Smithfield Foods became the first major protein company to commit to becoming carbon negative in all company-owned operations in the United States by 2030. A leader in sustainability for more than two decades, the company will go beyond carbon neutrality to effectively remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits. It will achieve this goal without purchasing carbon credits to offset emissions.

JUST Egg announces the largest expansion yet for its award-winning plant-based egg. By the end of the month, JUST Egg will be available at more than 17,000 points of retail distribution in the United States, a 40% increase and a testament to the breakout success of the pioneering product that launched nationwide last year.

Americold, the world's largest publicly-traded owner and operator of temperature-controlled warehouses, has partnered with Feed the Children, a leading nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger, to support COVID-19 relief for families in crisis.

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. 

In the upcoming September issue of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, we highlight the pandemic pivots made by Sysco and US Foods in 2020 due to COVID-19 and its effect on foodservice clients like restaurants, hotels, caterers, stadiums, and other volume venues. While putting that story together, we also had a chance to speak to another foodservice distribution giant, Golden State Foods (GSF) and its Chairman and CEO, Mark Wetterau.

Flowers Foods, producer of Nature’s Own, Dave’s Killer Bread, Wonder, Tastykake, and other bakery foods, announced that Brad Cashaw has been named chief supply chain officer, effective September 8, 2020. Cashaw will be responsible for Flowers’ supply chain operations and report to Brad Alexander, chief operating officer. 

Due to high demand, Ramar Foods announces a shortage on its ube (purple yam) supply. Purple Yam has been the popular comfort food for the diaspora and has been enjoyed in several ice cream flavors under Ramar's Magnolia brand. The all-natural ube supply is experiencing a shortage. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and surges in grocery, the supplies are going to be limited.

The original American hot dog, Feltman’s of Coney Island (est. 1867), has launched at 1,190 Publix Super Market locations across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. In Feltman’s biggest supermarket retail launch to date, the small veteran-owned and operated hot dog company has debuted a new 12.8 oz. eight-count pack SKU of its Uncured Beef Natural Casing Hot Dogs—a perfect match for an eight-pack of hot dog buns—which are now available at Publix locations across the Southeast, and through Publix curbside pickup and delivery powered by Instacart in select locations.

Deep Indian Kitchen, the #1 frozen Indian food brand in the country, has announced the launch of its new direct-to-consumer website featuring its most popular Indian dishes and free 48-hour shipping across the U.S. As more consumers discover the safety and convenience of online grocery shopping and increasingly search for authentic global flavors to enjoy, Deep Indian Kitchen’s e-commerce platform aims to meet these consumer needs.

Plumrose USA, a branded packaged meat company and subsidiary of JBS USA, a leading American food company with the second largest pork production footprint in the world, today announced its intention to construct a new, state-of-the-art Italian meats and charcuterie production facility. The estimated $200M greenfield project will be strategically located to efficiently access raw material and leverage synergies with existing corporate assets. The investment is consistent with the company’s long-term strategy to increase its value-added and branded portfolio with innovative, on-trend products.