The Kraft Heinz Co., headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, said it achieved a milestone in its turnaround plan with the finalization of its U.S. leadership team. The company named Cory Onell president of U.S. sales, Sanjiv Gajiwala U.S. chief growth officer and Stephanie Peterson head of U.S. communications.

Onell joins Kraft Heinz with more than 20 years of experience leading sales organizations for consumer packaged goods companies, Kraft Heinz said, while Gajiwala joins Kraft Heinz from Mike's Hard Lemonade Co., where he most recently served as senior vice president of marketing. Before joining Kraft Heinz, Peterson served in senior-level communications roles at PepsiCo, KIND Snacks and, most recently, IHOP Restaurants.

Inc. magazine said ice cream maker High Road Craft Brands is No. 1,141 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, a ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment — its independent small businesses.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by Inc. magazine for the fifth consecutive year,” said Keith Schroeder, CEO of Marietta, Ga.-based High Road Craft Brands. “This award recognizes the space we’ve carved out for ourselves within the food industry and our commitment to enhancing the ways consumers experience ice cream through quality of flavors, new product lines, experiences and beyond.”

Idaho Milk Products, Jerome, Idaho, said it will offer several webinars regarding formulating with milk proteins and overcoming common challenges and obstacles. Some of the topics will focus on the best practices for hydration and dispersion, ready-to-drink solubility and shelf-life testing, protein-fortified dry mixes, protein bars and cereals (including extrusions), protein quality comparisons, maximizing milk protein concentrate quality and functionality, and protein-enhanced ice cream.

This new webinar series will feature guest speakers and offer formulators and others the opportunity to expand and enhance their knowledge of working with proteins to obtain the highest quality products available, the dairy processor said. The first 30-minute webinar, titled “Improving the Shelf-life of Ready-to-Drink, High-Protein UHT Beverages,” will take place on Oct. 7, 2020, in partnership with the Institute of Food Technologists. Information about registration will be forthcoming.

Continuing its work to stop the use of harmful pesticides not just in the food we eat, but also in the country’s green spaces, Stonyfield Organic, a Londonderry, N.H.-based organic yogurt-maker, announced the latest phase of its #PlayFree initiative. This year, in addition to providing resources and actionable steps for consumers to make a switch to organic lawn maintenance at home, Stonyfield Organic is also teaming up with 14 new communities to convert outdoor fields and parks to organic grounds management.

Since the launch of #PlayFree in 2018, Stonyfield Organic said it has contributed more than $2 million dollars to the initiative, teaming up with 35 communities nationwide to assist with their transitions to organic grounds management and bringing organic model fields to millions of people.

Dippin' Dots, a Paducah, Ky.-headquartered producer of flash-frozen beaded ice cream, said it opened a new manufacturing facility focused on supporting the demand for Dippin' Dots Cryogenics LLC, an arm of the company that lends the brand's patented technology and equipment for applications to other industries beyond ice cream. Dippin' Dots launched the cryogenics business in 2018 and has since experienced “staggering growth,” manufacturing for the plant-based meat segment, pharmaceutical companies, probiotic brands and animal feed segment, among others that require high-volume cryogenic freezing.

The new 6,000 square-foot facility is located in Paducah and will add 45 new jobs once operating at full capacity, the company said. It was designed with efficiency in mind with the goal to duplicate anywhere in the world for future growth.

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) said it is now accepting fall/winter 2020 applications for the WCMA Internship Exchange. This program pairs students with WCMA members, including dairy processors, manufacturers and industry supplier partners, for at least one full semester of hands-on work experience.

“Internships offer the next generation of workers a meaningful introduction to the industry, while they offer employers a much-needed workforce pipeline,” WCMA Executive Director John Umhoefer said.

To participate in the WCMA Internship Exchange, visit WisCheeseMakers.org.

Effective Sept. 1, 2020, Noel Anderson, Ph.D., will become the 81st president of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a Chicago-based nonprofit scientific institute committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system. Anderson, an IFT Fellow, follows Pam Coleman, MBA, CFS, IFT’s 2019-2020 president, IFT said.

“Noel previously served as chair of the board of trustees for Feeding Tomorrow, IFT’s foundation, and we’re very pleased that he’ll be chairing IFT’s board of directors as president for this coming year,” said IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean. “With more than 45 years as an IFT member and broad executive knowledge spanning his professional career, Noel has the ideal experience and passion during such a pivotal time in our organizations’ history.”

McLean, Va.-based 3-A Sanitary Standards Inc. announced the revocation of a current 3-A Symbol license, due to the need for corrective actions for certain equipment manufactured in accordance to 3-A Sanitary Standard #24-03, Non-Coil Type Batch Pasteurizers. The action concerns equipment manufactured by Carpigiani USA in Winston Salem, N.C., for the model designations “Pastomaster 60” and “Pastomaster 120” listed in Certificate #3714.

The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), a division of Arlington, Va.-based FMI – The Food Industry Association, announced a new event, SQF Global, that aims to unite the worldwide food safety community. The event will be held in an online environment Oct. 27-29, 2020, and will span two hemispheres, as well as multiple languages and time zones. 

“SQF Global will gather a dynamic community of food producers, retailers, leaders and service innovators across a wide range of food safety operations and job functions, including compliance, quality, training, regulatory, audit and technical areas,” FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin said. “It’s our intention to offer a forum that fosters continued enhancement of the safety and security of the global food supply chain.” 

For more information about attending, exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, visit SQFGlobal2020.com, call 202-220-0828 or email register@fmi.org.

SweeGen, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., announced a joint venture with the China Commercial Foreign Trade Group (CCFT) as the strategic partner to distribute Bestevia next-generation, non-GMO zero-calorie stevia sweeteners through its extensive distribution channels in China. CCFT’s affiliate company, China Commerce Sugar Industry Co., is one of the largest sugar distributors and trading partners internationally.

Butler Automatic, a Middleboro, Mass.-based solutions provider for roll-fed converting and packaging lines, announced the return of Andrew Butler as CEO of the company.

“Building on 64 years of innovation, we are experiencing unprecedented demand for Butler solutions from our key customers and OEM partners for packaging applications, as well as for converting industry applications,” Butler said. “I am enjoying engaging directly with our customers, and am particularly excited about introducing groundbreaking new products, as well as execution on commitments and meeting customer commitments.” 

Tetra Pak, Denton, Texas, published its 2020 Sustainability Report, celebrating the many ways the company has worked to protect food, people and futures in the past year. An annual tradition since 1999, this year's report is especially poignant in the midst of a global pandemic, while the world's focus on planet and the environment is being challenged, the company said.

"The pandemic has changed how we live and work, giving even deeper meaning to our promise to protect what's good," said Jeff Fielkow, president and CEO, Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada. "Now more than ever, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protect food, protect people and protect the future of the planet."