From the Cold Corner

A little over 10 years ago, Peter Fox opened the North American subsidiary of Germany-based SOMIC Group. A 35-year veteran of the packaging industry, Fox has worked for Kraft Foods, the Pillsbury Company, Delkor Systems and Interpress Technologies. He was named CEO of SOMIC Packaging in 2021. Last year, SOMIC Packaging moved to new headquarters in Minnesota, quadrupling workspace to 48,000 square feet and allowing assembly of all new North American purchased machines. In North America, SOMIC has installed hundreds of end-of-line packaging machines with about 60% of their equipment placed with manufacturers using a refrigerated environment. Fox joins From the Cold Corner to discuss end of line and retail ready packaging for the refrigerated and frozen foods market and more. 

From supply constraints on eggs, rising cocoa prices and damaged citrus crops, to ingredient disclosure regulations, recalls and changing consumer demands, cold foods processors and manufacturers face challenges at every stage of the production process. Eimear Robertson, chief technical officer for Kerry NA, leads the research, development & applications and regulatory & scientific affairs teams in North America. She shares some of the ways F&B manufacturers are meeting market expectations through reformulating products to reduce sugar and sodium, improve flavors and enable fresher foods.

Kelley Rodriguez, editor in chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods and content manager for FA&M, Alyse Thompson-Richards, editor in chief of FOOD ENGINEERING and Michael Levitt, editor of FOOD ENGINEERING, unpack highlights from the 26th annual Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo.

As consumer and regulatory pressure put plastic in the spotlight, the next few years looks to be pivotal in the area of food packaging. What are the key drivers in developing packaging and what should cold processors and manufacturers know to prepare for looming legislation and its impact on refrigerated and frozen food packaging. Kellie Alvarado, director of sustainability at Anchor Packaging, joins From the Cold Corner to unpack the latest in sustainable plastic packaging for the cold foods industry.

ERP and MES - Enterprise Resource Planning AND Manufacturing Execution Systems – two pieces of tech that can have a powerful impact on F&B processing and manufacturing. MES helps bridge the gap between the shop floor and enterprise systems, ensuring real-time visibility, control, and optimization of manufacturing processes. Meanwhile, ERP integrates business functions across the organization, streamlining operations from finance to supply chain management. Jim has nearly 30 years specializing in computer systems that provide operational capabilities and analytic tools to drive profit maximization, competitive advantage, and customer satisfaction for F&B manufacturers.  Join us as we unpack how these two systems work together to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and drive growth for cold and frozen food manufacturers.

Founded in 1980, the Refrigerated Foods Association is celebrating 45 years as the coolest association on earth. R&FF met with leaders at the 2025 conference in Orlando to learn more about RFA and how it serves the refrigerated prepared foods segment.

Designing and installing a refrigeration system on a cold storage or frozen food production facility is challenging in and of itself but one that needs to operate efficiently and consistently in Nogales, Arizona, -- one of the hottest ambient climates in the U.S. -- coupled with changing regulations meant a whole lot of hands on deck. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Jeff Warther, senior key account manager at The Chemours Company and Luis Bustamonte, owner of Bustamonte Refrigeration, discuss the project and its challenges.

As one of the largest foodservice distribution companies in the country, US Foods, Refrigerated & Frozen Foods' 2024 Distributor of the Year, helps 250,000 foodservice clients across the country succeed every day. Gene Carbonara, vice president of ecommerce and digital, at US Foods, joins the podcast to share more about how the distributor is using technology to enhance ecommerce and more.

FOOD ENGINEERING Editors Derrick Teal and Alyse Thompson-Richards and Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Editor Kelley Rodriguez discuss the major trends affecting food manufacturing in 2024 and what they expect to see in 2025. They cover food safety, automation, sustainability, mergers & acquisitions, and more. 

A private label powerhouse, Cafe Spice produces its own branded RTE meals as well as co-manufactured and foodservice products for customers including Whole Foods, Kroger and Amazon. The company late last year began manufacturing from a 70,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility in Beacon, New York, near their original, 50,000-square-foot site in New Windsor. The Beacon site, which now accounts for nearly 90% of the company's output, is in its first phase of operation, with additional production lines coming in 2025. Cafe Spice has been named R&FF's 2024 Processor of the Year. Sameer Malhotra, CEO of Cafe Spice, Ryan Bakst, R&D manager, Giovani Gomez, vice president of quality, and Virgilio Felix, chief operating officer, sit down with the From the Cold Corner to share more.

