Chicago-based and Mom-owned organic food start-up lil’gourmets is now part of Target’s newly-created Fresh Kids Snacking Destination. Target shoppers will now have access to lil’gourmets veggie meals in the chilled produce aisle of select Target stores across seven Midwest states, as well as Target.com.

On our latest From the Cold Corner Podcast, I talk with Vincent Free, chairman of the Controlled Environment Building Association (CEBA) about how the organization helps bring together suppliers, sub-contractors, builders and more, to move the thermal envelope industry forward through education and networking.

Bonduelle Fresh Americas, home of Ready Pac Foods, announced that it has joined Walmart in the groundbreaking "10x20x30" initiative to root out food loss and waste from the supply chain. 10x20x30 is led by Walmart and more than 10 of the world's biggest food retailers and providers, each having committed to engage at least 20 suppliers in a "whole supply chain" approach to cutting food loss and waste in half by 2030. Bonduelle Fresh Americas supplies Walmart with Ready Pac Foods Bistro Bowl Salads and salad kits.

Bowery Farming (Bowery), the Modern Farming Company, announced today the appointment of Colin Nelson to the newly-created role of Chief Supply Chain Officer. Nelson boasts three decades of experience in end-to-end supply chain management and operations at major multinationals, including Walgreens Boots Alliance, Unilever, and GlaxoSmithKline. He joins Bowery as a member of its executive leadership team and will oversee Bowery’s seed to store operations, including procurement and planning, manufacturing and maintenance, construction and engineering, logistics, and delivery.

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille announces the launch of Perry’s Steakhouse Online Market, allowing individuals from across the United States to Chop Online. Perry's Famous Pork Chop is now available to be delivered, and Perry’s is offering complimentary handling and insulated packaging on all orders.

Brazi Bites, the top U.S. producer of naturally gluten-free Brazilian-style cheese bread, is expanding its distribution footprint to over 300 Walmart stores and will also be available online at Amazon. The brand has experienced a 60% increase in sales this year due to pandemic spending by consumers. 

Editor-in-Chief Michael Costa details how COVID-19 has helped cold storage become a hot business in 2020, and conversely how the pandemic has devastated the traditional model for foodservice distribution.

Legal guidelines for transportation and distribution of cannabis products in the U.S.

Lavva, the plant-based foods brand known for its rich Pili nut yogurt, is expanding into the milk alternative industry, which is expected to reach $21.52 billion by 2024. The Lavva Plant Milks will launch nationwide exclusively at Whole Foods Market in September 2020, with Plant Creamer following shortly thereafter in October. As the category's first Pili nut-based line, Lavva's new Unsweetened Plant Milk, Chocolate Plant Milk and Unsweetened Plant Creamer are a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to dairy and set a higher standard for plant-based alternatives.

Deepening its commitment to tapping the power of the U.S. trucking industry to improve lives, Total Quality Logistics (TQL) has pledged to cover $1 million in transportation costs for charitable loads by 2025. The nation’s second-largest freight brokerage firm is ramping up its Moves That Matter program to impact even more lives by covering the cost to haul food, water, medical supplies and other potentially life-saving goods to food banks, communities in need and nonprofits around the country.