Food For Thought

With me on the podcast today are Ingredion’s Ramesh Thiyagarajan, Carolyn Phillips, and Kelly D'Amico.  In this episode, we're talking about a new program Ingredion is rolling out called 360 Value. In fact, this podcast might be the very first time you're hearing about it. Listen in over the next 15 minutes as we talk about what 360 Value is, why it's important, and how it benefits food manufactur...

In this episode of the Food For Thought podcast, we talk to Kristel de Groot about Your Super’s consumer-centric approach to product development. From the company’s very personal beginning to its current status as certified B-Corp wellness brand, Your Super’s Co-Founder Kristel walks us through how the company finds its inspiration for launching new products. We also talk about funding, COVID, and...

We recently talked to Pamela Peckman and Sharon Dobesh of Industrial Fumigant Company (IFC) to gain a better understanding of the pest control issues that can arise during food and beverage transportation. During the next 20 minutes we talk about common pests found in shipping as well as regulations surrounding sanitation and pest-free shipping.  Stick around until the end, where we discuss preven...

On today’s episode, we’re talking with Devaunshi Mahadevia, Director of Global Marketing for SunChips and the Global Lead on WomanMade, about how PepsiCo’s WomanMade program is supporting the economic advancement of women in the food system. We cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, including why programs like WomanMade are needed, how it’s helping female food founders, as well as how Pe...

On the podcast this week is Robert Hersh, National Managing Principal in Manufacturing and Food and Beverage for Grant Thornton. Throughout the next half-hour, we talk about the results of the firm’s 2020 Digital Supply Chain Survey as well touching upon Food Processing’s own 2021 Capital Spending Outlook . We cover a lot of ground in 30 minutes, including talking about how food and beverage proce...

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Food For Thought Podcast. We recently sat down with Kaeser Compressors’ Bill Kemph, Neil Mehltretter, and Michael Camber to talk about the company’s custom enclosed compressed air systems. A global leader of compressors, blowers, and vacuums, Kaeser Compressors designs and builds compressed air solutions that help facilities optimize and improve their oper...

What does it take to keep a 141-year old meat processing company thriving in Rochester, New York? We’ve got that answer and more in this episode of the Food For Thought Podcast. Today’s guest is Julie Camardo. She’s the CEO and fifth-generation owner of Zweigle's, a meat processing company based out of Rochester.  In the next half-hour, we cover a lot of ground. We talk about what it was like grow...

Have you ever wondered what venture capital firms look at when considering whether or not to fund a food and beverage start-up? Sarah Foley, Partner at SWAT Equity Partners is giving us the low-down on food and beverage funding. In the next 30 minutes, we talk about trends, sustainability, why SPACs are seeing a resurgence, as well as providing actionable advice for anyone considering launching th...

In this Special Bonus Episode, Cablevey Conveyors’ Karl Seidel sits down with Food Processing’s Food For Thought Podcast to talk about the powerful, yet gentle, way to move materials around your facility. Cablevey Conveyors is a tubular drag conveyor manufacturer that has design, engineer, and service enclosed cable and disc tube conveyors for almost 50 years and in more than 65 countries. In this...

We’re continuing our conversation about CPG entrepreneurship. In this episode, we talk to Dr. James Richardson about the risks and rewards of growing a CPG brand, in particular the risks entrepreneurs should—and shouldn’t—take as well as what it means to be memorable versus unique.  Learn more Learn more about his book Ramping Your Brand Learn more about his company, Premium Growth Solutions Read...

In today's episode, we're talking to Dr. James Richardson.  Richardson is a Ph. D, a cultural anthropologist, and the author of Ramping Your Brand. Through his company, Premium Growth Solutions, he helps CPG entrepreneurs create strategic plans to achieve exponential growth.  In this episode, we talk about why entrepreneurs want to grow fast and set unrealistic forecasts as well as the mistakes th...