Their clean-label massive mozzarella sticks are a branded menu item at major concert venues like Madison Square Garden and in just over a year have made it into 3,500+ retail doors. The NFRA recently celebrated Big Mozz as the winner of its inaugural Penguin Pitch competition. Matt Gallira, CEO and founder of Big Mozz, discusses transitioning from a concert staple, to a foodservice superpower, to a retail CPG, bringing to the masses.

Justin Cook, lead Consumer Products researcher at Deloitte, joins From the Cold Corner to share more about Deloitte's research into the refrigerated and frozen consumer and how F&B manufacturers and processors can work with grocers to win a bigger share-of-stomach.

Cold storage providers and distributors are always looking for ways to cut carbon footprints and boost the bottom line. For cold storage companies and 3PLs, energy is typically the second-highest operating cost behind labor. Technology can play an important role in combating rising energy costs by cutting consumption and helping cold chain operators identify their weak points. On this episode, we're talking technology in cold foods distribution with Jason Massey, CEO and co-founder of Ndustrial, and Damaris Grütter, director of U.S. & Canadian markets at Stoecklin Logistics.

Automation – the word is everywhere in the food and beverage business – but many companies are looking for a starting point. On this episode, John Koury, consulting architect for A M King, a North Carolina based design-build firm, discusses how cold food facilities can maximize their investments and add automation alongside plant renovations or expansions.

FedUp Foods, the largest private-label fermented beverage manufacturer in North America, is beginning its next chapter of growth with construction of its third production facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. Renowned for creating health-conscious beverages such as Kombucha, Prebiotic Sodas, and more, the company currently serves nine of the 12 top private label programs in North America. The Wilmington facility will allow FedUp Foods to meet growing demand and offer new products, like cold brew coffee. On this episode, Zane Adams, co-founder, and executive vice president of Strategy and Development, shares more about FedUp Foods' journey and the company's latest production facility.

The better-for-you food movement is on fire and Saffron Road is among the F&B brands leading the charge. Inspired by world cuisines, and made with high quality, ethically sourced ingredients, all Saffron Road products are Halal-certified. Led by founder and CEO Adnan Durrani, the 15-year-old company is a Certified B Corp, with products found in over 25,000 U.S. retail locations. Last month R&FF Editor in Chief Kelley Rodriguez sat down with Adnan at Frozen IQ, in Fort Worth, Texas, where he spoke on a panel about sharing the benefits of frozen foods with consumers.

Wells Enterprises, Inc. is the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the United States. Founded in 1913, the company produces more than 200 million gallons of ice cream per year and distributes products in all 50 states. Wells and its nearly 4,000 employees manufacture its signature brand Blue Bunny, lower-calorie Halo Top, the iconic Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics from Le Mars, Iowa, the “Ice Cream Capital of the World” as the largest manufacturer of ice cream in one location, and plants in Dunkirk, New York, and Henderson, Nevada. July is National Ice Cream month, and who better than to talk about all things ice cream than Brad Galles, vice president of Manufacturing and Engineering for Wells Enterprises.

Farm to Frozen: Navigating the U.S. Cold Storage Climate” is a series focused on the U.S. cold storage market, the need for infrastructure development and how food and beverage manufacturers/ processors can leverage the best option for their business. As the initial series wraps up, we are chatting with Marty Khait, principle at Yukon Real Estate Partners and author of the Farm to Frozen series.

As we wrap up National Dairy Month, From the Cold Corner is talking building a brand with Elena Umanskaya, vice president of Marketing at Lactalis Heritage Dairy. The family-owned business is among the largest dairy companies in the world and owns an impressive portfolio, including Kraft Natural Cheese and Breakstone's. 

June is National Dairy Month, and to celebrate, From the Cold Corner is talking regenerative agriculture and how Maple Hill Creamery, a grass-fed organic dairy, is using it as a force for sustainability and social responsibility. Based in upstate New York, Maple Hill Creamery sources its milk from over 130 family small family farms. Its milk, yogurt, butter and kefir is available at locations nationwide including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts and Natural Grocers. Maple Hill Creamery, along with other partners, recently received a $20 million USDA grant to lead climate-smart practices among dairy farmers.  Here to discuss that and more is Tim Joseph, co-founder of Maple Hill Creamery, one of the largest grass-fed organic dairy companies in the U.S.

