Plant Efficiency

State of the Industry 2023: Bakery shows resilience in the face of ongoing obstacles

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

For the past several years, the baking industry has faced a long list of serious, ongoing challenges.

2022 Bakery of the Year: Hostess Brands brings the joy

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 09:55:03 -0400

Hostess Brands, the 2022 ‘Bakery of the Year,’ continues to position itself for growth.

State of the Industry 2022: Bakery faces formidable challenges

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 10:40:00 -0400

State of the Industry Overview for bakery, including a look at baking industry challenges like the supply chain, workforce development, impact from the war in Europe, and the pandemic.

Automation, performance, maintenance top of mind for ingredient handling customers

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Wed, 25 May 2022 12:47:00 -0400

Snack food and wholesale bakery companies in the market for machines that help prepare, store, transport, and otherwise handle ingredients are most focused on qualities like automation, ease of maintenance, and the ability to deliver higher performance in throughput and accuracy.

Using Industry 4.0 during the COVID-19 pandemic

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:54:00 -0400

From cloud computing to the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0 is essential for modern-day snack and bakery companies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schwartz Brothers Bakery expands from Seattle across the nation

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:27:00 -0500

"In 1970, my dad and uncle opened our first restaurant," says Daniel Schwartz, president, Schwartz Brothers Bakery, Renton, WA. "Three years later, they opened a concept called The Sandwich Shop and Pie Place. They were looking to source the very best pies to serve at their restaurant, and they couldn’t find any that they liked."

New bakery mixers offer automation, sanitation, and continuous processing

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 11:44:00 -0500

Mixers serve essential functions for snack and bakery companies creating their own dough. We ask a lot of this category of heavy-duty equipment, including reliability and efficiency, to maintain established product quality-control standards.

Automation, sanitation, gentler handling sought for slicing, cutting, portioning equipment

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 11:41:00 -0500

Higher capacities, new shapes, longer blade life, automation, flexibility, sanitary design, quick changeover, and gentler handling of fragile ingredients are among the top features and benefits that snack and bakery companies want from their slicing, cutting and portioning machinery.

2022 CPG outlook and strategies from Deloitte

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 11:48:00 -0500

Building consumer trust, understanding a product’s life cycle, and addressing challenges like increasing costs and the supply chain.

2022 Snack & Bakery Outlook: Supply-chain perspectives

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:00:00 -0500

SF&WB connected with several industry suppliers to gain their current market perspectives for the coming year.

The importance of industry interactions

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 13:29:00 -0500

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.

Bakery workforce development strategies

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 10:11:00 -0500

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 technologies for food industry regulatory compliance

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 12:22:00 -0500

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.

Better dough mixing through customization

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 11:34:00 -0400

Industrial commercial bakeries look to dough customization machines like water chillers, water meters, ice makers, and automated dough scoring units to improve and automate the dough process, primarily during mixing.

European trends influence the global baking industry

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 14:54:00 -0400

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.

Cooling and freezing technologies for better cold-chain logistics

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 10:54:00 -0400

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.

Automation solutions for the baking industry

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Snack and bakery brands support sustainability inside and out

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Lest anyone think that the pandemic pressed "pause" on campaigns for corporate sustainability, think again. If anything, COVID-19 reminded consumers, and the snack and bakery sectors, just how interconnected we are, whether we’re selecting suppliers, expanding production, or packing a protein bar into our gym bags.

State of the Industry 2021: Bakery poised for continued growth

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 12:55:00 -0400

Since the beginning of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began its destructive spread across the earth, the baking industry has seen highs and lows unlike any other time in history. This unprecedented challenge has reshaped our world, and much of the industry is emerging stronger than ever.

New, improved mixers for snack and bakery dough applications

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 11:23:00 -0400

Companies in the market for new or improved mixers for snack and bakery dough applications have displayed a recent focus on specific features and benefits. These include efficiency, cost savings, pre-hydration, handling of ancient grains, automation of processes, and stepped-up sanitation and maintenance, especially in the wake of COVID-19.

Bimbo Bakehouse brings comprehensive solutions to foodservice and the in-store bakery

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 11:03:00 -0400

Throughout the year, whenever you pick up a sandwich away from home, there is a good chance you have Bimbo Bakehouse to thank for your bread.

Upgraded belts and conveyors to improve snack and bakery production

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:12:00 -0400

Compact belts and conveyors for snack and bakery production meet demands for cleanability and automation.

Reviewing sanitation procedures for snack and bakery production

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 14:45:00 -0400

Reviewing and revising sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sanitation protocols see updates in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 10:15:00 -0500

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, snack and bakery companies increase and adjust sanitation procedures for their facilities.

Expanding cold chain logistics technologies

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 13:22:00 -0500

New technologies to help expand increased refrigerated and frozen snack and bakery product warehousing and distribution.

ERP software solutions for snack and bakery companies

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for snack and bakery companies to improve safety, production, and efficiency.

Snack and bakery strategies for a better 2021

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:00:00 -0500

This past year was unlike any other throughout our history as a nation, and the snack and bakery industry saw significant impact.

Snack and bakery leaders offer pandemic-era insights and strategies

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:00:00 -0500

Near the end of December 2019, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, Wuhan City, China, reported several pneumonia cases that officials eventually tied to a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, now generally known as COVID-19.

Safe and automated dough laminators and sheeters

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Automation, ease of operation, simple cleanability, hygienic design, operator safety, and the ability to process nontraditional and healthier ingredients are among the top of mind requests for snack and bakery operators looking to buy or upgrade laminators or sheeters.

Introducing automation and safety measures in new snack and bakery facilities

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0500

There is nothing like a pandemic to test a company's limitations. While food producers received official designation as "essential" businesses as the COVID-19 pandemic descended on the American food industry, continuing operations during the pandemic did not equate to business as usual.