Dinuba, Calif.-based Ruiz Foods, the producer of El Monterey taquitos and other Mexican foods, has acquired a 263,000-sq.-ft., former Pillsbury plant in Denison, Texas. Ruiz Foods expects Phase One of the renovation to be completed this fall. Initially, 100 employees will work in production. Eventually, the plant will have as many as 450 workers.

The Food & Drug Administration is requesting public comments on two potential nutrition proposals to help consumers make better-informed weight-management decisions. One proposal explores how consumers use calorie information on packaged foods. The other would require snack and bakery producers to list the entire package’s nutrition information on large pre-packaged foods, such as a 4-oz. big bag of chips, which currently contain more than one serving but are consumed during a single eating occasion. The FDA is exploring if the packages should contain nutrition information on both the serving size and the package size. The deadline for comments is June 14. Visit www.fda.gov.

Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Grecian Delight Foods, which produces pitas and other Greek foods to the foodservice and retail channels, announces that founder and chairman, Peter Parthenis received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, Inc. (NECO). The award was created in 1986 to honor the many ancestral groups who, through struggle, sacrifice and success, help build this nation

Keebler Co., a unit of the Battle Creek, Mich.-based Kellogg Co., will invest $16.2 million in its Mariemont, Ohio, cookie and cracker plant, adding about 30 jobs. The project will expand the baking of TownHouse crackers and consolidate production from smaller lines at Mariemont and a sister plant in Macon, Ga., which is closing.

Sara Lee Corp. is moving its corporate headquarters from Chicago to Downers Grove, Ill. As part of the move, Sara Lee will move its bakery and packaged meats businesses from St. Louis and Cincinnati to the Downers Grove location by July 2006.

European private equity firm PAI Partners acquired Chr. Hansen Holdings. Chr. Hansen produces such natural ingredients for the food industry as cultures, enzymes, and natural colors, as well as flavor solutions, and health and nutrition products.

Urschel International Ltd., France, is building an 18,800-sq.-ft. facility that’s more than twice the size of its current location. The new facility will house parts inventory, a service center, repair parts area, a product test-cutting facility/machine demonstration area and various offices and conference rooms. It is scheduled to open early in the fall, and will be easily accessible from Orly airport. Urschel International Ltd., France, is a subsidiary of Valparaiso, Ind.-based Urschel Laboratories Inc.

Tate & Lyle announced its North American licensing agreement with Alleggra Foods Ltd., the producer of a soy-based, full-function egg product. Under the agreement, Tate & Lyle has the rights to manufacture, distribute and market Alleggra in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Key executives from Fresh Start Bakeries and United States Bakeries will headline BEMA’s 2005 Annual Meeting, which will be held June 23-28 at the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, Kauai, Hawaii. Additionally, industry leaders from the American Bakers Association and Kansas State University will offer perspectives on developments in the baking industry. To register, call 847-920-1230 or visit www.bema.org.

Plano, Texas-based Frito Lay named Archer Daniels Midland its North America Supplier of the Year. This is the fourth consecutive year that ADM has received this honor.

Fortitech, Inc., Schenectady, N.Y., launched its redesigned Web site, deepening its ability to assist customers in obtaining information to develop new products and drive sales. The online R&D Center enables users to conduct research on markets, nutrients, applications and health conditions. The site also features information on breaking industry news, regulations and market trends. There’s also an online formulation worksheet to initiate product development with Fortitech’s premix experts and other resources. Visit www.fortitech.com.

Mittoon, Ill.-based Lender’s Bagels Bakery closed a production line due to declining sales. The move, effective May 9, will terminate 28 full-time and seven part-time jobs.

Videojet Technologies Inc. declared SC Copacking Co. of Chino, Calif., as the winner in its Oldest Printer Contest. The contest involved finding the oldest Videojet small character inkjet printer still in active use in the United States. The winning printer, a VJ II model, was purchased in 1981.