Supplier News

News from suppliers: plant expansions, partnerships and people

News about Cheer Pack, Wis. Dairy Products Assn., Glanbia, Koch Membrane Systems and more.

Cheer Pack North America plans to relocate its manufacturing facility from Plymouth, Mass., to West Bridgewater, Mass., as part of a major capital expansion. The move will retain Cheer Pack's current 35 employees and add 75 new manufacturing jobs. The 315,000-square-foot facility will manufacture proprietary spouted pouch packaging for the food and beverage industries.

The Wisconsin Dairy Products Association (WDPA) once again offers the Robert L. Bradley Scholarship, an annual $2,000 award that comes from the net proceeds of the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest auction. The first scholarship is named after Dr. Bob Bradley, a long-time professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a major supporter of WDPA. Two scholarships will be awarded to two deserving college students pursuing careers in the dairy industry. The scholarships are available to any student attending a University of Wisconsin system school. To be eligible for the scholarships, the student must meet the following criteria:

Graduating high school seniors and college freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible. Grad students are not eligible.
The student must be attending a UW school or planning to attend (if presently a high school senior).
The student must be in the food science, dairy science program, or a dairy industry-related program (should explain in essay how their field of interest will benefit the dairy industry).
The student must be in good academic standing.
The award can be used for any college educational expenses, including tuition, books, room and board, etc.

How to apply:

The student must complete the application. In addition, the student must write a 400-word essay explaining their current field of study and how it relates to their future goals.
Student must submit two letters of recommendation from reliable, unrelated (to student) sources.
Student must submit their high school transcript and current college transcript.
Student must send the completed application, essay, transcripts and letters of recommendation to WDPA (8383 Greenway Blvd., Middleton, WI 53562 or info@wdpa.net) before March 15.
WDPA will code each application and block out the personal information of the applicant for the judges.
A judging panel will review all applications.
The scholarship winner will be announced on April 30.
The scholarship check will be deposited in the winning student’s account at the UW Bursar’s office and will be divided equally between the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 semesters ($1,000 disbursed for each semester).
The winning students will be invited to attend the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest auction on Oct. 2 in order to be properly recognized.

Glanbia Foods plans to build a three-story, 35,000-square-foot office complex and a 14,000-square-foot research center in downtown Twin Falls, Minn. The $15 million project is expected to open by March 2013.

Koch Membrane Systems launched a new website, www.kochmembrane.com, to give users clear and easy access to content while supporting the depth of the company’s expertise. The site is structured around the company’s two major business segments: Industrial & Life Sciences and Water & Wastewater.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America appointed G&W Equipment to represent its three flagship brands, Cat lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks and Jungheinrich warehouse products, in the Western portion of North Carolina and South Carolina. G&W Equipment has been a Mitsubishi forklift truck dealer in this same territory since 1997, with facilities in Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C., and Greenville and Columbia, S.C.

D.D. Williamson launched the latest in its Expert Answers series featuring Jennifer Guild, global food science and regulatory manager. In a video interview, Guild discusses challenges faced by customers that formulate naturally derived food coloring. You can watch the full video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRyC6qREXO0

Eurofins acquired Air Toxics Inc., a U.S. air testing laboratory based in Folsom, Calif. This key move coupled with the acquisition of Lancaster Laboratories in 2011 strengthens Eurofins’ growing presence in the United States, especially in the environmental testing market.

Cargill unveiled plans to invest close to EUR20 million in its newly acquired cocoa and chocolate facilities in Berlin, Germany. Cargill plans to upgrade both production sites — based in Lichtenrade and Reinickendorf, Berlin — which will increase the capacities of specific product lines and strengthen its ability to provide a high-quality cocoa and chocolate portfolio.

Internationally Known

Barry Callebaut AGand Unilever signed a long-term global partnership agreement where Barry Callebaut will become Unilever's strategic global supplier and innovation partner for its cocoa and chocolate needs.Ultimately, Barry Callebaut will provide 70% of Unilever's global cocoa and chocolate products. This will be achieved under a wide-ranging joint business development plan involving close cooperation across innovation, sustainable sourcing, capacity expansion and value improvement. As a result of the agreement, Barry Callebaut will invest approximately $24 million in its worldwide factory network to prepare the capacity required to fulfill the long-term partnership agreement. The additional volumes have a ramp-up period of 12 months, starting immediately. Both parties agreed not to disclose any further terms of the agreement.

On the Move: Personnel Changes

Polypack, Inc., Pinellas Park, Fla.

Darrell Pfiffner was named national accounts manager for the dairy sector, responsible for the international marketplace. Previously, he was the international sales manager, handling shrink wrap equipment sales for Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

BellFlavors and Fragrances, Inc., Northbrook, Ill.

Michael Natale was promoted to general manager of Bell Mexico in Guadalajara, responsible for continuing Bell’s competitive flavor and fragrance success in Mexico and bringing Bell Mexico to the next level of accomplishments. Meanwhile, Katie Gutierrez will now be leading the marketing team, as well as coordinating and organizing the marketing teams in Mexico, Canada and Brazil. She will be working as a liaison between all four divisions with high priority on communication and product push to all sales groups and customers.

iTi Tropicals, Inc., Lawrenceville, N.J.

In response to iTi Tropicals acquiring certain assets from Marcel Aubry & Co., Phil Aubry joined as vice president, product management, responsible for lead sourcing, sales and product strategy for certain iTi products.

The American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN), Wakefield, Mass.

Joan Pierce was named executive director, responsible for working with the executive committee to deliver on the group’s priorities and goals and accelerate existing work streams and overall progress.

Plastic Technologies, Inc., Holland, Ohio

Scott Steele was appointed president, responsible for global operations. He has been vice president of since 1995.

In Memory: Daniel Rackley, Dean Foods Co.

Daniel F. Rackley, director of regulatory affairs, passed away Jan. 29 in Greenville, N.C. Since October 2001, Rackley served as chairman of the board of the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS), working with state governments, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and industries to establish laws and guidelines for milk production. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Helping Hands at First United Methodist Church of Muskogee, 600 E. Okmulgee, Muskogee, OK 74403. Online condolences can be made at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.