Category: Processing Equipment

Bolthouse Fresh Foods is unveiling its newly designed corporate logo, which will roll out this fall to celebrate its century-long heritage as one of North America’s largest producers of carrots. 

This rebranding, themed “Modern Roots,” combines modernity with authenticity, bringing a fresh, dynamic and innovative spirit to Bolthouse Fresh Food’s products.

“Bolthouse Fresh Foods is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of our consumers by offering high-quality, nutrient-rich fresh products that excel in today’s ever-evolving market,” says Timothy Escamilla, CEO of Bolthouse Fresh Foods.

Beyond its refreshed corporate logo, Bolthouse Fresh Foods is revealing its new consumer brand, Bolthouse Fresh, and packaging for its consumer-facing portfolio of fresh carrots and on-the-go snacking solutions. Consumers will begin to see Bolthouse Fresh products with bold and playful designs rolling out this fall. 

“Bolthouse Fresh Foods is proud of our focus on fresh produce and natural ingredients, prioritizing best-in-class agriculture practices to ensure the best quality carrots,” Escamilla says. “Bolthouse Fresh Foods is taking every opportunity to reinforce our position as a category leader, and our vibrant brand look mirrors the energy our team brings to each partner and customer relationship. Our goal is to reinvigorate the produce aisle to meet the demands of today’s consumers while building a connection with the next generation. In-store, consumers will find it much easier to gain inspiration across our extensive Bolthouse Fresh conventional, organic and value-added fresh carrot varieties.” 

Bolthouse Fresh Foods partner FreshMade created the new corporate brand identity and Bolthouse Fresh packaging designs.  

“The new packaging across the fresh carrot portfolio is designed to engage consumers with eye-catching colors that highlight usage occasions,” says Karen White, vice president of marketing, Bolthouse Fresh Foods. “It was crucial that our branding ignite excitement for all shoppers, and this design has achieved just that. Months of consumer research, testing and creative exploration brought us to the new brand and package designs.”

The Bolthouse Fresh Foods brand and Bolthouse Fresh portfolio will be fully revealed at the National Association of Convenience Stores Trade Show Oct. 8-10, 2024, in Las Vegas, as well as the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show from Oct. 17-19 in Atlanta.

Hardy Process Solutions is introducing a line of accurate, rugged and reliable drum scales that provide flexibility in size and capacity for use in a range of drum weighing applications. 

HIDS Drum Scales are built to perform and last in heavy industrial environments, yet they are easy to use and install with the latest advancements in weighing technology. 

Hardy Drum Scales are available in painted steel with alkyd enamel paint with a tread deck or smooth deck in two sizes: 30 by 30 in. and 36 by 36 in. Each size comes in 500, 1,500 and 3,000 lb. capacities. They feature access holes in the decks for load cell servicing and cleaning. With a deck height of 1.5 in., they are easy to load and unload with an optional 12-in. ramp.  

Purpose-built accessories such as indicator columns, ramps and Hardy swivel mount weighing instruments extend ease of use and compatibility for a range of applications. Weight processors can be mounted on the indicator column or mounted on a wall nearby for easy reading.  

HIDS Drum scales are engineered for low maintenance and greater reliability in heavy-use applications. They include Hardy Process Toolbox features, including C2 automatic calibration, which saves time and the cost of a scale technician for calibration. A built-in HI6011 Junction box with Integrated Technician saves on the cost of using a service for diagnostics and troubleshooting. Users just level the deck, attach the included 20-ft. cable to the weighing instrument, calibrate (if users are operating a C2 compatible instrument, they only need to set a reference), verify and begin weighing. This saves hours over leveling and balancing the scale with unmatched load cells.

“Hardy has built its C2 weight-free calibration technology into every scale, delivering the lowest total cost of ownership on the market,” says Jeff Moen, product manager. “C2 calibration saves time during commissioning and replacement, removes extra personnel from processing areas, and keeps your manufacturing process cleaner by eliminating the need for potentially contaminated test weights.”

The heart of any scale is the load sensors. All HIDS Scales come standard with four matched stainless steel, IP67 HISLB load cells calibrated for mV/V and mV/V/ohm. This eliminates the need for corner adjustment and potentiometers in the junction box, allowing a sensor to be replaced without calibration. With a threaded hole into which the load cell foot is attached, the load is applied at a precise location to provide an accurate reading, weighment after weighment.

