Articles by Neal Lorenzi

State of the Industry 2022: Ubiquitous cookie category shows moderate growth

Consumers search for products that are tasty, but also include healthy ingredients.

June 21, 2022

Cookies are ubiquitous. They appear in many areas of the store, from the classic cookies and snack aisle, to the bakery aisle, the in-store fresh bakery, as ready-to-bake items in the refrigerated area, and even cookie dough in the frozen food section.

What’s new in closing and bagging equipment

Product introductions feature a wide range of features.

Neal Lorenzi

May 24, 2022

Innovation is prevalent in the area of closing and bagging equipment as well as twist ties, clips, zippers and package resealing. Thanks to product introductions and equipment upgrades, these systems run faster and are easier to use.

What’s new in retail-ready packaging

The latest equipment features upgrades that improve efficiency.

Neal Lorenzi

April 26, 2022

Retail-ready packaging (RRP) is being used by more bakery and snack producers because it offers benefits to both manufacturers and retailers. RRP makes it easy for retailers to quickly restock shelves and reduce injury among its employees.

Advanced food labeling technologies

Neal Lorenzi

March 23, 2022

New developments in the creation of food labels is providing bakery and snack producers with flexibility to run a wide range of different product sizes and types. Advances have been made in the following areas: printers, software, inks, and marking/coding technology.

Tray handling equipment evolves

Systems for handling bakery trays, baskets, and more help reduce operational costs and streamline production.

Neal Lorenzi

February 28, 2022

New and updated tray handing equipment that performs automated or semi-automated loading of bakery and snack products into trays and baskets, as well as handles bakery trays, baskets, and other reusable distribution containers for finished products, has grown increasingly sophisticated.

Inspection/detection systems offer flexibility to snack and bakery companies

X-ray, metal detection, checkweighing, sorting, and vision systems feature many upgrades.

Neal Lorenzi

February 2, 2022

When it comes to new developments in inspection/detection equipment for the snack and bakery industry, consumer demand for variety is driving the need for equipment that is flexible enough to accommodate new product types, packaging materials, and package sizes.

Convenience packaging strives to meet retailers’, consumers’ expectations

Innovations offer reliable containment, product freshness, and recyclability.

Neal Lorenzi

December 21, 2021

Bakery and snack producers can choose from a wide range of convenience packaging solutions - single-serve, re-sealable, portion-controlled - to meet demands of retailers and consumers. The latest innovations offer reliable containment, product freshness, recyclability and sustainability, thus fitting the needs of on-the-go, convenience-oriented consumers.

Sanitary design and food safety impact new form/fill/seal machines

Form/fill/seal systems offer improved sanitation features.

Neal Lorenzi

November 19, 2021

The latest form/fill/seal (FFS) systems are designed for versatility and are adaptable to many different bag types, film types, and bag sizes, which is good news for bakery and snack producers. They also incorporate improved sanitary design and can handle green sustainable materials such as paper packaging.

Improving operations with updated bakery trays and pallets

RFID tracking, hygienic features, and dimensional consistency improve performance.

Neal Lorenzi

October 27, 2021

Bakery trays and similar items such as pallets and baskets are an essential part of the supply chain for bakery and snack producers in transporting finished goods for direct-store delivery. They are sometimes enabled with tracking and traceability technology such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) to prevent tray and pallet theft.

Advances in robotics and automation in the snack and bakery industries

Advances in robotics and automation in snack and bakery packaging

New systems improve packaging operations in bakery and snack plants.

Neal Lorenzi

September 23, 2021

New robotic technology is helping to streamline and improve bakery and snack operations in both primary and secondary packaging applications. Areas of innovation include end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), sanitation, and space optimization. Gripper technology also is advancing to handle delicate products such as soft bakery items.

Hear from various experts on what is driving these consumer preferences, how to determine what shades and flavors are most likely to engage shoppers’ senses, and how to develop products that hit all the marks.

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Natural Food Flavors and Colorants, 2nd Edition

Although many foods are appealing, and even perceived as natural, in spite of containing synthetic additives, consumer increasingly prefer food products which are fully natural.

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Articles by Neal Lorenzi

State of the Industry 2022: Ubiquitous cookie category shows moderate growth

What’s new in closing and bagging equipment

What’s new in retail-ready packaging

Advanced food labeling technologies

Tray handling equipment evolves

Inspection/detection systems offer flexibility to snack and bakery companies

Convenience packaging strives to meet retailers’, consumers’ expectations

Sanitary design and food safety impact new form/fill/seal machines

Improving operations with updated bakery trays and pallets

Advances in robotics and automation in snack and bakery packaging

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