OEM COVID-19 #11 - State of the Packaging & Processing Industry

PMMI's Jorge Izquierdo predicts promising times ahead for packaging and processing despite current COVID-19 climate

May 29th, 2020

Jorge Izquierdo breaks down the present state of the industry, with a positive eye towards a post COVID-19 world.

Jorge Izquierdo breaks down the present state of the industry, with a positive eye towards a post COVID-19 world.

From the earliest days of the pandemic, PMMI’s Vice President of Market Development, Jorge Izquierdo and his team have kept tabs on the industry with weekly pulse surveys, monthly purchasing indexes and most recently, provided guidance on the economic future via webinars. PMMI’s data reveals that while times may be challenging at the moment, the situation is manageable for your business and the future holds promise for the packaging and processing industry. Join Jorge to hear the latest on the State of the Industry during COVID-19.

Stay tuned for more podcasts with offering guidance around COVID-19 in an effort to keep the industry informed, strong and connected.

Conagra Brands’ Milwaukee plant team members Nick Thompson, Xiomaris Mendez, and Jake Rozenberg proudly display Chicken Melts products that are now more sustainably produced. Photo courtesy of Conagra Brands.

Conagra Brands Team Rectifies Cheese Loss

A thorough investigation uncovered that a large contributor to food waste was cheese miss-cuts. The team solved the issue through editing standards, optimizing run settings, and conducting machinery preventative maintenance.

Installation of a new tank system and pumps have paid dividends and saves more than $30,000 per year at Smithfield Foods' Sioux Falls, S.D. facility. Photo courtesy of Smithfield.

Water-reduction Project Results in 5 Million Gallons Saved

When a Smithfield Foods Ideation Project challenged facilities to reduce the use of single-pass water for reuse elsewhere, the company’s Sioux Falls, S.D. facility answered the call.

Nestlé Canada Inc. Selling Pure Life Bottled Water Business

Move will allow the company to focus on its international water brands San Pellegrino, Perrier, and Acqua Panna.

Barry Callebaut Acquires Australian Company

Zurich-based Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, now owns GKC Foods (Australia) Pty Ltd.

City Brewery upgraded two existing canning lines and installed a third canning line at its Latrobe, Penn., plant, boosting its production capacity to 48 million cases annually.

City Brewery Triples Production Capacity

The co-manufacturer upgraded its canning lines in six months with controllers, AC drives, and HMI software to quickly and nimbly accommodate changing consumer tastes as well as optimize operational efficiency.

The Hershey Company Expanding Virginia Facility

The company is investing $135 million on the project, which will create 110 new jobs in Augusta County, Virginia.

Diageo New Plant

Diageo Building Its First Carbon Neutral Distillery

The facility under construction in Kentucky will be powered by 100% renewable electricity, reinforcing Diageo’s global commitment to reducing its carbon emissions and addressing climate change.

Borden Dairy Sold

Capitol Peak Partners and its affiliates, as well as KKR, will acquire virtually all of company’s assets.

Global Meat Industry Hammered by COVID-19

Meat processing and packaging plants continue to be world-wide coronavirus hot spots.

Conagra Recognizes Winners of Sustainable Development Awards

Awards were given to employee teams for sustainable brands, waste reduction and recycling, water conservation and wastewater management, climate change and energy-efficiency, and sustainable operations initiatives.

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Hershey's Unwraps their COVID-19 strategy with employees and suppliers

Hershey’s Josh Becker sat down with PMMI’s Sean Riley to talk about a customer’s perspective on how Hershey is handling visits from suppliers, training and service issues.

James Garr, wastewater supervisor for Smithfield Foods' Crete, Neb. facility, was a key part of the plant's successful composting project. Photo courtesy of Smithfield Foods.

Smithfield Foods Facility Reduces Solid Waste by 10 Million Lbs.

A customer’s change meant these solids were no longer approved to be part of the cooker feed stream, but collaboration and information sharing with other Smithfield facilities paved the way for environmental savings at the company’s Crete, Neb. plant.