Reading Bakery Systems (RBS) has appointed baking industry veteran David Welch as sales manager for Europe. 

In this role, Welch will be responsible for selling RBS equipment and process solutions to clients across the region. 

“David brings a wealth of biscuit, cookie and cracker experience, which will expand our already strong position in the European snack market,” says Joe Pocevicius, director, EMEA & APAC for RBS. “His deep process and technical knowledge will undoubtedly make him a key contributor to the ongoing growth of RBS and our customers in Europe.”

Welch is a senior engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in food manufacturing, primarily focused on biscuit, cookie and cracker production. Prior to joining RBS, he held positions including commissioning engineer, engineering project manager and chief engineer at Baker Perkins. Additionally, he worked as engineering project manager at Cerealto, overseeing the implementation and start-up of a new facility.  

Welch holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Aston University, Birmingham, UK.

Mars, Incorporated is set to expand its snacking portfolio by acquiring Kellanova for $35.9 billion.

Kellanova, which was formed last year after Kellogg’s spun off its global snacking and plant-based food business, offers brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies Treats, NutriGrain and RXBAR, as well as including Kellogg’s (international), Eggo and MorningStar Farms. In 2023, Kellanova logged net sales of more than $13 billion, with a presence in 180 markets and approximately 23,000 employees.

Kellanova’s portfolio complements the existing Mars portfolio, which includes billion-dollar snacking and confectionery brands such as Snickers, M&M’S, Twix, Dove and Extra, as well as KIND and Nature’s Bakery. Mars also has 10 pet care brands with over $1 billion in sales. With more than 150,000 associates across its petcare, snacking and food businesses, Mars had 2023 net sales of more than $50 billion.

“In welcoming Kellanova’s portfolio of growing global brands, we have a substantial opportunity for Mars to further develop a sustainable snacking business that is fit for the future,” says Poul Weihrauch, CEO and office of the president, Mars, Incorporated. “We will honor the heritage and innovation behind Kellanova’s incredible snacking and food brands while combining our respective strengths to deliver more choice and innovation to consumers and customers. We have tremendous respect for the storied legacy that Kellanova has built and look forward to welcoming the Kellanova team.”

Upon completion of the transaction, Kellanova will become part of Mars Snacking, led by Global President Andrew Clarke and headquartered in Chicago. Mars intends to apply its brand-building approach to further nurture and grow Kellanova’s brands, including accelerating innovation to meet evolving consumer tastes and preferences, investing locally to expand reach and introducing more better-for-you nutrition options to meet evolving consumer needs.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mars will acquire all outstanding equity of Kellanova for $83.50 per share in cash. All of Kellanova’s brands, assets and operations, including its snacking brands, portfolio of international cereal and noodles, North American plant-based foods and frozen breakfast are included in the transaction.

Mars intends to fully finance the acquisition through a combination of cash-on-hand and new debt, for which commitments have been secured.

The agreement has been unanimously approved by Kellanova’s Board of Directors. The transaction is subject to Kellanova shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close within the first half of 2025. The transaction agreement permits Kellanova to declare and pay quarterly dividends consistent with historical practice prior to the closing of the transaction.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust and the Gund Family have entered into agreements in which they have committed to vote shares representing 20.7% of Kellanova’s common stock, as of Aug. 9, in favor of the transaction.

After closing, Battle Creek, Mich. will remain a core location for the combined organization.

“This is a truly historic combination with a compelling cultural and strategic fit,” says Kellanova CEO Steve Cahillane. “Kellanova has been on a transformation journey to become the world’s best snacking company, and this opportunity to join Mars enables us to accelerate the realization of our full potential and our vision. The transaction maximizes shareholder value through an all-cash transaction at an attractive purchase price and creates new and exciting opportunities for our employees, customers and suppliers. We are excited for Kellanova’s next chapter as part of Mars, which will bring together both companies’ world-class talent and capabilities and our shared commitment to helping our communities thrive. With a proven track record of successfully and sustainably nurturing and growing acquired businesses, we are confident Mars is a natural home for the Kellanova brands and employees.”

