From the Cold Corner

With nearly $2 billion in net sales, Wells is one of the nation's largest dairy processors, producing millions of frozen novelties each day. Its manufacturing footprint spans three states, and its portfolio includes some of the most recognizable names in the frozen aisle. More on the 2026 Processor of the Year: Palermo Villa: Pizza and More, Powered by Innovation Wells Enterprises: A Century of Ic...

Named Refrigerated & Frozen Foods' 2026 Processor of the Year, Palermo's continues to invest in manufacturing technology, including a new West Milwaukee crust production facility designed to bring authentic, old-world pizza-making techniques to commercial scale. In this episode of From the Cold Corner, Editor-in-Chief Kelley Rodriguez talks with Nicholas Fallucca, chief product and innovation...

Refrigeration can account for more than half of a cold storage facility’s energy use, but improving efficiency doesn’t always require major capital investment. Danfoss’ Adam Anderson joins From the Cold Corner to discuss controls, data, defrost strategies and other ways operators can get more from existing refrigeration systems.

A refrigeration system can maintain temperature while quietly losing efficiency. What dirty coils, refrigerant leaks and other warning signs can reveal—and why preventive maintenance should be part of a cold facility’s energy and sustainability strategy. Mike Pastorello, president and CEO of Refrigeration Technologies joined Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ From the Cold Corner podcast to discuss...

AFFI’s new Left on the Line guide shows frozen food processors how small changes in equipment, processes and employee practices can reduce food loss, improve yield and uncover new value. Kai Robertson, AFFI sustainability advisor and author of the guide, joined From the Cold Corner to discuss why one of the first steps may simply be changing how processors think about waste.

Three Lineage leaders explain how automation, nearly 100,000 pallet positions, and an integrated transportation strategy come together at its Hobart, Indiana, facility. Kelley Rodriguez, editor-in-chief of R&FF, is joined by Jim Thompson, vice president, transportation logistics, Jeff Andersen, director, regional operations, and Thomas Kalep, general manager, Lineage Hobart. ▶ Inside Lineage’s...

In this special edition of From the Cold Corner, four industry experts unpack the consumer trends fueling growth across refrigerated and frozen foods—and what shifting demands around convenience, nutrition, value and flexibility mean for manufacturers and processors. Kelley Rodriguez, editor-in-chief of R&FF, is joined by Sally Lyons Wyatt, global EVP and chief advisor at Circana; Alison Bodor...

Food safety doesn’t stop at the plant walls. Fabiola Negrón, director of food safety at Registrar Corp, shares practical strategies for improving traceability, identifying gaps, strengthening supplier oversight and preparing for recalls before a crisis hits. Sponsored by Rytec

Demographic shifts and the rise of online grocery and food delivery services are driving demand for strategically located, multi-node cold storage networks. Dennis Davis, senior director of business customer development at DHL Supply Chain and Josh Lewis, president at RL Cold discuss the partnership’s plans for 5 million square feet of new space across North America. 

The industry is entering a new phase where packaging design must account for the entire product lifecycle, from material selection and manufacturing to end-of-life recovery and reuse. Paige Greenberg, sustainable packaging engineer at Plastic Ingenuity, joins From the Cold Corner to discuss more.

In this episode, we're diving in to the story behind Swoop, the third place finisher in our annual Best New Retail Products contest. Meghan Dowd, co-founder of Swoop, tells us about everything from the initial concept to formulation, manufacturing, and what is next for the brand.

Teton Waters Ranch is expanding its footprint in the frozen aisle with a new line of raw burger patties that prioritize sourcing transparency, animal welfare and simplified ingredients. The product recently earned second place in Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ annual Best New Retail Products contest.

The U.S. cold storage sector is entering a new phase, as operators balance softer inventories and cautious consumer spending with rapid advances in automation, sustainability and facility design. That evolution is reshaping how temperature-controlled facilities are built — and what they are expected to do. In the final episode of the Cold Storage Deep Dive podcast series, Jennifer Jewers Bowlin an...

Rob Chambers, Americold CEO, on optimizing a global food network, deeper customer partnerships and more.

My/Mochi is proving that global inspiration, social media trends and cross-functional execution can come together quickly—and successfully—in the frozen novelty aisle. The brand’s Dubai Chocolate Style Mochi ice cream was voted the first-place winner in Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2026 Best New Retail Products contest. Brigette Wolf, chief marketing officer for My/Mochi joins From the Cold Co...

After a devastating 2023 fire, the family business returns to full production with a redesigned facility focused on flow, flexibility and long-term growth. Lindsay Skilling, Gifford’s Ice Cream CEO, and JC Gifford, COO of Gifford’s Ice Cream, join From the Cold Corner to share more.

Carmen Dodaro, retired CEO and board member, and Lisa Pinion, chief human resources officer, both with FCL Builders, talk culture in cold chain operations. Sponsored by: FCL Builders

Warehouse automation provider OPEX Corporation recently announced a technology partnership with Peltier to offer a first-of-its-kind, multi-temperature zone, multi-deep cold storage solution for automated fulfillment systems. Designed to maximize operational savings via labor, space and energy, the system allows grocery and ecommerce to enhance cold chain operations without freezer infrastructure....

Geoff Inch, senior vice president of producer services at the Circular Action Alliance, discusses implementing EPR and what food brands should be doing now. 

Food ingredients and additives are often tasked with more than just influencing taste or mouthfeel – they are increasingly a part of food safety. Garrett McCoy, senior manager, research, development & applications at Corbion, and Tushar Verma, senior scientist and team lead, food microbiology at Corbion, join From the Cold Corner to talk food safety in the cold case.

William Bigelow is the chief operating officer at Blount and recently took over as the next president of the Refrigerated Foods Association. R&FF sat down with him at the 45th annual RFA Conference to discuss his plans for leading the organization into its next chapter.

Opened in 2024, the Cold Solutions at Rush Creek team spent much of last year ramping up operation of a new multi-temperature storage facility built in a former mine outside of Kansas City. Joe Bardowski, President & Chief Operations Officer, Cold Solutions at Rush Creek, LLC and Terry Williams, chief engineer, Custom Refrigeration Solutions joins the Cold Storage Deep Dive special series to d...

When it comes to designing, engineering and building a cold storage facility, the devil is often in the details. Kort Williams and Adam Bortz joins the Cold Storage Deep Dive special series to discuss more. Sponsored by:FCL Builders

Bob Garrison, chief editor of Prepared Foods, Kelley Rodriguez, editor-in-chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, and Alyse Thompson-Richards, editor-in-chief of FOOD ENGINEERING, combine their unique perspectives and discuss the biggest trends impacting the food industry in 2025 and beyond.

When it comes to designing, engineering and building a cold foods facility, sometimes the best lessons are those learned on the job! Sponsored by: FCL Builders