The Kraft Heinz Co. and food tech startup TheNotCompany Inc. announced a joint venture designed to reimagine global food production and advance toward a more sustainable future. The joint venture, which will operate under the control of Chicago- and Pittsburgh-based Kraft Heinz as The Kraft Heinz Not Company LLC, will leverage the inherent strengths of both companies. NotCo, headquartered in Macul, Chile, will bring its patented, first-of-its-kind technology and proven artificial intelligence (AI) solutions — while Kraft Heinz will offer its iconic brand portfolio and scale — to develop “superior plant-based versions of co-branded products at a level of speed, taste, quality and scale yet to be seen in the industry.”

As You Sow, a Berkeley, Calif.-based shareholder advocacy nonprofit, said the Kraft Heinz Co. agreed to set a goal to reduce total virgin plastic use following the filing of a shareholder proposal and engagement with As You Sow. The proposal asked the food and beverage company to report on how the company would reduce plastic packaging, including planned reduction strategies or goals, materials redesign, substitution or reductions in use of virgin plastic.

The company informed As You Sow in a statement that it intends to set a substantial virgin plastic packaging reduction goal later this year or in the first quarter of 2023. In response, As You Sow said it agreed to withdraw its shareholder proposal.

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) said space is still available for its popular leadership courses, offered in both virtual and hybrid formats. Details and registration for both Front-Line and Next Step Leadership classes are live now at WisCheeseMakers.org/Trainings.

Established leaders and graduates of WCMA’s Front-Line or Advanced Leadership training programs may take advantage of the association’s unique Next Step Leadership course, set for Thursday, March 31. Each year, Next Step Leadership pairs a review of familiar concepts with fresh materials covering a specific topic, Madison, Wis.-based WCMA said. In 2022, the class will focus on talent retention strategies. Based on WCMA member feedback, Next Step Leadership will be offered in a hybrid format, allowing participants to join in-person in Madison, Wisconsin or online from anywhere in the world.

By popular demand, WCMA also has added three more Front-Line Leadership classes to its offerings for spring 2022. These courses are geared toward new and seasoned supervisors looking to build their skills in communication, stress management, cultivation of a team mentality and more, WCMA said. Front-Line Leadership sessions are offered a la carte and may be taken in any order.

Front-Line Leadership Part A, scheduled for Tuesday, April 19, will focus on developing essential leadership skills. On Wednesday, May 18, Front-Line Leadership Part B will provide strategies to help supervisors boost staff performance. The spring series concludes with Front-Line Leadership Part C on Tuesday, June 14, related to cultivating a team. All three spring sessions will be held virtually, WCMA said.

Questions about WCMA’s educational programming may be directed to Rebekah Sweeney at rsweeney@wischeesemakers.org or 608-386-3012.

To help strengthen awareness of cartons as a sustainable, recyclable package while continuing its work to drive access to carton recycling and cultivate recycling infrastructure, the Denton, Texas-based Carton Council said it made two new appointments:

• Carla Fantoni, who has served as vice president of communications since 2009, will become the Carton Council’s vice president of engagement strategy. In this role, she will lend her expertise in public affairs and communications to develop a comprehensive engagement strategy to address policy stakeholders, sustainability influencers and other recycling stakeholders.
• Larine Urbina will become vice president of communications. Joining from member company Tetra Pak, where she serves as vice president of communications for U.S. and Canada, she has a background in both consumer and business to business communications, which she will apply to help increase recognition of carton recycling and its benefits.

FMI – The Food Industry Association announced the appointment of Carey Allen to lead the business development efforts for the expanding food safety certification program, SQF. Allen, a long-time food safety professional, fills a vital role by building SQF program awareness and focusing on its expansion to further bolster consumer and retailer food safety expectations.

Most recently, Allen served as vice president of the food and agriculture division at SCS Global Services, FMI said. There, she led the growth and expansion of the food safety, product claims, social compliance and sustainable agriculture businesses by increasing market presence and advancing business capabilities through information technology and organizational design.

Cargill Inc., Minneapolis, said four new leaders are joining its executive team. They were selected for their expertise aligned to evolving customer and employee needs and their potential to drive the company's innovation and sustainability strategies around the world. Effective March 1, 2022, the new executives and their roles are:

• Jennifer Hartsock, chief information and digital officer. Hartsock recently served as chief information officer and a member of the executive leadership team at Baker Hughes. Hartsock will succeed Justin Kershaw, who will retire as chief information officer after 10 years with the company.
• Roger Watchorn, leader of Cargill's Agriculture Supply Chains (CASC) business, which also includes the company's Ocean Transportation and World Trading Group. He also will lead the company's corporate trading strategy. Since joining the company in 1994, Watchorn has held several leadership roles throughout Cargill, including his previous role as CASC North America group leader. He will succeed Joe Stone, who will retire after 37 years with the company.
• Ross Hamou-Jennings, chair of Asia Pacific. Hamou-Jennings has been based in Singapore since 2002, leading the global Trade & Capital Markets (TCM) business from Asia. In this new role, Hamou-Jennings will join the executive team and oversee the company's customer-led strategy in Asia, as well as its Metals, Risk Management and TCM businesses. He will succeed Marcel Smits, who will retire after nine years with the company.

Effective April 4, 2022, Stephanie Lundquist will join Cargill as the company's new chief human resources officer (CHRO) and a member of its executive team. Lundquist spent 16 years with leading retailer and Cargill customer Target, most recently leading the food and beverage business. She also served as Target's CHRO for three years. Lundquist will succeed Myriam Beatove, who joined Cargill in 2009.

St. Louis-based EverGrain Ingredients, an impact driven ingredient company created by AB InBev, said its entire portfolio of upcycled barley protein and fiber ingredients has received the Upcycled Food Association’s certification. The first-of-its kind mark, which launched last year, will enable food and beverage manufacturers that use the ingredients to place the claim on packaging.