Upcycled Foods, Inc. announces the debut of Atoria’s Family Bakery Mini Upcycled Naan, the latest brand collaboration for the Upcycled Foods Lab. 

These mini flatbreads are baked with upcycled flour, made from barley, wheat and rye rescued at the end of the beer making process. These soft and pillowy naans are fortified with a hearty inclusion of ReGrained SuperGrain+, receiving the Upcycled Certified standard. These versatile flatbreads are perfect for making pizzas, foldovers, croutons, or dipping in sweet and savory sauces. 

“We are proud to partner with the team at Atoria’s Family Bakery to collaborate on new upcycled products that honor family tradition, a commitment to simple ingredients, and modern consumer expectations for food that delivers on flavor, nutrition, and sustainability,” says Dan Kurzrock, founder and CEO of Upcycled Foods, Inc. “Our Upcycled Food Lab team loved partnering with the forward-thinking leadership at Atoria’s to support this innovation from ideation through launch and are so excited for consumers to finally be able to get their hands on them.”  

After an initial launch exclusively with Misfits Market, Atoria’s Mini Upcycled Naan is now available at Albertsons and Safeway stores in the Southwest, co-ops nationwide, independent natural foods stores nationwide, Plum Market, Clarks Nutrition, and online at atoriasfamilybakery.com.

Aptar-Food Protection, part of AptarGroup, Inc., has expanded its SeaWell active packaging system into the e-commerce category. 

Already utilized by major retailers across the U.S., the active packaging solution – designed to help maintain seafood freshness, quality and aesthetics – has now been adopted for direct-to-consumer shipping of various seafood items including filets, whole fish and shellfish such as crab legs, scallops and shrimp.

In response to customer feedback, two leading home delivery companies have adopted SeaWell technology for their seafood-based meal kits to improve consumer experiences with case-to-cook convenience and cleaner handling in the kitchen. In addition to allowing frozen-to-thaw distribution, the SeaWell active packaging system’s integrated technology absorbs excess liquids that would otherwise accumulate around seafood, causing potential product breakdown and negatively impacting both freshness and appearance. 

SeaWell active packaging utilizes food contact-safe absorbent materials embedded into its proprietary Drip-Lock technology to trap excess fluids inside patented pockets or wells. This separation reduces the rate of seafood microbial growth, chemical degradation and odor accumulation.

“The home delivery companies we work with are always listening to the voice of the consumer and making packaging changes to improve user experiences to promote customer loyalty,” says Michael Stephens, CEO, Bama Sea Products. “In particular, shrimp tends to be a prominent cause of customer complaints in the home delivery sector due to leaking, messy handling, and cross-contamination with other proteins. We were delighted to be able to work with Aptar to develop an appropriate SeaWell packaging solution for this market and bring it to commercialization.”

“The SeaWell active packaging system addresses many of the challenges the seafood home delivery market faces, particularly related to keeping products fresh and avoiding messy leaks and spills during transit,” adds Neal Watson, VP and general manager for Aptar-Food Protection. “This innovative technology can deliver as much as an extra day of in-home shelf life, improving consumer experiences, driving customer loyalty and securing repeat business.”

Unifiller Systems, a Coperion Food Health and Nutrition company, announced the CMD Series Depositors, digitally controlled pneumatic depositors.

The CMD Series Depositors are dial-less depositors offering features such as pre-charge, splash reduction, deposit pressure and other “servo-like” features above and beyond a standard pneumatic depositor. The CMD Series depositors are precision controlled by the company’s exclusive CMD+ program preloaded and provided on a tablet smart device with each CMD depositor. Compared to the standard depositors, the CMD Series can reportedly handle more complex applications such as ones that require smaller accurate deposits or more precise spray mode or splash control.

The CMD Series Depositors are built for ease of use and cleaning. No special training is required to operate the machines, and instructions are provided via video and manuals. The CMD series meet IP69 protocols, all electrical components are enclosed in a wash-down case that will withstand tough, industrial wash-down conditions.

AI technology is becoming an underlying framework for many automation systems today, and one of the latest applications for employing AI is in vision inspection systems. In fact, the key component of a vision inspection system is the camera, and suppliers like Cognex, Keyence and SICK AG are now routinely building AI into their cameras.

