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Why be liable for workplace injuries if robots can do the job safely, efficiently?

Robots in picking, packing and palletizing applications have performed some new feats—thanks to clever system integrators who have given them sensitive touch, better grips and keen vision.




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Employing wireless sensors without a clear goal could prove inefficient

How do you implement a sensor-based IIoT system that can fulfill your needs now and into the future?




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Technologies help processors find best temperature for quality, efficiency

Three companies are using interesting methods to keep refrigerated and frozen foods at just the right temperature.




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Detecting foreign matter to avoid contamination

A wide variety of machines can help ensure that foreign matter doesn't slip into your product.




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Controlling temperature from farm to fork protects product quality, brand name

Temperature is that one measurement that’s dictated by governmental regulations to prove that you have a kill step in your process. Beyond that, there are rules for keeping fresh food under a certain temperature to keep it safe both in transit and storage, and—just as important—maintain its quality so you don’t have to throw it out prematurely.




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How robots help processors navigate the COVID-19 pandemic

Robots and cobots can help when your food or beverage has workers out sick with COVID-19 or needs to implement social distancing.




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Using sensors to improve processes

If your food or beverage operation isn’t making widespread use of sensors to monitor your process, you can’t expect to remain competitive for long.




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Tech Update: Automated storage and retrieval systems offer challenges, benefits and new technology

With a market that is expected to reach $10.3 billion by 2027, food and beverage companies need to know the benefits and challenges of implementing AS/RS.




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The Morning Star Company Explores AI Options to Improve Yields, Profitability

A leader in the tomato processing industry, The Morning Star Company is looking at new AI agriculture technologies in extensive field settings that can help to achieve this goal.




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Using data intelligence to reduce unit costs in food manufacturing

Data is valuable because it helps manufacturers make better decisions. But there’s a big difference between collecting data and being able to actually use it. If you don’t have a system in place to be able to understand what the data is telling you, then you’re going to be overwhelmed by it.




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Understanding the Increased Demand for Industrial Switches in Food and Beverage Plants

What qualities to look for in an industrial Ethernet switch that can provide long-term reliability in an F&B plant.




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KYLA Hard Kombucha’s Colada Crush

KYLA Hard Kombucha introduced a new Colada Crush flavor to its Sunbreak Series, a refreshing blend of coconut, pineapple and yuzu.




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The Dairy Management Inc. Opens Entries for Checkoff’s New Product Competition

This year’s contest theme aligns with checkoff-led insights that show consumers are seeking dairy products that deliver health-related benefits.




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Explorer’s Ready-To-Drink Cold Brew Beverages

Created for the on-the-go coffee enthusiast, the new line upholds Explorer’s commitment to quality, sustainability and ethical sourcing practices. 




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Cheeky Cocktails Flavored Syrups

The two new syrups add to Cheeky's current lineup of syrups and juices, which are all shelf-stable versions of professional bar ingredients usually made from scratch, including 100% Lemon and Lime Juices and syrups like Espresso, Honey Ginger, Agave and more. 




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General Mills to Sell North American Yogurt Business to Lactalis and Sodiaal

Following the completion of the transactions, the US and Canadian businesses will operate independently, with Lactalis acquiring the US business and Sodiaal acquiring the Canadian business. 




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Wild About Mixmi Froyo New Packaging, Enhanced Formula

The revamped Wild About Mixmi Froyo™ products have been reformulated to be 100% natural, truly fermented, and enriched with high-quality probiotics. 




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Plant-Based Innovations: Califia, Milkadamia, and More Expand Beverage and Creamer Offerings

“Given the success of our Matcha Almond Latte, we’ve expanded our line of tea beverages with Chai Almond Latte based on the growing popularity of chai tea lattes and consumer demand for easy solutions for café favorites at home,” said Suzanne Ginestro, Califia’s chief marketing officer.




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OLIPOP Ridge Rush

According to the company, the new flavor tastes like liquid electricity, with flavors of citrusy and lemon-lime with a rush from natural green tea caffeine.




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Prairie Farms Recognized in 2024 WDE Championship Dairy Product Contest

"I would like to thank the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association for hosting the World Dairy Expo competition platform. Winning 65 awards is a great honor, and not only did we top last year's number of WDE awards, but we also retained our place as the competition's most-awarded dairy," said Matt McClelland, Prairie Farms CEO/EVP. 




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f'real Limited Edition Oat Shake

The Choco Choco Chip Oat Shake, provides a new way for consumers to choose their chill based on their lifestyle and taste preferences, while still enjoying the indulgent chocolate flavors they crave. 




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Flavor and Function: Navigating 2024 Trends in Condiments, Snacks and Beverages

Discover the latest trends reshaping the food and beverage landscape in 2024 and into 2025, where health-conscious choices meet adventurous flavors. We delve into how consumer behaviors are driving innovative snack and beverage options, while sauces and dressings bring excitement to mealtimes. Uncover the key insights and product opportunities that can inspire your next creation in the ever-evolving market.




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GT's Living Foods Earns TRUE Gold Certification for Zero Waste Excellence

The prestigious recognition stands as a testament to GTLF's commitment to zero waste practices and sustainable operations, a commitment that resulted in the company securing a TRUE award-winning waste diversion rate. 




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Bacardí & Coca-Cola Ready-To-Drink Cocktail

BACARDÍ Mixed with Coca-Cola RTD will be available in several markets around the world, with the initial launch planned for select European markets and Mexico in 2025.




