The North American converted flexible packaging market totals nearly 30% of the global consumption, with annual expenditures of $20.7 billion in 2013, says a new report. Nearly 90% of sales are concentrated in the U.S., with Canada and Mexico amounting to 7% and 5%, respectively.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently certified nine Fisher Nuts pecan, walnut and almond products as heart-healthy.

IBIE chairman Mike Beaty and Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery publisher Jeff Heath presented B.E.S.T. in Baking plaques to 17 companies during the 2013 International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE). Five companies were also recognized with Honorable Mentions.

Wire Belt of America held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 12 to celebrate the expansion of its Londonderry, N.H., facility.

Cargill and Filippo Berio Olive Oil have reached agreement under which Cargill will be licensed to market a set of foodservice olive oil products under the Filippo Berio Culinary Selection brand. The deal includes five distinct olive oil products that meet the varying foodservice needs.

A Hormel bacon bits plant in St. James, Minn., will close in May, cutting work for 75 employees. Austin, Minn.-based Hormel Foods, will be expanding its plant in Dubuque, Iowa, for the first phase of a major project to create more bacon-toppings products.

Together with more than 150 participants from all over the world, the SAVE FOOD Initiative (www.save-food.org) discussed past and future cooperation at its first Partnership Event in Rome in December. Stakeholders from industry and agriculture, associations, initiatives and the public sector have thus taken another step in their joint effort against global food losses and waste.

Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest beef, chicken and pork processors and marketers, acquires the assets of Michigan pizza manufacturer Bosco’s Pizza Co.

DuPont Packaging is accepting entries for the 26th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation, the industry’s longest running, independently judged competition.

Craig R. Petray is the new CEO of the J.R. Short Milling Co., producer of ingredients for the snack food industry. Petray previously headed The NutraSweet Co. in Chicago and replaces interim CEO Jeff Hebble, effective Jan. 20. Hebble remains on the company’s board of directors.