Articles by Douglas J. Peckenpaugh

Over the past few months, after nearly two years of disruption, I've been getting back into the saddle, visiting with the industry across the many pathways I carve through the course of my work.

When James S. Herr, known as Jim, entered the fledgling potato chip industry with Herr’s Potato Chips in 1946, purchasing a small storefront location in Lancaster, PA, he established a legacy of enduring tradition guiding waves of ensuing generations.

The snack and bakery industry continues to face a difficult road when it comes to staffing. Challenges related to filling open positions for skilled and unskilled production personnel have persisted for years. But the past several months have proven particularly trying as employers seek to fill available jobs with individuals from an increasingly wary, pandemic-weary America.

Traceability takes a top spot in modern food industry food safety strategies, following every aspect of the supply chain through manufacturing and to the point of consumer purchase.

During the recent and highly successful in-person PACK EXPO, Jorge Izquierdo, vice president of market development for PMMI, passed along some highlights from his 2021 PMMI "State of the Industry" report, including data noting a significant uptick in packaging equipment purchases.

Countries around the world offer unique perspectives through their bakery traditions. Sometimes, the differences are slight, but perhaps culturally meaningful. Other variances stand out with distinct poignancy, resonating, and leaving cultural impressions in their wake.

Bread is a universal language. Nearly every culture has historical roots in forming judicious combinations of water and grains, seeds, pulses, starches, and other substrates, often functionally lightened with some sort of leavening, and perhaps a dash of salt for flavor. It’s the quintessential expression of science, art, and sustenance.

According to the April 2021 "Cold Chain Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report" from Grand View Research, the global cold chain market size was valued at $210.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.8 percent from 2021 to 2028.

As the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic descended upon America in early 2020, the American population began reacting to their new reality, and it was clear that snack and bakery production across the country would face a clear challenge. People were stocking up on supplies at an alarming rate, and the rush was on to keep grocery store shelves stocked.