country so divided that people were actually de-friending and un-following “friends” via their social media accounts.

The Year of the… Dragon???

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:05:00 -0400

According to the Chinese New Year, 2012 is the year of the dragon, but for many in the refrigerated and frozen foods industry, it was more like the year of mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, sellouts, resignations and new retail product launches.

Yowzers! Look at Our New Website!

mayerm@bnpmedia.com (Marina Mayer) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0400

It finally happened. Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ website, www.RFFmag.com, underwent an extreme makeover, complete with an updated navigational bar, gated content, photo galleries, new products, a list of associations and partners, expanded advertising opportunities and more.

Lantmännen Unibake Opens New Customer, R&D Center

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Lantmännen Unibake experienced a $1 million expansion to its St. Petersburg, Fla., headquarters facility. The 7,500-square-foot remodeling project includes Phase 1, a new 2,200-square-foot research and development lab and customer welcome/reception area.

Evolution Fresh to Open State-of-the-Art Juicery

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Evolution Fresh announced plans to open a juicery that will support 160 U.S. manufacturing jobs in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., later next year.

Brookshire’s Switches to Clear Caps on Milk Products

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Brookshire Grocery Co’s dairy plant in Tyler, Texas, switched to clear caps on the company’s Food Club milk products.