IFT launches third annual IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge

Helps emerging and investment-ready companies

Nov 14th, 2019

Iftnext Food Disruption Challenge

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has launched its third annual IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge, an innovation pitch competition that helps emerging food and drink startups, entrepreneurs and innovators gain visibility and make strategic connections that will assist in advancing the science of food and its positive impact on the sustainability of the global food supply.

The competition winner will receive the IFTNEXT Food Disruptor of the Year™ award, including a $25,000 cash prize, at the July 2020 IFT Annual Event and Food Expo in Chicago. Featured session attendees also will select an IFTNEXT Food Disruptor People’s Choice awardee, who will receive a cash prize of $5,000.00.

The application period runs from December 3, 2019 through January 9, 2020.

Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)

Attracting and retaining a quality workforce in manufacturing is a systemic key business challenge.

Attract and Retain a Quality Workforce, Insights with Gardner Carrick at PMMI’s ELC

NAM and MI programs and research bring information into labor outreach efforts and retention of a diverse, quality workforce.

Utz Brands Set to Acquire Festida Foods

The acquisition will vertically integrate the largest supplier of Utz’s ON THE BORDER tortilla chip brand and enhance the company's expansion geographically in the Midwest.

Kenneth C. “Casey” Keller, B&G Foods incoming president and CEO

B&G Foods Selects Kenneth C. “Casey” Keller as President and CEO

Keller will succeed B&G Foods’ Interim President and CEO David L. Wenner, who will remain a director of the company and work closely with Keller to ensure a seamless transition.

Injection-molded PP and a unique package closure are keys behind the success of this new product from CleverFoodies.

CleverFoodies Leverages Injection-Molded Package

In the News May 2021 Edition | Food Insecurity and Restaurant Consumer Trends Shift

Take Five Video: Consumers increase food spending and return to in-restaurant dining, but food insecurity caused by the pandemic continues. Beyond Meat enters China market, while General Mills and Smithfield continue to enhance their sustainability goals.

Hygienic Design Standard Parts for Medical Applications

Hygienic Design Standard Parts for Medical Applications

Standard Parts in Hygienic Design are optimized for minimal contamination and easy cleaning. JW Winco decided to develop a special series of Standard Parts that meet the high requirements. Visit JW Winco's Website to learn more!

Leading Food Companies to Receive Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards at PACK EXPO Las Vegas

ProFood World is set to honor Conagra Brands, Smithfield Foods, B&G Foods, Liffey Meats, and Graphic Packaging International for outstanding sustainability achievements.

Burger King® Rolls Out Green Packaging Pilot Program

Burger King® Rolls Out Green Packaging Pilot Program

Alternatives for oft-used guest-facing items will be tested, the Loop reusables program will be expanded, and partnerships with the Coca-Cola Company and Kraft Heinz will further sustainable initiatives.

PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO. Packaging. Processing. One Powerful Show.

Register for the Return of PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO

After more than a year without in-person trade shows, attendee registration is now underway for the only comprehensive packaging and processing trade show in the world in 2021.

Cargill Expanding Its Gourmet Chocolate Offerings

The company’s acquisition of Leman Decoration Group enables Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business to better serve gourmet customers in Europe and around the world.

Goya Foods packages beans, rice mixes, corn meal, and other dry products at its new facility in Secaucus, N.J. Pictured here, filled and sealed packages of Spanish rice proceed to a cartoning line.

Automated Bulk Bag Dischargers Help Keep Pace With High-Speed Packaging

A new distribution center not only provided four times the space to help relieve previous bottlenecks in rice, bean, and flour lines, but also needed more efficient bulk handling equipment to keep up with other high-speed functions.

House Foods America Building New Tofu Plant

The House Foods Group subsidiary’s new manufacturing facility, which will be located in Louisville, Ky., will expand the company’s production capacity.

Americans are now reaching into their wallets to treat themselves and support local businesses.

Restaurant Consumer Trends Shift as the Pandemic Continues. The data suggests that even though restaurants in many states have had to limit capacity or transition to takeout-only service, Americans are now reaching into their wallets to treat themselves and support local businesses.

Consumers are returning to restaurants at an increasing rate. Food spending away from home has increased by 23.1% since the start of the pandemic while households are only spending 10.7% more on food at home.

The First Step to Increasing Cybersecurity is to Analyze Operational Vulnerabilities.

The First Step to Increasing Cybersecurity

There are a number of straightforward and understandable steps companies can take to protect their operations from cyberattacks. The first is to analyze operational vulnerabilities.

