Will you back up what you believe? They used to say, “Put your money where your mouth is.”
I say suggest you put your money where their mouth is. Actually, I see cold food processors spending millions to address consumer and customer concerns. In fact, this month’s cover feature showcases four next-generation food factories (all Greenfield operations) where processors quite literally address consumer and/or customer concerns.
Want to talk about food safety? New plants from OSI Group (meat) and Sabra (dips) are process engineered so employees rarely, barely touch product until it’s packaged. Meanwhile, Dairy Farmers of America invested millions in renovations in Fort Morgan, Colo. – and followed it up with intensive Safe Quality Food process upgrades.
Want to talk about the environment? Sabra’s new Colonial Heights, Va., plant is among the nation’s first refrigerated facilities to earn a LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This winter also found a national food distributor submitting its new Texas site as one of the nation’s first LEED-certified multi-temp (frozen, refrigerated, dry) warehouses (see “LEED by example, p. 16).
New food plants at Request Foods (entrees) and Café Valley Bakery have more to do with pleasing would-be customers. These new operations showcase entirely new capabilities for both companies.
On a personal note:I’m going, going … but not gone.
I’m not good at saying goodbye … so I won’t. But I will tell you that I’m changing jobs after more than 21 years as a founding editor of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods.
Effective this March, I’ve become the chief editor for Prepared Foods, a sister magazine within the same company, BNP Media. Whereas Refrigerated & Frozen Foods serves each one of a company’s senior leaders and functional department heads, Prepared Foods specializes on food and beverage product trends (all temps), news and technical developments for food scientists, corporate chefs and R&D team members.
Because I’m staying within the BNP family, I’ll remain active (behind the scenes) in R&FF’s editorial product and processes. Then again, I’m giving up hairnets and freezer warehouse tours for a new life of R&D lab coats.
Truth is, I don’t look good in hairnets anyway.
Effective immediately, the new “me” will be a “she.” I’m pleased to introduce Marina Mayer as Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ new editor. Marina has 10 years of business-to-business writing and has served the past four years as an executive editor for BNP Media’s Dairy Foods and Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery titles.
Please welcome her! You may call Marina at (847) 405-4008 or contact her at mayerm@bnpmedia.com.
Put your money where their mouth is
By Bob Garrison
March 1, 2012
Bob Garrison came in from the cold. A founding editor of BNP Media's Refrigerated & Frozen Foods (R&FF) Bob has profiled industry-leading companies, explored corporate strategies and covered food product development trends at more than 150 leading private and CPG companies since 1989. He has chronicled the histories of leading brands and businesses, including Gorton's, ConAgra Frozen Foods (Banquet) and Swanson's frozen TV dinners. He also has interviewed or profiled such food industry leaders as Mike Harper (ConAgra), Don Tyson and frozen bagel icon Murray Lender.