What do you get when you pair up a food scientist with a passion for infant nutrition and a cellular biologist with a passion for novel applications of cell culture technology? You get Biomilq, one of the latest disruptors in the food and beverage space. Launched in 2020, Biomilq is aiming to change the way we think about infant nutrition. The small company out of North Carolina is on a mission to...

On our Season 2 opener, the Food Processing team has gone into forecast mode. Listen in as Editor in Chief Dave Fusaro and Senior Pan Demetrakakes talk about what we can expect in the food and beverage industry in 2021.  Throughout the next half-hour we talk about what trends we can expect to play out this year as well as how COVID-19 and a new Presidential administration will continue to impact t...

According to a recent LinkedIn survey, 40% of employees leave their job within the first year unless they receive training and education from their employer. Meanwhile 74% of employees feel that they're not reaching their full potential unless they receive training from their employer. Where does that leave employees… and employers for the future of food and beverage?   In this episode, we talk An...

How do you predict what new flavors will be trending when your forecast calls for homebound with a chance of COVID?  In this podcast episode I talk to Dax Schaefer, Corporate Chef and Director of Culinary Innovation, for Asenzya. Join our fun and informative conversation about what 2021 has in store for formulation and flavor trends.   Enjoy the episode and make sure you head to FoodProcessing.com...

When you think about innovation and new product development, does Ocean Spray come to mind? You might be thinking “how can anyone innovate a cranberry?” In this episode of Food For Thought, we talk to Rizal Hamdallah, Chief Growth Officer for Ocean Spray Cranberries, about how this 90-year old cooperative is changing the way we think about health and wellness.  Learn more about Ocean Spray Cranber...

This week I sat down with Daniel Sztutwojner chief customer officer and co-founder of Beekeeper. During this episode, we talk about how food processing companies have used the tool to keep their employees updated on processes and procedures—including COVID-specific logistics. We also discuss how mobile technology is actually helping companies become safer and more efficient.

2020 R&D Team of the Year Winner Mary’s Gone Crackers is a small, Nevada-based CPG company doing really big things. In this episode, we talk about how the Nevada-based company leverages its small size to do big things as well as what the company is doing to produce products that are not only good for the body, but good for the planet too.  Read more about Mary's Gone Crackers' R&D Award on Food Pr...

If you could train someone to be a better leader, would you do it? The University of Minnesota’s Integrated Food Systems Leadership Program is helping students evolve into the leaders the food and beverage industry needs.  In this episode, learn what the IFSL program is and listen to one of its co-horts talk about what she’s learned and how her employer is reaping the benefits.  Learn more about t...

Food For Thought Podcast host Erin Hallstrom talks to 2020 R&D Team of the Year Winner Good Foods' Katie Schmits and Danyel O'Connor about what makes their R&D Team successful, the technology behind their secret weapon- HPP-and how they’ve adapted during COVID-19.   Read about Good Foods as one of Food Processing's R&D Teams of the Year on the website: https://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2020/...

Who came out on top in the 2020 Food Processing Top 100©? Erin Hallstrom, Dave Fusaro, and Pan Demetrakakes talk about that and more in this episode of the Food For Thought podcast. Join us as we talk about how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting the food and beverage supply chain as well as the future of comfort food.  View the Food Processing Top 100© list at https://www.foodprocessing.com/top...

Del Monte Foods, one of the winners of Food Processing’s 2020 R&D Teams of the Year, has a long history of producing vegetables for the masses. The company has undergone a change in the last few years that combines authenticity with agility. Learn how the original purveyors of the plant food movement have changed the way we know vegetables... and product development. Learn more about Del Monte Foo...

In our inaugural podcast episode, host Erin Hallstrom talks to Food Processing’s Dave Fusaro and Pan Demetrakakes about one of the most important topics impacting food and beverage manufacturers right now: coronavirus. We talk about the devastating impacts the virus is having on the industry. Dave walks us through how processors are adapting to serve the ‘at home’ consumer and we contemplate what...