General Mills Releases Global Responsibility Report

Major achievements include sustainably sourcing 100% of its top 10 ingredients and promoting advanced regenerative agriculture on farmland.

Hershey Brazil has capitalized on digital printing of flexible film as a way of celebrating female talent during International Women’s Day.

Hershey Celebrates International Women's Day with Digital Print Campaign

At Hershey Brazil, the #HerSheGallery transforms a chocolate bar wrapper into a celebration of women, as Hershey once again uses a digital print campaign to mark International Women's Day.

Cheese and Whey Processing Plant Features State of the Art Technology

MWC’s huge greenfield facility will process 25% of Michigan’s milk supply. Joyce Fassl visited the new facility and reports back in this Take Five with ProFood World video on the advancements being made by MWC.

Bob Porter, PPM director of sales fruit & vegetables

PPM Technologies Hires Industry Veteran Bob Porter

Porter has assumed the position of director of sales fruit & vegetables for the company.

Rendering of planned Cargill canola processing facility in Regina.

Cargill Announces Plans for New Canola Processing Facility

The new project in Regina, Saskatchewan will build on Cargill’s overall investment across its North America oilseeds network and support the growing global demand for canola products.

Smithfield Foods to Reappraise Its Entire U.S. Water Supply Footprint

The company is set to increase its sustainability efforts, utilizing comprehensive watershed analysis that will inform updates to water-use policies and performance targets.

More in Home

Rendering of Swift Prepared Foods’ future 325,000-sq-ft Italian meats facility in Columbia, Mo.

Swift Prepared Foods Building New Facility

The new $200 million, 325,000-sq-ft Italian meats and charcuterie production facility is to be located in Columbia, Mo.

Sam Kitchell, CRB SVP of emerging business opportunities

CRB Names Sam Kitchell as SVP of Emerging Business Opportunities

Global biopharma engineering leader Kitchell will work alongside strategy and operations teams to advance ‘difference-making’ opportunities that benefit clients.

Getty Images 1126880991

A New Model for Digitizing Supply Chain Operations

Global supply chain leaders are collaborating to shape and transform next generation digital supply chain networks.

Leanne Cutts to become Saputo president COO (International and Europe), effective in the second half of calendar year 2021.

Saputo Announces Leanne Cutts to Assume Senior Management Position

Cutts will begin serving as president and chief operating officer (International and Europe) for Saputo in the second half of this year.

This graphic provides a more traditional continuous improvement model regarding the asset reliability journey. It is important to note the critical value of engaging stakeholders from all relevant functions.

Measure the ‘Size of the Prize’ via Asset Reliability

Work product focuses on relationship between overall equipment effectiveness and three key performance indicators for asset reliability: people, operating, and financial.

The cannabis industry is heavily monitored and must develop a food safety culture that meets all GMPs and requirements.

Cannabis Food Safety Culture

GTI emphasizes the importance for the cannabis industry that facilities meet strict regulations and train their workforce to develop a food safety culture.

FDA launches new program to reduce exposure to toxic elements in baby foods.

FDA's Plan to Reduce Toxic Elements Exposure in Baby Foods

The agency’s new Closer to Zero plan will follow a four-stage iterative approach that includes research, regulatory, and outreach efforts.

JBS buys European plant-based food producer Vivera

JBS Buys European Plant-based Food Producer Vivera

The purchase of Vivera, Europe’s third-largest plant-based protein producer, boosts JBS’s global position in the exploding plant protein market.

Hershey Announces New Renewable Energy Agreements

The partnerships will fund a solar farm in Camden, N.C. and help fund a solar project in Denton, Texas as Hershey moves its operations toward the use of clean, renewable energy.

Blake Griffin, senior analyst, Interact Analysis presenting on predictive maintenance strategies at PMMI's Executive Leadership Conference.

Live at the ELC: OEMs Can Monetize Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance is an emerging technology for packaging and processing equipment that has the potential to disrupt the OEM business model.

Inputs for materials, equipment, and labor will be getting more expensive across the board, but a tight labor market will be the biggest limiting factor for CPGs. Automation is a great way to circumvent this.

Live at the ELC: Economic Forecast for Brands Timing Their Packaging Machinery Procurement

The U.S. and global economies are poised for a long period of expansion, meaning more consumer spending power and top line growth for brands, but also higher input prices for CPGs, including materials, machinery, and labor.

SIG is planning to construct a new plant in Queretaro, Mexico.

SIG to Build New Production Plant in Mexico

The new facility will expand SIG’s global production network and enable the company to continue its growth in North America.