One system integrator reports using Cognex and Keyence cameras frequently. Actemium USA (formerly known as Outbound Technologies Inc.) and a CSIA (Control System Integrators Association) certified member, offers a broad range of advanced services and solutions, leveraging AI to enhance quality decision making in food and beverage applications. According to TJ March, senior project engineer, AI-based inspection technologies that his firm has deployed include detecting foreign objects, identifying defects and anomalies, ensuring precise label identification and placement and sorting products efficiently.

March has employed cameras with assisted AI, including the following models: Cognex In-Sight 2800 for product sorting; In-Sight D900 for OCR and label imperfections; In-Sight 3800 for label identification, complex OCR for inkjet printing color ID and label positioning; VisionPro Vidi for defect detection from various angles; and Keyence’s IV3 for product sorting.

“Currently, we are working with a multinational food processing company to develop a high-speed inspection system that detects surface and geometry defects on packaging,” says Sean Dugan, mechanical engineer at Huffman Engineering, Inc., a CSIA member.

“Our past projects included OCR systems to inspect package and carton labeling, as well as systems to inspect package integrity in the pharmaceutical industry,” adds Dugan.

Fortress Technology builds X-ray, metal detection, checkweighing and vision systems. Often these systems are used standalone, but can be combined together with a common data reporting system, says Matthew Gidman, product manager. “It can be more complex to have all these individual systems in one area of a production line—mainly due to physical space and cost constraints. However, AI now makes it feasible to collect data and monitor processes across all four systems.”

Having all this data from these systems and using AI can provide valuable information on production lines. However, a little work is required before setting up any AI-based inspection systems, says Gidman. “Before an organization can begin augmenting data analysis of systems with AI, it must assess its data quality. Accessible, high-quality data is essential for AI effectiveness, as well as relevance of the data for the specific problems being solved.

“Given the volume of legacy data, merging this together without complications, intensive data management programs, costly setup and maintenance programs can be challenging. To remedy this, collected data and repositories must be set up with AI in mind from the outset. One of the most significant benefits of combination units is that the data center is integrated, rather than trying to tie multiple disparate database formats together.”

Vision systems inspect products and give robotics sight. Gray Solutions, a CSIA member, began with vision systems for grading vegetables and gradually expanded into inspecting for defects and color consistency, says Gregory Powers, vice president of digital transformation. “Given our extensive work with robotics, we have integrated vision systems with robots to perform quality inspections. Additionally, we use vision systems on high-speed lines to capture packaging defects, such as issues with cans and bottles, including proper labeling.”

The main promise of AI systems in machine vision applications is that they are easier to ‘train’ to do the job than it would be to define some combination of acceptance metrics that would be amenable to traditional vision algorithms.

Moving AI-Vision Applications from Industrial Parts to Food

“The main promise of AI systems in machine vision applications is that they are easier to ‘train’ to do the job than it would be to define some combination of acceptance metrics that would be amenable to traditional vision algorithms,” says Huffman’s Dugan. “Measuring a dimension on a machined part and comparing it to a given tolerance is straightforward, but assessing the texture and shape of a chocolate chip cookie, for example, so that it can be judged good/bad/OK is a challenge.”

Dugan notes that recent projects didn’t require AI algorithms because pass/fail criteria were relatively straightforward, but in the cases of surface inspection where the surfaces are complex or have randomized features, AI algorithms might offer an effective solution.

“Integrating vision systems with AI in the food industry is an effective solution for quality inspection,” says Aaron Burke, an engineer at Concept Systems, a CSIA member. The setup is similar to being in a machining environment. Providing a variety of images with clear pass or fail conditions and correct programming will result in a successful inspection system. Some examples currently utilizing AI are position checks, measurement data of key features, label applications, contamination checks and defect detection. Keyence and Cognex products have been utilized by Concept Systems in food quality applications, says Burke.

Training AI is Getting Easier

Due to the high variability in food products, deep learning models excel when trained with a comprehensive, representative sample set (i.e., a collection of data samples that accurately reflects the full range of variations and conditions present in the target application), says Actemium’s Marsh. “Given the complexity and variability of these applications, we recommend leveraging the expertise of a system integrator. A system integrator can effectively manage all the requirements and nuances involved in deploying these advanced AI systems, especially when upgrading or adding to existing, potentially outdated inspection lines.”

