Year: 2024

Formost Fuji adds Patrick Harp to sales team

EVERETT, WA — Formost Fuji, a packaging equipment manufacturer, bolstered its sales team with the addition of Patrick Harp as regional sales manager and major accounts coordinator.

“With a focus on enhancing customer relationships and supporting our regional sales managers, Patrick will play a key role in driving synergy and success across all levels of our sales process,” said Dennis Gunnell, president of Formost Fuji. “We welcome Patrick and his experience to Formost Fuji and look forward to him working shoulder to shoulder with our team.”

Harp started his sales career in custom machinery automation and integration before joining the industrial baking industry. Most recently, Harp addressed industry downtime challenges through an AI service software startup where he improved the remote support process for machine suppliers and end users.

In his new roles, Harp will promote seamless communication between corporate and regional customers and handle sales for the South-Central region, including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.

“I came to know Formost Fuji while I was promoting our new video collaboration software to the industry,” Harp said. “The way Dennis and his team interacted with me was very genuine and sincere, the best a salesman could hope for! Little did I know that years later, this opportunity would present itself. I had heard about Formost Fuji’s excellent reputation, but I had also experienced it first-hand and so for me; I am very appreciative to be a part of the team and to help amplify what they already have going.”



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UK’s Ginmeister brands absorbed by new Pinkster Drinks Company

Pinkster Gin raspberry infused gin. Credit: @PinksterGin / X

UK-based Ginmeister, producer of small batch Pinkster Gin, has sold its brands to a newly formed group, Pinkster Drinks Company.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Ginmeister ceased operations at the end of last week following the acquisition agreement, Stephen Marsh, the former managing director of Ginmeister, told Just Drinks.

Pinkster Gin will be taken over by Pinkster Drinks Co., while stock will be managed by local distributor and importer JBE Imports, he said.

The deal also includes Ginmeister’s Hedgepig fruit gin liqueurs, which are sold to a small number of delis around the UK.

Production will also move following the acquisition. Both brands were previously produced at Dean’s Farm in Croydon, Cambridgeshire. Output will now move to a third-party manufacturer, Cranes Drinks, located nearby.

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Marsh is expected to remain working with both brands, with a particular focus on building expansion plans for Pinkster Gin. Ginmeister’s team of five employees will also move over to Pinkster Drinks Co., Marsh said.

Pinkster Drinks Co. was set up in June by Steven Sussman, former chairman at wealth management group JM Finn, Gus Hinton, former head of operations at Ginmeister and Amy Norris, previously Pinkster Gin’s first head of sales.

In a statement, Hinton, now operations director at Pinkster Drinks Co., said: “We have big plans for Pinkster Gin and are delighted to be working with such experienced industry players as Stephen Marsh and Jonathan Braham-Everett to help bring those plans to fruition.”

Marsh added: “I look forward to supporting the new owners with their investment plans to accelerate the trajectory of the Pinkster brand forward into the next decade and to build upon the reputation for quality that we have earned over the past decade.”

Launched in 2013, Pinkster Gin’s is mainly sold to the on-trade across the UK. It is also available in the off-trade through online sites like Amazon and Ocado and independent stores.

Up until last year, Marsh said the group had a total annual production capacity of 10,000 nine-litre cases.

Outside of the UK, the brand is sold in Dubai in travel-retail outlets. Following the purchase, Marsh said Pinkster’s “primary focus is going to be the UK but with a growing interest in export”.

Marsh declined to say where these future export markets might be.






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Registration open for 2024 USMEF Strategic Planning Conference

Registration is open for the 2024 USMEF Strategic Planning Conference, set for Nov. 6-8 at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz. Oct. 9 is the last day to receive the discounted rate.

The meeting agenda is packed with relevant and insightful topics. The Nov. 6 opening general session will feature Jim Wiesemeyer, a journalist and Washington, D.C., insider, who will deliver an up-to-date analysis on the impact of the presidential election and its potential effects on U.S. trade policy.

On Nov. 7, the general session will feature Dave Juday, founder and principal of The Juday Group, a market and policy analysis firm. He will offer an overview of geopolitics in relation to U.S. agriculture and exports, emphasizing both opportunities and challenges.

Additionally, key trading partners are experiencing changes at the highest levels of government, such as a new administration in Mexico, leadership changes within Japan’s ruling party and political shifts in Europe. The conference will also explore the impact of these developments.

