Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery was recently able to talk to Andy Khiani, founder, Steve & Andy's, about the company's partnership with Palm Done Right, and the benefits of palm oil in baking.

Fats and oils play an important role in delivering the sensory and quality attributes for snack and bakery products. Consumers’ interest in sustainability, health and wellbeing, and clean label are influencing the fats and oils category.

Sales of cake, pie, and cheesecake products are up, and formulators need ingredients that deliver on functionality.

Fat ingredients play multiple roles in sweet goods like pastries.

Snack and bakery consumers want to balance health and indulgence; the right ingredients can deliver.

The company will be one of the first large-scale suppliers exclusively offering certified palm oil.

The oils meet World Health Organization standards on industrial-produced trans-fatty acids.

Fat and oils are important functional ingredients that can also impact the nutritional profile in snack and bakery products. 

We were recently able to connect with two professionals at Stratas to chat about different types of oils used in the preparation of breakfast foods and snacks.

Whether they refer to it as a tortilla or a wrap, consumers are calling on this versatile, unleavened bread to help them create quick, nutritious meals and snacks. 

Diameter, shape, opacity and shelf stability are critical product-quality factors for tortilla manufacturers. But their ingredients count to help make these factors work. Feliciano “Sonny” Bejosano, of Allied Blending & Ingredients Inc., looks at ingredients typically used in tortilla formulations and how they impact finished products.

As vice president of sales and marketing, Fernando Alvear will help grow Mi Rancho’s present in the foodservice and grocery sectors.

Capturing a share of the fastest-growing segment of the tortilla and tortilla chips segments in the baking and snack industries has become a key strategic objective for an increasing number of food companies.

Tortilla versatility, better-for-you ingredients and on-trend flavors continue to attract consumers looking for bread replacements and healthier eating options.

New shapes, interesting flavors and better-for-you ingredients help make tortilla chips the second most-popular salty snack among U.S. consumers.

As most of you know, the tortilla industry has become the fastest-growing sector of the baking business, with more than $11 billion in sales last year.

Ingredient and equipment manufacturers offer a variety of products to help tortilla manufacturers improve their products, production efficiency and bottom line.

Wholesome Goodness’ gluten-free Sweet Chili & Omega Tortilla Chips are made with a blend of whole-grain corn and a medley of whole ancient grains.

A luxurious new venue, education sessions, exhibitors and plenty of networking and social opportunities await attendees at the 2016 Tortilla Industry Association (TIA) Convention & Trade Exposition in Southern California on May 18–19.

The Tortilla Industry Association (TIA) has once again raised the stakes for its strategy of focusing on the fastest-growing geographies in the fastest-growing sector of the baking business—tortillas recorded $12 billion in sales last year and are overtaking white sandwich bread as the nation’s preferred food-delivery platform—by placing its bets on Southern California as the destination for its 2016 Annual Convention & Trade Exposition.

Americans continue to crave Mexican food—so much so that they spend billions of dollars annually at quick-service restaurants like Taco Bell and Chipotle Mexican Grill and on Mexican foods at their local grocery store.

American takeout standbys like pizza and Chinese food should watch their backs, because Mexican cuisine is close behind, says the “Global Palates 2015” report from the National Restaurant Association.

As much as the tortilla category stays the same, it also has been striving to include more clean-label, non-GMO, and organic options. The standard white flour or corn tortilla that you see on grocery shelves will continue to persist, but consumers may see vegetable options like sweet potato tortillas alongside them, too.

According to IBISWorld, tortilla production in the U.S. has grown 3 percent in the past five years thanks to the fact that tortillas, especially ones boosted with ingredients like spinach and whole wheat, are perceived to be healthier than bread during a time when consumers value nutrition.

The past several years have been kind to the tortilla market. Tortillas and tortilla chips are essentials across U.S. retail and foodservice sectors, with steady growth over the past several years.

Dorner’s FlexMove Helix Conveyors are manufactured to meet customer’s needs with build to order inclines and declines, which provide tight spirals in a small footprint for greater flexibility in layout for applications such as accumulation, buffering, cooling product and more.

Originating as early as 8000 to 5000 BC in Mesoamerica, and adopted by Aztec and Mayan civilizations and then Mexican and Guatemalan cultures, tamales are enjoyed for their portability and versatility.

Multi-Conveyor recently built a series of mild steel constructed conveyors for varying height and width products that travel through dual belt merge, enclosed pneumatic diverts, massive lane accumulation; combiners, single file technology and more.

Fortress Conveyor has recently introduced its newest conveyor, which includes an easy sanitization process. 

Multi-Conveyor recently built a series of powered mild steel conveyors including a unique gravity conveyor to transport tall shaped plastic products.

A substantial number of snack and bakery processors have turned to tubular drag conveyor systems, which gently move product through a sealed, enclosed tube using a drag cable and circular discs pulled through on a loop.

Multi-Conveyor recently built a cost-effective, compact dual lane 90° case turner to rotate and align single lane filled cases that quickly transfer onto an existing case sealer.

In this case study, Multi-Conveyor recently built a massive system for a globally-recognized food manufacturer.

Dorner’s new AquaGard Low Profile (LP) conveyor is designed to fit in tight spaces, making it the ideal sanitary conveyor for dry or wipedown applications within the packaging, pharmaceutical, confectionary, bakery, and other packaged food industries. 

Eaglestone Equipment, a custom manufacturer of industrial food processing equipment, offers the 1150 Fabric Constant Turn Conveyor to help food processors speed up production lines and keep products moving efficiently through manufacturing lines. 

Multi-Conveyor recently built a set of sanitary food-grade conveyors that combine dual lanes of cup-size containers to feed an existing metal detector.  

For customers looking to reduce their sanitary conveyor system’s power consumption by as much as 55%, the new iDrive2 permanent magnet motor for Dorner’s AquaPruf conveyor is a great option.

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, introduces its new and improved Auto Diverter for its popular Iso-Flo vibratory conveyors.

A new Flexicon Mobile Sanitary IBC Unloading and Conveying System transfers contamination-sensitive bulk solid materials from Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) to downstream processes, dust-free.  

Vanmark India unveils new conveying equipment at India's largest tradeshow for food, drink processing suppliers.

Ideal for metering of food products into packaging lines, such as individual ingredients for snack mixes, finished food products prior to pouching lines, and metering of sensitive or friable food ingredients to blenders. 

Multi-Conveyor recently built a system that transports bagged food products through from one to two lanes of travel.

Much like its predecessor, the FGP Primary Cleaner, the FGP with External Spring features FDA-approved, food grade materials including a stainless-steel tensioner and a solid pole.

Snack and bakery producers visiting the booth will find a range of solutions aimed at meeting current consumer trends.

FiberSMART is a versatile, well-tolerated sugar alternative that can be consumed multiple times per day.

With cost-effective low usage levels and high stability performance, this kosher, vegan, and halal-certified shade can be used in snack seasonings, bakery products, frostings and decorative coatings, breadings, and more.

Dark chocolate ganache is now available in 8-pound, flexible pouches for chefs nationwide.

The introduction of HarvestEdge Oro comes as the pizza market continues to expand, with the line helping operators tap into new areas.

The purees can be used for bakery items, desserts, and other items.

Gavan introduces FaTRIX alternative protein-enriched fat ingredient that butters up chef pastries and slashes saturated fat by 80%.