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FDA to Roll Out the Blueprint for a 'New Era of Smarter Food Safety'

In addition, the agency is also integrating the lessons learned during this pandemic to ensure that the food supply is supported during times of crisis.

Organic Valley Farms Implement Streambank and Spring Area Restoration Projects

Two Sonoma County farmers restore waterways on their farms with the help of local students, teachers, and volunteers.

Emerson Adds Augmented Reality for Asset Management

This summer’s update to Plantweb Optics will include augmented reality capabilities to help users locate troublesome assets and correct issues with the aid of experts via real-time collaboration.

Jbt Chairman, President, And Ceo Tom Giacomini

JBT Chairman, President, and CEO to Take Medical Leave of Absence

Interim leadership has been appointed to serve during Tom Giacomini’s absence.

The VERYX B140 belt-fed sorter is equipped with top and bottom sensors that allow for in-air inspection of products.

Frozen Vegetable Processor Boosts Product Quality and Production Efficiency with Digital Sorters

A combination of next-generation cameras, sensors, and pixel-level detection allows for all-sided surface inspection.

Cargill Chocolate

Cargill Launching Chocolate Manufacturing Operation in Asia

Company has growth plans across region to meet the steadily rising increase in consumer demand for chocolate products.

Erik Blom, Duravant Managing Director Of Food Processing Emeai

Duravant Appoints Food Processing Managing Director

Food processing veteran Erik Blom will focus on company’s growth in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and India.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Just Made recently experienced a 50% to 60% increase in the sales of its cold-pressed juices, which undergo HPP.

Sales Spike for HPP Products During COVID-19 Pandemic

Consumers in quarantine are snapping up HPP food and beverages because they offer extended shelf life and food safety as they wait out the crisis.

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Smithfield's Kinston facility upgraded the lighting in its ammonia engine room to meet new International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration standards. New LEDs provide more foot candles and safety. Photo courtesy of Smithfield.

Smithfield Foods Lights the Way to Sustainability

By replacing high-energy-use HIDs with LED lighting, the meat processor’s Kinston, N.C. facility drives down its total kWh usage and receives a Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Award from ProFood World.

Heat And Control 70 Yrs Press

Heat and Control Celebrating 70th Anniversary

The company will mark the platinum occasion with a 12-month-long celebration.

PepsiCo Issues 2019 Sustainability Report

Document highlights company’s progress in helping to build a more sustainable food system.

Site Solar Panels

Tetra Pak Commits to Net Zero Emissions

Tetra Pak announced its commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its own operations by 2030, with the ambition to achieve net zero GHG emissions for the entire value chain by 2050.

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CPC Releases a New Set of High Pressure Certified Guidelines

The newest guideline is Wet Salads, also known as deli salads. This addition is one in a continuing series of CPC initiatives to raise the awareness and use of HPP and be the voice within the industry.

One of the four turnkey KHS lines at Reginald Lee is an Innopack Kisters shrink packer. (Source: KHS Group)

New PET Line for Coca-Cola Bottler Produces 26,000+ bottles/hr

Argentinian Coca-Cola bottler Reginald Lee works with same supplier for four bottling lines, the most recent of which handles hot-fill and carbonated drinks with efficiency and a high degree of automation.

Continuous Energy Improvement at Hiland Dairy

A grant and rebate from the local electricity provider and other energy savings made the cost of the dairy’s sustainability project negligible.

PMMI Prevails In Lawsuit Fighting Fraudulent Use of PACK EXPO Logo and Phony List Sales

Court decision sends clear message to all unauthorized vendors

Nestlé USA, Inc. Selling North American Buitoni Business

Brynwood Partners VIII L.P. is buying the business, including the manufacturing facility in Danville, Virginia.

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The United Nations Declares June 7 as World Food Safety Day

FDA and the UN spread the word about ways to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

Perdue Farms Pollinator Habitat

Perdue Farms Creates Pollinator-Friendly Habitat

Ground cover at solar installation will include plants that are beneficial to the pollinators of food crops.

Utz Quality Foods to Combine with Collier Creek Holdings

Transaction will form Utz Brands, Inc. and introduce Utz as a publicly listed company.