“With regard to training an AI vision system, either system integrators or end users can train AI vision systems, however, training these systems for consistence and accuracy can be tricky, says Caleb Feagans, a chemical engineer at Huffman Engineering. Understanding the necessary variations and defects required to train and program a robust vision inspection system can be challenging, which is where an experienced system integrator can be beneficial. (See the box, “Training Considerations for AI/Vision Systems.”)

Gray Solutions has long utilized vision systems for various food quality applications, says Powers. Initially, setup requires input from a solution integrator, but with new AI tools, these systems are now more user friendly and can be trained by operators. Gray Solutions began by using vision systems to grade products and expanded their use to meat processing, ensuring meat products are free from contaminants and meet quality standards for texture and appearance. As camera technology improves and becomes more affordable, the use cases continue to grow, including ensuring date codes, bar codes and general packaging applications.

It’s important to remember that machine vision is typically part of a larger inspection system that can include x-ray systems, says Fortress Technology’s Gidman. The goal is to strengthen quality control by capturing an image and processing it against a set quality control parameters. In inspection technology, vision is commonly deployed for food pack label verification, and sometimes for food surface defects. Working in tandem and using a common AI system, these technologies can be used to strengthen food safety:

• Vision can improve X-ray performance by providing contextual information about each pack, including the label placement and presence of legally required information, such as dates and allergens.
• Vision cameras can be used for pack separation to ensure products are correctly spaced out as they are fed into inspection apertures or onto sensitive weighing conveyors.
• Metal detectors can be combined with X-ray to ensure high performance across the full contaminant spectrum. This combination could also be applied for dual-density products, e.g., inspecting baked bread with a harder surface crust and softer, dough middle.

AI Cameras a Drop-In Replacement for Older Vision Inspection Cameras?

Like any other equipment purchase, the decision to upgrade or purchase new equipment depends on the age and design of the current system, says Gidman. “This decision should be based on a thorough risk and cost analysis conducted by the purchaser. This ensures that the chosen option aligns with the company’s operational needs and budget constraints.”

“AI camera systems are not necessarily drop-in replacements or simple add-ons,” says Actemium’s Marsh. Due to the hardware requirements of deep learning or AI, it is rare for an AI-based camera to be a direct drop-in replacement for an older camera. They use their own specialized software for configuring and programming the cameras, which often involves additional programming to ensure proper communication with PLC or SCADA/MES systems. This integration process requires a detailed understanding of both the AI systems and the existing industrial control architecture to ensure seamless operation and data flow.

“It is important to consider that the new cameras may need adjustments for distance and lighting, likely requiring a systems integrator,” says Gray’s Powers. “Additionally, we need to assess how the new AI can utilize the training data from the old system, as retraining the new system may be necessary. Some new AI software solutions are compatible with various cameras, allowing for seamless camera switching.”

Training the camera is only one part of implementing a new AI-based machine vision system, says Huffman’s Dugan. For example, many lines run different variations of the same product or different products altogether. In these cases, it is necessary to load the cameras with different programs or configuration/job files for the different products. Today, this is usually done over Ethernet with either a PLC or PC-based workstation sending control sequences to the cameras to load different programs based on user input. Most older machine vision systems use proprietary software to perform this task, so just dropping in a new camera is not enough.

“Also, it is necessary to understand how the old cameras sent results back to the system, for example to a reject station downstream. Coordinating communication back and forth between the camera system and the rest of the line requires understanding how it all works together,” adds Dugan.

Getting the Lighting Right

When transitioning from a manual inspection process to an automated system, the existing lighting setup is often inadequate for the precision needed in machine vision systems with assisted AI, says Actemium’s Marsh. “Therefore, it is crucial for the system integrator to assess and specify the appropriate lighting environment and camera hardware for optimal performance of the new system.”

“Lighting provides contrast and enhancement of part features for cameras to easily find patterns, features, edges or defects,” says Concept’s Burke. For best results, the end user should incorporate controlled external lighting. Some examples include a light bar, spotlight or a lighting attachment fixed to a camera. Lighting also provides consistent and repeatable conditions for the engineer to effectively program a vision solution. But, reliance on ambient lighting can result in unpredicted results if the ambient lighting changes from when the camera was programmed.