For the Nov. 8 closing session, Wiesemeyer will return to provide further updates as the election’s consequences become clearer. Additionally, USMEF’s international team will discuss how they are leveraging Regional Agricultural Promotion Program funds to expand global demand for U.S. red meat and further diversify export markets.

In addition to the general sessions, the Beef, Pork, Exporter and Feedgrain/Oilseed breakouts will offer detailed discussions on topics pertinent to each sector. All registrants are welcome and encouraged to participate in any breakout sessions, regardless of their membership sector.

Source: U.S. Meat Export Federation



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Posted on Author Categories Protein

Checkers & Rally’s brings on Chris Tebben as president, CEO

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc., parent company of Checkers & Rally’s, has named Chris Tebben president and CEO effective Sept. 4, according to a press release.

Tebben succeeds Frances Allen, who announced in April that she was stepping down in order to focus on board work.

Chris Tebben Photo: Checkers & Rally’s

“After a thorough search process, we are very pleased to welcome Chris to the Checkers & Rally’s organization. His comprehensive experience in nearly every aspect of restaurant leadership, coupled with his proven track record of delivering sales, traffic, and unit growth, make him a perfect fit to take these brands to the next level,” said David Barr, Checkers & Rally’s independent Board member. “On behalf of the entire Checkers & Rally’s family, I would like to thank Frances Allen for her leadership and dedicated service, and we wish her the best on all her future plans.”

Tebben joins the brand has served in leadership roles at Mars, Starbucks, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Pizza Hut, among others. Prior to joining Checkers, Tebben served as president of Mars Retail Group, leading the M&M’s retail arm. He also served as Starbucks VP of retail strategy, VP of licenses stores and VP of Starbucks Frappuccino and Tea businesses.

“I have been honored to lead Checkers & Rally’s for nearly five years, and I am proud of all that the organization accomplished, especially given the unprecedented challenges of COVID, staffing, and inflationary pressures,” Frances Allen, who has served as president and CEO of Checkers since February of 2020, said in the press release. “As I depart, I am delighted to welcome Chris to the organization, and I am confident that he not only has the right professional experience to lead and grow this business, he also has a leadership personality that will make for a great cultural fit with our franchisees, operators, and teams.”

Tebben said he is fortunate to inherit a strong foundation laid by Allen and the current leadership team in place.

I am honored that the Board has entrusted me to steward the Checkers & Rally’s brands into their next chapter of profitable growth,” Tebben said in the press release. “I couldn’t be more excited to lead these two iconic brands that have endured for over 40 years by serving up craveable burgers and the best fries in the business, while delivering a tremendous value proposition for both customers and franchisees. As I look to the future, I believe Checkers & Rally’s is primed to exceed consumers’ rising expectations when it comes to hyper-convenience, and I look forward to working with the team to continue to innovate in every area of our business.

“As I take on this leadership role, I am humbled by the honor to lead more than 4,700 company team members and nearly 150 franchise partners, and at the same time, excited about the mission before us. It is through working as one team that we will win in delivering incredible food, service, and value to our customers and unlimited opportunity to our team members and franchisees. I am confident that working together we will deliver growth for years to come.”

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants operates almost 800 Checkers and Rally’s restaurants.



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Starmer to reset EU relations with post-Brexit German deal

Keir Starmer has hailed a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to fix the UK’s relationship with the EU, as he aims for a treaty with Germany.

The prime minister is meeting German chancellor Olaf Scholz for talks on a new deal that would boost business and trade and improve the country’s relations with the bloc.

Starmer said he hoped a new cooperation agreement between the two countries would help “turn a corner” on Brexit as “part of a wider reset” of European relations.

A treaty covering areas such as trade, defence, energy and science and technology is expected to be signed by early next year.

However, the PM told a press conference that seeking closer relations with EU countries did “not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or customs union”.

“But it does mean a closer relationship on a number of fronts, including the economy, including defence, including exchanges,” he added.

The EU remains Britain’s largest food & drink trading partner, accounting for more than half of exports (58% or £3.3bn) and 70% (or £10.5bn) in imports in Q1 2024 alone, according to data from the FDF.

Germany alone was the UK’s fifth largest exports market in the first quarter of the year.

Labour has previously pledged to work on a veterinary deal with the EU to reduce costly border checks on animal and plant goods, which have been in place since April this year.

But it is unclear whether Brussels wants to look into making major changes to the current Brexit trade deal, which is set for revision in 2026.

