From the Cold Corner

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 1, we’re joined by Alison Rabschnuk, Business Development Director – Plant based foods at Kerry Taste & Nutrition.

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we’re joined by Dustin Norton, Sustainability Program Manager at Primus Builders, to discuss sustainability initiatives, LEED certification and more in the design and construction of cold storage facilities.

This year marks the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA)’s 40th annual celebration of March Frozen Food Month! On this episode of From the Cold Corner, NFRA Executive Vice President and COO, Tricia Greyshock, and Angela Rosenquist, chief growth officer at InnovAsian Cuisine and chair of the NFRA Promotions Committee, discuss March Frozen Food Month and more.

The demand for refrigerated and frozen foods remains robust. For example, a survey released in November by the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) found more than a quarter of shoppers are buying more frozen fruits and vegetables than three years ago. And over 90% of foodservice operators reported using frozen foods in their menus, with the healthcare, convenience store and fast casual categories measuring the greatest increase in use since 2019. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, AFFI President and CEO, Alison Bodor, and the RFA Technical Director, Doug Marshall, join us to discuss the state of the cold chain in 2023.

As Argentina and soccer fans around the world celebrate, there’s little doubt that scores of hungry fans in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup dined on a Devanco Foods product: the Chicago-based company shipped more than a half million pounds of halal beef bacon and deli meats into the country ahead of the tournament. It’s no wonder that Devanco Foods has been named the 2023 Refrigerated and Frozen Foods’ Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year.  On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we’re joined by Parker King, national sales manager for Devanco Foods, and Janine Zenner, Founder of Zacca Hummus, who joined the Devanco family a few years ago, to discuss Devanco’s products and plans for the future.

On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we’re joined by Grady McAdams, northwest region and cold storage sales leader at Heatcraft, and John Tippmann, Vice President of Sales Strategy at the Tippmann Group, to discuss the coming year in cold storage.

Godshall's starts with premium cuts of Angus Steak seasoned with traditional steakhouse spices and slowly smoke using real wood. Their Uncured Beef Bacon made with Angus Steak delivers on great taste and versatility. It cooks just like pork bacon, but with 50% less fat and has just 40 calories per serving. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, we're joined by Francis Yupangco, executive director of marketing, to discuss the brand's new products, rebranding, a facility expansion and more. Read more about their story here and listen to the podcast by clicking the button below.

With Thanksgiving and the holiday season quickly approaching, we’re talkin’ turkey. Known as the leader in Thanksgiving turkeys, Butterball recently released its 2022 Thanksgiving Outlook report. Kyle Lock, vice president of Marketing for Butterball, joins us to some consumer insights and turkey tips.

If you’ve ever made meatballs for a football tailgate or enjoyed chicken wings at a restaurant, chances are good you have eaten a West Liberty Foods product – our 2022 Frozen Foods Processor of the Year. West Liberty Foods produces grilled, baked, enrobed, chopped/formed, steam-cooked and convection items, such as grilled chicken strips and patties, meatballs, breakfast sausage and fully-cooked chicken wings. The company also produces sliced and whole muscle proteins and sous vide products for foodservice. Founded in 1996, when 47 farmers formed the Iowa Turkey Growers Co-Operative to purchase a turkey processing plant in West Liberty, Iowa, from Kraft Foods, the company has grown to over 2,000 employees across four facilities in three states, with a fifth location planned for construction in 2023. To discuss all that and more, on this episode of From the Cold Corner, we’re joined by Brandon Achen, CEO, and Michele Boney, director of sustainability.

On this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Vinicio Serment, U.S. Applications and Food Processing Specialist at Hiperbaric, a designer and manufacturer of HPP machinery, and Gianni Holzen, Commercial Sales Director at Fresh-Lock, a packaging company specializing in flexible and re-closeable technology, to examine the latest in high pressure processing – or HPP – and packaging for refrigerated and frozen foods.