While camera vendors will always be a good source of lighting information, it’s still up to the original inspection system integrator to scope out the full requirements and oversee the setup, says Gidman. “Misuse or misunderstanding of equipment can frequently cause operational and performance issues. If this causes machine performance tests to fail, this may even compromise food safety audits.”

What Software is Required to Drop-In new AI-based Cameras?

“The level of software involvement required to integrate new AI-based cameras depends significantly on the complexity of the inspection tasks,” says Savannah Toombs, staff development manager at Actemium. While simpler applications may require less sophisticated AI systems and minimal programming, there is always some degree of configuration needed. These systems are not purely plug-and-play.

Even for basic applications, configuring the AI-based cameras involves setting up the software to recognize specific inspection criteria, adjusting parameters and ensuring accurate data communication with existing systems, adds Toombs. More complex applications necessitate detailed programming, including developing custom algorithms, configuring advanced settings and integrating with PLCs or SCADA/MES systems. Additionally, PLC programming tags will need to be updated based on the specific camera model and manufacturer to ensure seamless operation.

“AI-based cameras will always involve some type of programming,” says Concept’s Burke. The hardware that is selected and the intended purpose of the vision system will dictate the complexity of the AI setup. Simple AI cameras can be set up with minimal vision experience. General engineering experience is always preferred for simple vision systems. Other AI cameras involve significant time and experience to effectively integrate the AI solution.

Issues in Upgrading Older Equipment

Data disparity is one of the biggest issues that processors face in upgrading to AI-powered inspection equipment, says Fortress Technology’s Gidman. The ability to tether multiple front-end machines to back-end reporting software in real time is a key step toward AI-driven systems. Fortunately for food processors, machine builders like Fortress have done their homework. “By creating their own software, Fortress has attempted to support processors and help them avoid unexpected issues,” says Gidman.

AI-based systems have the potential to solve challenging problems in machine vision applications, says Dugan. However, it is important not to get swept away by all of the excitement surrounding “AI.” Dugan suggests a couple of issues to overcome are loss of insight and vendor lock-in.

“An AI-based system might at first generate the results the engineers or managers are looking for, but dependence on them necessarily means that an understanding of how or why the camera is rejecting/accepting a part is lost,” says Dugan. “Applying conventional inspection systems requires knowing exactly what you are looking for. If we depend on AI to judge good cookies from bad cookies, will we actually know why a good cookie looks like a good cookie? If this insight is lost, how will this affect the rest of production? Will we miss opportunities for improving production because we no longer have a concrete, measurable definition of what a good cookie looks like?”

The second issue, Dugan notes, “At some point the new AI-based machine vision system will become the old, obsolete, ‘AI’-based machine system. When the time comes to upgrade, will we be able to convert or translate the programs or configuration files to a new system from a different vendor? The ideas behind the conventional machine vision tools such as edge detection, OCR, histograms, etc. are common across vendors. It is possible to manually convert a program from one vendor’s cameras into a program for another vendor’s cameras because the discrete tools are understood. With an AI-based program, the question becomes: How is this possible?”

“If you are considering implementing a new AI solution for capturing images, it may be worthwhile to assess the cost of replacing the cameras,” says Powers. “You might be surprised at how much these new cameras have improved, similar to the advancements seen in smartphone cameras with each model upgrade.” But Powers notes that while some AI tools claim to be compatible with any camera system, this is not always the case.

For a discussion of more issue when upgrading to AI-based vision systems, see the sidebar, “AI-Vision System Upgrade Gotchas.”

One final thought, AI tools do require extra hardware. A good example: An AI based graphics sharpening tool I purchased two years ago requires 5 GB of disk space for its modeling engine where a plain vanilla sharpening plugin tool from years ago needs under 1 MB. There are similar needs for RAM and processing power: A high-end graphics card and/or CPU is needed to run the model versus a simple processor for the plugin. Is the AI sharpening tool worth it? A resounding “Yes!” Why? It sharpens the image while simultaneously decreasing noise and artifacts. Old tools just worked on sharpening alone.

Spindrift Beverage Co. Inc. is launching a new flavor just in time for fall: Fuji Apple.