Read more: First Brexit common user charge bills serve bitter shock to food industry

The EU has proposed plans for a youth mobility scheme, which would give EU citizens aged 18 to 30 easier paths to study and work in the UK for a limited period, with the same benefits given to British people in Europe.

But, as he spoke at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Starmer said his government had no plans for a youth mobility scheme, stating the focus was on the bilateral treaty.

Scholz welcomed the improvement of UK-EU relations, saying Britain had always been “an indispensable partner” and “nothing has changed after Brexit”.

Starmer said: “We want a close relationship of course, and I do think that can extend across defence, security, education and cultural exchange, and of course trade. But we didn’t go into the details of that today. 

The two leaders also agreed on a joint action plan to tackle illegal immigration and smuggling mafias by sharing more intelligence.

This was Starmer’s first trip to Germany since becoming prime minister. He will shortly head to France to meet president Emmanuel Macron.

One EU source told The Times: “It is good to see Starmer in the European capitals but he must, as I am sure he does, realise that any access to the EU’s single market comes with obligations on mobility and alignment with European laws, on food safety for example.”





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Tim Hortons Restaurants across Alberta Raises more than $200,000 for Canadian Red Cross




Photo Credit: iStockPhoto.com/portfolio/mikeinlondon

CALGARY — Tim Hortons restaurants across Alberta have raised more than $200,000 through the sale of its Alberta Cares Doughnuts in support of Canadian Red Cross’s 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal.

“We’re incredibly grateful that guests across Alberta have supported their friends and neighbours who were impacted by the devastating wildfires earlier this summer,” says Jason Gash, general manager of Western Canada for Tim Hortons. “Through the support of each and every guest across the province who purchased an Alberta Cares Doughnut, residents in Jasper and other affected areas in Alberta have additional support from their neighbours to help re-build their homes and communities.”

The donation will support those impacted by wildfires in Jasper and other areas of Alberta with immediate and ongoing relief including financial assistance, support to evacuees and the communities hosting them, recovery and resilience efforts in response to the wildfires, as well as supporting community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard disaster events within Alberta.






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Fresh Inset Brings Vidre+ Complex to U.S.



Fresh Inset is introducing Vidre+ Complex, its technology that unlocks the full potential of 1-MCP (1-Methylcyclopropene) application across the entire supply chain, to the United States. 

Vidre+ makes every existing type of fresh produce packaging and label functional and adaptable into a smart version with adjustable protection against the negative effects of ethylene. Vidre+ Stickers, a flagship product, can be tailored to optimize size and dose rate, ensuring effective protection for ethylene-sensitive produce in any type or size of packaging, including cardboard boxes, bags, trays and clamshells. Branding and white-label opportunities are also available.

The patented timed and gradual release of 1-MCP in Vidre+ technology ensures a controlled application effectively extending the freshness, quality, appearance and nutrient values of produce. This approach provides optimal protection during storage, transport and retail.

“Research has proven Vidre+ is effective on cherries, blueberries, raspberries, table grapes, limes, tomatoes, avocados, leafy greens, broccoli, peppers and more,” says Tim Malefyt, Fresh Inset’s chief technology officer. “It can be used right after harvest as well as during transport or storage to provide days to weeks (depending on the crop type) of additional shelf life to freshly harvested produce, helping to keep its quality and nutritional value and remain fit for the market. We are excited to offer a solution that extends beyond apples and pears to benefit many other produce categories. This is a game changer.”

Vidre+ has received GRAS status by the FDA and is already revolutionizing 1-MCP delivery with the Vidre+ functional sticker. But there is more on the horizon for Fresh Inset. The company is disrupting and de-commoditizing the flexible and cardboard packaging industries with Vidre+ Complex by empowering PE, PP, PET films and paper cardboard that carry Vidre+ technology with the ability to extend freshness, without creating additional landfill waste.

“The use of Vidre+ to combat the negative effects of ethylene and extend produce shelf life is not new,” said Kevin Frye, Fresh Inset’s VP market development, North America. “However, Fresh Inset has taken it to the next level with dose rate flexibility and gradual release technology that is operationally simple, affordable and enhances profitability. This is an incredibly exciting innovation that is garnering unprecedented interest amongst growers, packers, shippers and retailers alike, as they can all easily incorporate it into their operations and benefit from it, while increasing their sustainability efforts toward food waste reduction. Packaging companies are equally excited about the ability to empower their existing bags, boxes and clamshells with a freshness function and deliver added value packaging to their customers that will actually improve the freshness and quality of their produce.”



