From the Cold Corner

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we’re celebrating Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2023 Processor of the Year: SunOpta. A global pioneer in the sustainable food and beverage industry, SunOpta has achieved consistent growth and deep-rooted success for nearly 50 years. Collaborating with some of the most planet-friendly brands in the world, SunOpta produces 450 total organic, non-GMO plant-based and specialty products, including plant-based beverages and ingredients, and fruit-based ingredients and snacks. Lauren McNamara, vice president of Plant-based Food & Beverage Business, and Bryan Clark, Senior Vice President of Research & Development and Quality Assurance, join From the Cold Corner to discuss how the Minnesota-based company is focused on sustainably building a plant-based future.

To learn more about how food manufacturers and processors are creating the latest in craveable, consumable foods, this episode of From the Cold Corner features joined by Stacey Kinkaid, vice president of Product Development and Innovation at US Foods, and Chris Glab, chief innovation officer at Wild Brine/Bubbies. They talk about research into Gen Z dining and eating trends, how their companies approach R&D and what’s on the horizon for new refrigerated and frozen foods.

It certainly seems like a hot time to be in cold storage development. This episode of From the Cold Corner features Marty Khait, co-founder and managing principal at Yukon Real Estate Partners, and author of R&FF’s special series, Farm to Frozen, to discuss new options in cold storage and more.

At Refrigerated and Frozen Foods, we talk a lot about how cold foods are produced, processed and manufactured. But what happens once those foods are ready to be distributed to retailers across the country where they will ultimately end up in consumer’s homes? This episode honors Longbow Advantage, R&FF’s 2023 Logistics Provider of the Year, and discusses the ways in which technology and automation are changing the food logistics landscape. We’re joined by Mike Babiak, director of supply chain technology at Longbow Advantage, and Pratik Jagad, chief product officer at nuVizz, a delivery and transportation platform specializing in last-mile delivery technology.

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we’re joined by three guests to discuss the latest in food processing trends and cold foods manufacturing: Craig Susser of Craig’s Vegan, a California plant-based ice cream company. Created in 2016, it was a hit in Susser’s West Hollywood restaurant and by 2018, the brand had launched a pint-sized line of its cashew-based ice creams in six flavors at over 2,000 retailers nationwide. Bob Grote, CEO of Grote Company, an Ohio-based manufacturer of slicing and food processing equipment. Started with the Peppamatic over 50 years ago, Grote Company has diversified through the acquisitions of Vanmark, Advanced Food Technology, GME International and Pizzamatic. And David Sawicki, business unit leader at A M King, a Charlotte, NC-based integrated Design-Build firm, specializing in the design and construction of large-scale, complex food facilities. With over 25 years in the construction industry managing projects across the country, Sawicki’s expertise includes adaptive reuse, cold storage and food processing.

Schwan’s Hearth & Fire, a frozen pizza line created with proprietary dough and a fermentation process that makes the perfect crust. With premium toppings like roast shiitake, Portobello and cremini mushrooms, whole basil leaves and goat cheese, the brand is winning over fans. So many in fact that it was voted by readers as Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ Best New Retail Product for 2023!  On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Roger Bentz, principal food scientist with Schwans, Shelly Heid, senior director of Product Development for Schwan’s; Brian Thompson, Senior Marketing Manager for Hearth & Fire and Suman Nag, senior director of e-commerce for Schwans, to discuss their winning pizza, its production, packaging and more.

In honor of June Dairy Month, meet sisters Stephanie and Hayley Painter, the duo behind Painterland Sisters Organic Skyr Yogurt, which launched in 2022, to preserve, showcase and utilize their family’s fourth-generation organic dairy farm. The Icelandic-style organic yogurt is thicker and creamier. It is lactose-free, rich in probiotics, high in protein and contains 13 essential nutrients.  Painterland Sisters skyr is made from organic whole milk and their five flavors are sweetened naturally using fruits and cane sugar. This spring, they expanded distribution to include Whole Foods Market, Natural Grocers, Sprouts Farmers Market, Giant Food stores and more. Currently found in over 1,500 locations in 45 states, Painterland Sisters has already sold over $1 million in skyr, and their sights are set on nationwide distribution.  Stephanie and Hayley Painter join us to talk more about regenerative dairy farming and how their yogurt is made.

Food companies and retailers regularly donate foods to charitable organizations but often lack the capability to store and distribute those donations. Cooler Management, an Ohio-based company that designs and delivers cold storage solutions, recently launched a program to help solve the infrastructure dilemma and distribute more fresh foods to food banks, schools, retailers and more. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Mark Inrott, CEO of Cooler Management, joins us to discuss his passion for sports, nutrition and agriculture and how we can look for new ways to feed hungry Americans. And, if the name Mark Inkrott sounds familiar, you might have seen him on Sundays. He played football in both college and the NFL, a tight end for teams including the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants.

Learn why a loading dock designed with a Drive-Thru applications is the gold standard for facilities like cold storage, food, beverage (and more!) and how it helps protects your employees, minimizes damage to equipment and goods, while saving money on your bottom-line through environmental control.

Sponsored by:

Sales of plant-based foods topped $7 billion in 2021, with retail sales growing three times faster than total food retail sales, according to the Plant-Based Foods Association. As demand from consumers for plant-based foods, especially protein alternatives in the meat and dairy aisles, continues to grow, data suggests alt-proteins will only move further into the mainstream. On this two-part episode of From the Cold Corner, we’ll focus on some of the emerging trends in plant-based foods. For part 2, we’re joined by Christine Lewington, CEO of PIP International, a Canadian-based pea protein company.