When the brand set out to create a new apple flavor, the team tasted 18 unique blends of apple juice before agreeing that Fuji Apple hit all the right notes: aromatic, floral, juicy, with the right amount of sweetness. To capture the unique character in Fuji Apple, the team sourced a blend of apple varietals grown in U.S. orchards to complement and balance the bright, ripe flavor of Fuji Apple.

“At Spindrift, we believe taste is everything,” says Bill Creelman, founder and CEO. “This is why using real squeezed fruit is crucial to our process. Fuji apple juice has the most incredible flavor, aroma and complexity. To honor the fresh taste of the fruit in every batch, we developed a cold chain network that ensures the freshness you enjoy from the tree lasts all the way through the process until it ends up in your can.”

“Most apple-flavored beverages in the market use apple juice from concentrate,” adds Jon Silverman, SVP of innovation. “With concentrates, you’re boiling apples down to a sugary syrup so you can store them for months or years at a time, and in the process, losing the flavor and aroma. Our process for making Spindrift Fuji Apple honors the fruit. These apples are made into juice within weeks of being picked. The difference in taste is remarkable. Each sip is like the first bite of a really good apple: that juicy, crisp snap of sweetness. Fuji is such an enjoyable and refreshing flavor; this will be an everyday Spindrift you’ll keep coming back to.”

Spindrift is also releasing Cranberry Raspberry out of the vault for fall. The flavor has returned in the past few seasons, but this year, it will be more widely available online and in retail nationwide. 

“We’re also excited to ‘bring back CranRas’ as our consumers say,” Silverman says. “This flavor is an enduring favorite, and we love that it’s become a seasonal tradition. Consumers look forward to stocking up and sharing Cranberry Raspberry while hosting or gathering with loved ones at occasions that make the last few months of the year so special.”

Spindrift Fuji Apple and Cranberry Raspberry will be available at the end of August in select retailers and on the company’s website Aug. 19. Prices and availability may vary.

Hormel Foods Corporation announces the retirement of Deanna Brady, executive vice president, retail, at the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 27. 

During nearly three decades of service to Hormel Foods, Brady led teams across both the foodservice and retail lines of business and served as a key architect of the company’s results-driven, high-performing culture.

The company also announces the return of John Ghingo, who will join Hormel Foods on Sept. 2 and assume leadership of the retail segment on Oct. 28. Ghingo is well known to Hormel Foods, having served as president of Applegate Farms, LLC from 2018 through 2022.

“Deanna’s leadership, passion for change and unwavering commitment to both our business and community have left an indelible mark on Hormel Foods,” says Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and CEO, Hormel Foods. “She has guided numerous businesses to record growth and has managed multi-billion-dollar divisions. While her business achievements are impressive, it is the culture that she has built that will continue to inspire us. Her impact will be felt long after she steps into this well-deserved next chapter.”

Brady began her career with Hormel Foods in September 1996 as a foodservice territory manager in Wilkes-Barre, Penn., and held various foodservice sales positions throughout the United States. She was promoted to foodservice regional manager in Los Angeles, Calif., in 2003, and promoted to vice president, foodservice sales in 2007. She advanced to group vice president, foodservice, in 2015 and executive vice president of the company’s former refrigerated foods division in 2019. She assumed her current position in 2022.

Brady is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and food administration. She is a registered dietitian.

After his tenure at Applegate, Ghingo served as chief executive officer of a better-for-you snacking company owned by private equity firm Kainos Capital. Prior to Applegate, Ghingo served as the president of plant-based foods and beverages at The WhiteWave Foods Company, where he led the Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free brands. Before joining WhiteWave, he spent more than 15 years at Mondelēz International, where he held numerous leadership roles in marketing and general management, supporting well-known brands such as Oreo, Planters, Cadbury and Trident.

Ghingo graduated from the University of Notre Dame and earned his MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

“I am delighted to welcome John back to Hormel Foods,” Snee says. “He is a dynamic leader known for building strong teams and strong brands. I am confident that John is the ideal person to drive continued focus, innovation and growth within the retail segment, aligned with our strategic priorities. His deep expertise in the consumer packaged goods space, coupled with his understanding of our business, positions him perfectly for success.”