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Barry Callebaut Appoints New President in North America

Natasha Chen has been appointed president North America of the Barry Callebaut Group, effective September 16, 2024. She succeeds Ben De Schryver who has decided to leave the company to pursue other opportunities. 

In her new role, Chen will oversee Barry Callebaut’s North America business across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Chen will be reporting directly to CEO Peter Feld and will also join the company’s extended leadership team. 

An American national, Chen has a strong history of driving growth and providing excellent service to her customers. She brings extensive U.S. and international leadership experience in both B2B and  B2C environments. 

Most recently, she led the global healthcare division at Ecolab, the global B2B sustainability company specializing in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions. Prior to that, she spent more than two decades at consumer goods company Colgate-Palmolive, where she occupied various business management and marketing roles across three regions and different geographies. Chen holds an MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. 

Group CEO Peter Feld commented on the appointment: “We are delighted to welcome Natasha to Barry Callebaut. She is a skilled international leader with a deep understanding of the North  American market, digitalization and sustainability, which will be instrumental for us to create a more  impactful service for our North American customers. With her extensive experience in taking customer focus to the next level and transforming businesses, Natasha will be invaluable as we strive to create the best chocolate solutions and services for our customers. We would also like to thank Ben for his extraordinary dedication and commitment over the past 25 years, including his three years of service as our Group CFO. His contributions have significantly shaped our company’s history. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” 



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US FDA developing post-market assessment process for chemicals in food – Food Packaging Forum

On August 20, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a document outlining a proposed new process for the post-market assessment of chemicals used in food and food contact materials. With the process, the FDA hopes to “identify and target chemicals currently in the food supply for assessment in a structured manner based on risk.” This includes “food additives, color additives, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances, substances used in contact with food, and those chemicals present as unintentional (for example, environmental) contaminants.” 

To be undertaken by the new Human Foods Program (FPF reported), this process would involve first reviewing the available information on food chemicals, performing “triage” to rate the quality of information available, and then decide what needs to be assessed. Assessments will be divided into less intensive “focused assessments” or if needed, a “comprehensive assessment.” 

Focused assessments are meant to take 4-12 months and be done completely internally in the FDA. It would involve a review of newly available information to “determine if substances or ingredients intentionally added to food continue to meet the ‘reasonable certainty of no harm’ standard”. Depending on the outcome, substance(s) may be referred for comprehensive review.  

Comprehensive reviews would involve stakeholder engagement, performing full risk and safety assessments, and considering larger risk management options including regulation. The FDA anticipates that comprehensive reviews may take years to complete.  

The FDA will hold a public meeting to discuss the proposed assessment strategy on September 25, 2024. Public comment on the proposal is due by December 6, 2024.  

 

References 

US FDA (August 20, 2024). “Discussion paper development of an enhanced systematic process for the FDA’s post-market assessment of chemicals in food.”  

US FDA (August 9, 2024). “FDA to Hold Public Meeting on the Development of an Enhanced Systematic Process for FDA’s Post-Market Assessment of Chemicals in Food.”  

Read more 

Keller & Heckman (August 6, 2024). “FDA to Hold Public Meeting on Post-Market Chemical Assessment.” The Daily Intake 

Julia John (August 22, 2024). “US FDA eyes two-tiered revisitation of substances in food supply.” Chemical Watch News & Insight 



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Derry Group Ireland finalist in Road Transport Operator of the Year award

London, UK: Derry Group Ireland has been shortlisted for the title of “Road Transport Operator of the Year” at the Logistics Awards 2024, run by Logistics UK. Derry Group Ireland specialises in the storage, order picking and distribution of chilled and frozen product throughout Ireland with depots in Armagh (NI), Dublin and Cork (Republic of Ireland).

Gist has been shortlisted in the “Decarbonisation Champion of the Year” category while Ceva Logistics and XPO Logistics are finalists in the “Diversity & Inclusion Champion of the Year” category.

Megan Lynch from Ceva Logistics and Zoe Middleton from Kerry Logistics UK have both been shortlisted in the “Rising Star of the Year category”.

David Wells, chief executive of Logistics UK, said: “The entries for our 2024 Logistics Awards demonstrate the excellence and diversity of our sector, with organisations and individuals from across the industry recognised for their high standards and commitment to delivering for customers.

“I know that our board is going to have a very tough challenge in deciding on the eventual winners, and everyone shortlisted should be incredibly proud of their achievement in making it thus far – to do so is testament to their excellence and the work which they deliver for customers. “

The awards will take place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London on December 12.



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