Idaho's first vertically integrated dairy processing plant opened just in time for June Dairy Month, with a focus on contract manufacturing. Suntado processes and packages on site with capacity for up to 1 million pounds of locally-produced milk per day into shelf-stable and extended shelf life (ESL) milk and liquid dairy products. The 190,000-square-foot facility is the first U.S. co-manufacturer to use TetraPak's Tetra Top packaging. On this episode, we are joined by Tory Nichols, office of the CEO, Business Development, Suntado, Russ Lucas, Suntado plant manager, and Mat Rutz, vice president of contract manufacturing for Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada, to talk more about Suntado and the future of the dairy business.

The Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is an Oregon-based dairy co-op and manufacturer known for their award-winning cheese, yogurt, butter and most importantly to this story – their deliciously creamy ice cream. Tillamook's new ice cream manufacturing facility in Decatur, Illinois marks a few firsts for the company: it will be TCCA's first owned and operated manufacturing facility outside of Oregon and its only facility solely dedicated to ice cream production. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Mike Bever, executive vice president and chief Supply Chain officer at Tillamook County Creamery Association, joins us to share some ice cream insights.

For the first time in a year, Gifford's Ice Cream is making Maine's most famous ice cream after a fire ripped through production facilities, forcing the company to rely on co-packers. To get back up and running, the family-owned ice cream company carved out a smaller production area—roughly 30% of actual size once the factory is fully restored—and has two lines running to produce quarts and bulk flavors for its wholesale customers and ice cream stands. A brother and sister are part of the fifth generation of ice cream makers running the company and churning out distinctive flavors in ‘40s-era Cherry Burrell freezers. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Lindsay Skilling, CEO of Gifford's, and JC Gifford, COO, share the latest on the rebuilding process, becoming the official ice cream of the New England Patriots and more.► Read the full story

From the Cold Corner sits down with Mary Emma Young, vice president of communication at the American Frozen Food Institute, during 2024 AFFI-CON to discuss the lobbying Congress on behalf of the food industry, food safety and more.

Last summer, UPSIDE Foods, a cultivated meat, poultry and seafood company, received approvals needed by the USDA, following a greenlight from the FDA in Fall 2022. That allowed the company to start commercial production and sale of its cultivated chicken. Since then, a number of companies, like Meatable, Wanda Fish and Believer Meats, have announced plans to scale production.  As so-called cruelty-free meat moves out of the lab and into the mainstream, what is the current state of the cultivated meat industry and how soon can we expect to see it on menus? On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Stephanie Lind, founder of ah-lo-hi Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm specializing in food and beverage Sebastian Bohn, sub-market leader of alternative proteins at CRB, an architecture and engineering firm specializing in the F&B space, discuss the current state of the cultivated – or cell-based – meat and what we can expect in the future.

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Don Olsen, vice president of design and operations at ESI Group, discusses what food manufacturers and processors should know about the design-build process for cold and frozen facilities.

Afia started in 2017 at an Austin area Farmer's Market and moved into retail in 2018 with the H-E-B Quest for Texas' Best program. In the years since, the company has grown to a national brand with 13,000 distribution points and three lines of frozen Mediterranean/Middle Eastern Food.On this episode, Farrah and Yassin Sibai, of Afia, discuss their newly-opened “purpose built” frozen food production space in Taylor, Texas, and what's ahead for the brand.

Welcome to From the Cold Corner, a podcast dedicated to the refrigerated and frozen foods' cold chain. Marty Khait, co-founder and managing principal at Yukon Real EstatePartners, and author of R&FF's special series, Farm to Frozen, joins R&FF Editor in Chief Kelley Rodriguez to discuss what's ahead in 2024 for the U.S. cold storage market.

With inflation anticipated to ease in 2024 and changing consumer preferences, new research indicates that specific grocery departments will lead the pack in volume growth. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president and practice leader at Circana, discusses what is ahead in the New Year.

Armored Fresh, a South Korean food tech startup, wants to be the cheese alternative everyone asks for. The company was the first in the world to create vegan cheese from plant-based milk using fermentation technology and patented processes it says creates a product nearly indistinguishable from dairy-based cheese. Andrew Yu, vice president of American operations at Armored Fresh, joins From the Cold Corner to discuss how the company's patented tech could change the cheese game.

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're celebrating Refrigerated & Frozen Foods' 2023 Processor of the Year: SunOpta. A global pioneer in the sustainable food and beverage industry, SunOpta has achieved consistent growth and deep-rooted success for nearly 50 years. Collaborating with some of the most planet-friendly brands in the world, SunOpta produces 450 total organic, non-GMO plant-based and specialty products, including plant-based beverages and ingredients, and fruit-based ingredients and snacks. Lauren McNamara, vice president of Plant-based Food & Beverage Business, and Bryan Clark, Senior Vice President of Research & Development and Quality Assurance, join From the Cold Corner to discuss how the Minnesota-based company is focused on sustainably building a plant-based future.