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MILKish Watermelon Seedmilk

Watermelon seeds not only are rich in protein, antioxidants, vitamins, and contain healthy fats, but due to the seeds’ low water footprint, choosing MILKISH as an alternative is a way to have a positive environmental impact.




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New Beverages Prioritize Hydration for On-the-Go Consumers

From electrolyte-packed drinks to sustainable hydration solutions, brands introduce innovative products designed to keep consumers refreshed and replenished.




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Stash Tea Double Spice Chai, Earl’s Delight & Apple Blossom Tea Latte Concentrates

Stash Tea’s new Tea Latte Concentrates offer teaheads a bold and unique way to enjoy café-quality lattes at home, catering to the growing consumer trend of at-home tea consumption which amounted to $2.92 billion in sales in 2024. 




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Reflecting on 2024: How Did Beverage Consumer Trend Predictions Measure Up?

Prior to sharing our outlook for 2025, we wanted to review the predictions we made for 2024 to determine what we got right and what might not have fully taken shape. Here, we've collected capsule information for each section of our 2024 Predictions, in areas such as sustainability, foodservice and global flavors. Within each capsule, you will find our 2024 predictions and assessments of their accuracy.




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Lifeway Foods Single-Serve Organic Kefir Flavors

Many of these flavor combinations have never been seen before in the cultured dairy category. In addition to being lactose-free, the new Flavor Fusions line is loaded with high-quality bioavailable nutrients, like protein, calcium, and 12 live and active probiotic cultures.




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Amano Enzyme USA: Improve Taste, Texture

SupplySide West attendees are encouraged to visit booth #1973 and learn more about how Amano Enzyme’s high-quality microbial enzymes can help provide the optimal texture, taste and overall performance for a variety of applications including plant-based food products, functional beverages and dietary supplements.




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Chobani Opens Headquarters in New York City

As business leaders and local governments struggle to navigate changes in the commercial real estate market to address a forever changed landscape of urban needs, Chobani is embracing a new vision for how businesses can invest in and deliver sustained impact for their home community.




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Edlong Acquires Brisan Group

“Our aligned vision at Edlong ’to empower the food and beverage industry to unleash the taste of dairy’ makes our acquisition of Brisan Group a key strategic step towards delivering the next generation of dairy taste technologies,” said Michael Natale, Edlong president.




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3 Business Lessons from the Trail

This summer, I had the opportunity to visit Glacier National Park for the first time, and I came home with a few takeaways from the trail.




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How to Start a Diagonal Herringbone Layout

Scott walks us through how to find the starting point for a diagonal herringbone layout and how to keep the tile in line.




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Floor Academy Briefing: How to Solve Problems Personally and Professionally

Columnist Kyle Hedin explains how a task list helps to process problems and find solutions.




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Welcome to FLOOR Trends & Installation

Introducing a new super brand dedicated to all things flooring: FLOOR Trends & Installation.




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Meet the Real Metroflor: Video Campaign Shares Metroflor’s Brand Spirit

Metroflor recently released the Dr. Russ video campaign to communicate one of the company's core values, "Take fun seriously," to customers.




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How to Differentiate Between Caulking and Sealant for Tile Installations

Scott Carothers, academic director for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, explains when to use grout, caulking or sealants for your tile installations. 




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Shower Tile 101: Building a Knockout Niche

Scott Carothers offers guidance on what it takes to build a proper niche that meshes seamlessly with the wall tile layout.




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2023 Flooring Industry Year in Review

The year 2023 was full of ups and downs for the flooring industry, but what was consistent was an endless amount of news, style and innovation. 




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Tile Installation Instructions: The Answers are at Your Fingertips

Many tile manufacturers place installation tips and techniques on the cardboard box, and many are based on the industry standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and industry recognized best practices.




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Discover Flooring of a Higher Standard in 2024

Flooring manufacturers and retailers are setting a quick pace on innovation, focusing on higher product quality, more transparent marketing and easier-to-digest messaging for consumers. 




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How to Avoid Failures on Balcony and Roof Deck Tile Installations

Proper water management can help avoid failure with the installation of tile or natural stone on an exterior roof deck or balcony.




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Women’s Leadership Events in March 2024

If you haven’t already participated in an event with Women in the Floorcovering Industry, make this the year you do.





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Do You Know the ANSI Standards for Tile Coverage, Offset and Acceptable Lippage?

Everyone in the tile industry needs to push the quality bar to the next level and beyond.




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If the Floor Is Not Flat, Fix It

As installers approach a floor tile job, there are numerous questions that need to be answered before the first tile is set. Is the floor substrate suitable for receiving tile and is it flat?




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My Takeaways from WFCA’s New Leadership Development Certification

Floor Trends & installation Associate Publisher and Editor Tanja Kern shares her experience with The World Floor Covering Seeking Excellence As Leaders (SEAL) Leadership Development and Certification Program.




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What to See at NeoCon 2024 and Fulton Market Design Days

As NeoCon's 2024 trade show draws design aficionados to the Mart in Chicago, nearby Fulton Market highlights launches from more than 40 brands.




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How ANSI Tile Standards Help to Raise the Bar on Quality Installations

Scott Carothers, academic director for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, highlights how shoddy tile work around a bathroom drain in a restaurant could have been avoided if the tile installers had referenced ANSI Standards, industry best practices—and a little common sense. 




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WIFI Scholarship Program Empowers Women in the Flooring Industry

Women in the Floorcovering Industry (WIFI) is accepting applications for its second round of scholarships until July 10, 2024.