The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., announced the winners of the 2011 MilkPEP awards. Six category winners and an overall grand prize winner were honored for their commitment to increasing fluid milk sales, promoting the benefits of drinking milk and their use of MilkPEP programs and resources to help increase awareness and sales of their dairies’ branded milk products.
Nestlé Ice Cream Factory Canada, a manufacturer of Nescafe and Nesquik, to name a few, received the 2010-11 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award for its outstanding commitment to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) partnerships.
Sargento Foods’ North Sioux City, S.D., plant became certified to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) with an “A” rating from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), demonstrating excellence in both food safety and quality operations.
The International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, D.C., says it supports the Food and Drug Administration’s long-term strategic plan to improve effectiveness and efficiency under its Foods and Veterinary Medicine Program.
Officers and members of the board of directors for 2011-12 were sworn in at the association’s 67th annual meeting. Inductees include Bob Branham, General Mills, elected chairman-elect, and Scott Haws, Land O’Lakes, secretary. Newly elected to the board of directors are John Farmer, Global Dairy Products; and Steve Ostrander, Crystal Farms.
Chr. Hansen cut the ribbon at its new Global Expertise Center in Milwaukee, Wis. Designed as the “go-to center” for natural color solutions to the international prepared foods industry, natural color specialists are on hand to help customers solve their technical issues and protect their brands’ equity by converting to natural colors.
The Dannon Co. Inc., White Plains, N.Y., forged a new and unique relationship with McCarty Family Farms, Bakersfield, Calif., to supply the milk for Dannon’s Fort Worth, Texas, plant. Historically, Dannon has relied exclusively on a co-op for fresh milk.
The cheese processor is energizing old school brands like Philadelphia and Velveeta, developing new foods and formats, and adopting manufacturing practices that save natural resources.
It’s difficult enough for any business to stay relevant, especially when it has brands established 100 or more years ago. Then throw in the challenge of adapting to ever-changing consumer tastes and habits, not to mention manufacturing in an era when a small carbon footprint is a measure of a corporation’s citizenship. That’s part of the landscape in the 21st century, and every business operates in it, some better than others.