To learn more about how food manufacturers and processors are creating the latest in craveable, consumable foods, this episode of From the Cold Corner features joined by Stacey Kinkaid, vice president of Product Development and Innovation at US Foods, and Chris Glab, chief innovation officer at Wild Brine/Bubbies. They talk about research into Gen Z dining and eating trends, how their companies approach R&D and what's on the horizon for new refrigerated and frozen foods.

It certainly seems like a hot time to be in cold storage development. This episode of From the Cold Corner features Marty Khait, co-founder and managing principal at Yukon Real Estate Partners, and author of R&FF's special series, Farm to Frozen, to discuss new options in cold storage and more.

At Refrigerated and Frozen Foods, we talk a lot about how cold foods are produced, processed and manufactured. But what happens once those foods are ready to be distributed to retailers across the country where they will ultimately end up in consumer's homes? This episode honors Longbow Advantage, R&FF's 2023 Logistics Provider of the Year, and discusses the ways in which technology and automation are changing the food logistics landscape. We're joined by Mike Babiak, director of supply chain technology at Longbow Advantage, and Pratik Jagad, chief product officer at nuVizz, a delivery and transportation platform specializing in last-mile delivery technology.

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by three guests to discuss the latest in food processing trends and cold foods manufacturing: Craig Susser of Craig's Vegan, a California plant-based ice cream company. Created in 2016, it was a hit in Susser's West Hollywood restaurant and by 2018, the brand had launched a pint-sized line of its cashew-based ice creams in six flavors at over 2,000 retailers nationwide. Bob Grote, CEO of Grote Company, an Ohio-based manufacturer of slicing and food processing equipment. Started with the Peppamatic over 50 years ago, Grote Company has diversified through the acquisitions of Vanmark, Advanced Food Technology, GME International and Pizzamatic. And David Sawicki, business unit leader at A M King, a Charlotte, NC-based integrated Design-Build firm, specializing in the design and construction of large-scale, complex food facilities. With over 25 years in the construction industry managing projects across the country, Sawicki's expertise includes adaptive reuse, cold storage and food processing. 

Schwan's Hearth & Fire, a frozen pizza line created with proprietary dough and a fermentation process that makes the perfect crust. With premium toppings like roast shiitake, Portobello and cremini mushrooms, whole basil leaves and goat cheese, the brand is winning over fans. So many in fact that it was voted by readers as Refrigerated & Frozen Foods' Best New Retail Product for 2023!  On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Roger Bentz, principal food scientist with Schwans, Shelly Heid, senior director of Product Development for Schwan's; Brian Thompson, Senior Marketing Manager for Hearth & Fire and Suman Nag, senior director of e-commerce for Schwans, to discuss their winning pizza, its production, packaging and more.

In honor of June Dairy Month, meet sisters Stephanie and Hayley Painter, the duo behind Painterland Sisters Organic Skyr Yogurt, which launched in 2022, to preserve, showcase and utilize their family's fourth-generation organic dairy farm. The Icelandic-style organic yogurt is thicker and creamier. It is lactose-free, rich in probiotics, high in protein and contains 13 essential nutrients.  Painterland Sisters skyr is made from organic whole milk and their five flavors are sweetened naturally using fruits and cane sugar. This spring, they expanded distribution to include Whole Foods Market, Natural Grocers, Sprouts Farmers Market, Giant Food stores and more. Currently found in over 1,500 locations in 45 states, Painterland Sisters has already sold over $1 million in skyr, and their sights are set on nationwide distribution.  Stephanie and Hayley Painter join us to talk more about regenerative dairy farming and how their yogurt is made.

Food companies and retailers regularly donate foods to charitable organizations but often lack the capability to store and distribute those donations. Cooler Management, an Ohio-based company that designs and delivers cold storage solutions, recently launched a program to help solve the infrastructure dilemma and distribute more fresh foods to food banks, schools, retailers and more. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Mark Inrott, CEO of Cooler Management, joins us to discuss his passion for sports, nutrition and agriculture and how we can look for new ways to feed hungry Americans. And, if the name Mark Inkrott sounds familiar, you might have seen him on Sundays. He played football in both college and the NFL, a tight end for teams including the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants.

