Golden State Foods (GSF), Irvine, Calif., announced the promotion of Ryan Hammer to GSF corporate senior vice president and president, Quality Custom Distribution (QCD). In his new role, he will continue to oversee logistics for QCD, part of the GSF family of companies, from its headquarters in Frisco, Texas, and will also assume responsibility for GSF’s Liquid Products North America sales team.


The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Milk Producers Federation, both headquartered in Arlington, Va., commended the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for using its review of Indonesia’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) status to hold Indonesia accountable for issues that had threatened the smooth flow of U.S. dairy exports. USTR announced on Nov. 3 the conclusion of its review of Indonesia’s eligibility to continue receiving preferential tariff access to the U.S. market under the GSP program, the organizations said.  

“We appreciate USTR ensuring that Indonesia meet its market access obligations under the GSP review process,” said Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of USDEC. “Through that process, USTR helped address Indonesian policies that had endangered U.S. dairy exports to Indonesia, one of our largest markets. The government of Indonesia has been responsive to these concerns, and we look forward to building further upon this positive development.”

The Center for Dairy Research (CDR), Madison, Wis., said Andy Johnson, outreach specialist/assistant coordinator for the Cheese Group at CDR, was named program coordinator for the Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker program. Long-time Program Coordinator Marianne Smukowski retired in September. In this new role, Johnson will be coordinating plant visits, cheese grading and assisting the Master candidates as they participate in the program.

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), an Annapolis, Md.-based advocate and voice for the growing U.S. flexible packaging industry, announced the formation and launch of the Emerging Leadership Council (#FPAemergingleaders). The new group is dedicated to establishing a network of future leaders to drive issues and opportunities that will have a long-term impact on the advancement of the U.S. flexible packaging industry.

Kerry, Tralee, Ireland, said it reached agreement to acquire the Canadian company Bio-K Plus International. Bio-K Plus is a probiotic company with a range of clinically supported probiotic beverage and supplement applications in the North American market and will expand Kerry’s capabilities and in the probiotics market.

Tate & Lyle PLC, a London-based provider of food and beverage ingredients and solutions, said Victoria Spadaro Grant joined the company as its new president, innovation and commercial development. She will also be a member of Tate & Lyle’s executive committee.

Alfa Laval, Lund, Sweden, announced the opening of the Alpha Laval Fluid Handling Application & Innovation Centre in Kolding, Denmark. Here, food, beverage, dairy, pharma and home/personal care manufacturers may conduct real-time trials using their own formulations on Alfa Laval equipment operating from pilot-scale to full production scale under conditions that match their own.

To better serve customers, Ideal-Pak, PASE Group and DTM Packaging and Custom Automation — all members of the Massman Companies, Villard, Minn. — combined members of their sales teams to create the Massman Liquid Filling Solutions Sales Team. The goal of the new group is to offer improved sales coverage and sales support for the entire Ideal-Pak/PASE Group and DTM product lines, as well as the product lines of Ronchi America, the Massman Companies said. For Ronchi, those markets are Canada and the United States; for the Ideal-Pak/PASE Group and DTM, those markets are global.

Alland & Robert, a Paris-based manufacturer of acacia gum, said it plans to invest 11 million euros early next year to install a fourth production line at its plant in Saint Aubin sur Gaillon, Normandy. This will increase its production capacity by approximately 9,000 tons per year, while about 20,000 tons are currently processed each year. This 45% increase in production capacity responds to a sharply increasing global demand for acacia gum.

Avery Dennison Corp., Glendale, Calif., said it joined with other leaders in the pressure-sensitive label industry to form the Circular Economy for Labels consortium. The consortium aims to offer solutions and provide education throughout the industry to enable matrix and release liner recycling.