Learn why a loading dock designed with a Drive-Thru applications is the gold standard for facilities like cold storage, food, beverage (and more!) and how it helps protects your employees, minimizes damage to equipment and goods, while saving money on your bottom-line through environmental control. Sponsored by: 

Sales of plant-based foods topped $7 billion in 2021, with retail sales growing three times faster than total food retail sales, according to the Plant-Based Foods Association. As demand from consumers for plant-based foods, especially protein alternatives in the meat and dairy aisles, continues to grow, data suggests alt-proteins will only move further into the mainstream. On this two-part episode of From the Cold Corner, we'll focus on some of the emerging trends in plant-based foods. For part 2, we're joined by Christine Lewington, CEO of PIP International, a Canadian-based pea protein company.

Sales of plant-based foods topped $7 billion in 2021, with retail sales growing three times faster than total food retail sales, according to the Plant-Based Foods Association. As demand from consumers for plant-based foods, especially protein alternatives in the meat and dairy aisles, continues to grow, data suggests alt-proteins will only move further into the mainstream. On this two-part episode of From the Cold Corner, we'll focus on some of the emerging trends in plant-based foods. For part 1, we're joined by Alison Rabschnuk, Business Development Director – Plant based foods at Kerry Taste & Nutrition.

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Dustin Norton, Sustainability Program Manager at Primus Builders, to discuss sustainability initiatives, LEED certification and more in the design and construction of cold storage facilities.

This year marks the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA)'s 40th annual celebration of March Frozen Food Month! On this episode of From the Cold Corner, NFRA Executive Vice President and COO, Tricia Greyshock, and Angela Rosenquist, chief growth officer at InnovAsian Cuisine and chair of the NFRA Promotions Committee, discuss March Frozen Food Month and more.

The demand for refrigerated and frozen foods remains robust. For example, a survey released in November by the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) found more than a quarter of shoppers are buying more frozen fruits and vegetables than three years ago. And over 90% of foodservice operators reported using frozen foods in their menus, with the healthcare, convenience store and fast casual categories measuring the greatest increase in use since 2019. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, AFFI President and CEO, Alison Bodor, and the RFA Technical Director, Doug Marshall, join us to discuss the state of the cold chain in 2023.

As Argentina and soccer fans around the world celebrate, there's little doubt that scores of hungry fans in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup dined on a Devanco Foods product: the Chicago-based company shipped more than a half million pounds of halal beef bacon and deli meats into the country ahead of the tournament. It's no wonder that Devanco Foods has been named the 2023 Refrigerated and Frozen Foods' Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year.  On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Parker King, national sales manager for Devanco Foods, and Janine Zenner, Founder of Zacca Hummus, who joined the Devanco family a few years ago, to discuss Devanco's products and plans for the future. 

As Argentina and soccer fans around the world celebrate, there's little doubt that scores of hungry fans in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup dined on a Devanco Foods product: the Chicago-based company shipped more than a half million pounds of halal beef bacon and deli meats into the country ahead of the tournament. It's no wonder that Devanco Foods has been named the 2023 Refrigerated and Frozen Foods' Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year.  On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Parker King, national sales manager for Devanco Foods, and Janine Zenner, Founder of Zacca Hummus, who joined the Devanco family a few years ago, to discuss Devanco's products and plans for the future. 

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Grady McAdams, northwest region and cold storage sales leader at Heatcraft, and John Tippmann, Vice President of Sales Strategy at the Tippmann Group, to discuss the coming year in cold storage.

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Grady McAdams, northwest region and cold storage sales leader at Heatcraft, and John Tippmann, Vice President of Sales Strategy at the Tippmann Group, to discuss the coming year in cold storage.

Godshall's starts with premium cuts of Angus Steak seasoned with traditional steakhouse spices and slowly smoke using real wood. Their Uncured Beef Bacon made with Angus Steak delivers on great taste and versatility. It cooks just like pork bacon, but with 50% less fat and has just 40 calories per serving. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Francis Yupangco, executive director of marketing, to discuss the brand's new products, rebranding, a facility expansion and more. Read more about their story here and listen to the podcast by clicking the button below.

Godshall's starts with premium cuts of Angus Steak seasoned with traditional steakhouse spices and slowly smoke using real wood. Their Uncured Beef Bacon made with Angus Steak delivers on great taste and versatility. It cooks just like pork bacon, but with 50% less fat and has just 40 calories per serving. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Francis Yupangco, executive director of marketing, to discuss the brand's new products, rebranding, a facility expansion and more. Read more about their story here and listen to the podcast by clicking the button below.

With Thanksgiving and the holiday season quickly approaching, we're talkin' turkey. Known as the leader in Thanksgiving turkeys, Butterball recently released its 2022 Thanksgiving Outlook report. Kyle Lock, vice president of Marketing for Butterball, joins us to some consumer insights and turkey tips.