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. 

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.

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.

“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.

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

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

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

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

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. 

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.

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. 

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

In a new column, International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI) Advisory Board Chair Rod Von Busch shares the journey that CFI is on to embrace change and diversity, the challenges it faces, what potential members can expect and how its current members are setting it apart. 

What's happening in the residential and commercial flooring markets? While the flooring and interiors market remained challenged in the first half of 2024, there are modest signs of an impending recovery. 

The industry is preparing for 2025 with a focus on improving installation processes and attracting new talent. Initiatives include Mohawk's CFI certification for product development teams, IFC's partnership with FCEF for workforce development, and various educational programs. 

Learn about the roadmap required to activate the imaginations of Gen Z recruits, which requires visions of stability, long-term career growth, and the potential to work on meaningful projects.

As the Federal Reserve's rate cut impacts the flooring sector, industry veterans demonstrate adaptability. Dan Frierson's 60-year journey at The Dixie Group showcases innovative leadership, while Starnet's long-standing members highlight stability. Our October issue also explores retail innovations, installation techniques, and pricing strategies, reflecting the industry's multifaceted nature and ability to navigate economic shifts.

The trend predictions are developed by Kroger's industry-leading team of food experts including Our Brands' product developers, chefs, buyers, culinary specialists and Kroger's retail data science arm, 84.51º, for a well-rounded projection of what customers will be buzzing about for the upcoming year.

Packed with antioxidants to combat oxidative stress and thereby enhance immune function, amaí’s Sparkling Hibiscus Flower Water offers a guilt-free way to stay hydrated, according to the company.

Chunk Foods leverages fermentation for a new wave of cleaner, whole-muscle plant-based meats.

Pour it On! New products help Rich Products build on 79-year legacy of non-dairy, plant-based innovation.

The dumplings are filled with a mix of tender chicken, savory broth, scallions, and ginger, delivering a comforting, bold flavor. Crafted with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners, they provide a wholesome, allergen-friendly option.

EXBERRY® Shade Vivid Orange is a water-dispersible color made from non-GMO paprika. It has a high color intensity that allows for cost-effective low usage levels and can deliver bright shades in food products including confectionery, dairy, bakery, and plant-based meat.

The challenge is hosted by IFT and funded and initiated by the Seeding The Future Foundation. In its first three years, it has attracted over 2,400 submissions from teams of scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams across non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profits, social enterprises, universities, research institutions as well as small and emerging for-profit enterprises.

Prepared Foods talks sustainability with packaging designer Tom Newmaster, owner and partner at FORCEpkg, Lancaster, Pa.

To help patients successfully complete their treatment and live better lives, it's important for providers to specify an ergonomic, patient-friendly flooring solution that strikes a balance between force reduction and energy restitution.

The new ECOsurfaces Desert & River commercial flooring line from Ecore, a company that transforms reclaimed materials into high-performance products that make people’s lives better, offers the architect and design community an innovative solution that fuses aesthetics and sustainability with ergonomics, acoustics and safety.

Three sports flooring providers have merged to create the Icon Group, a construction group that specializes in flooring and lockers for athletic facilities and surfaces for equine and other animal applications. 

Ecore International has been upcycling rubber into high-performance surfaces for over 40 years. The firm announces the launch of its TRUcircularity program, which aims to eliminate rubber waste by recycling and reimagining every end-of-life rubber floor. 

Discover the essential elements of electrostatic discharge (ESD) flooring and gain insights into achieving optimal ESD protection and mitigation. In this article, we debunk common misconceptions, explore the significance of resistance levels, and shed light on the latest material advancements that address industry challenges.

Sherwin-Williams High Performance Flooring introduced SofTop Comfort flooring systems, an addition to its seamless resinous flooring collection.

In addition to typical rubber sports flooring, wood-look rubber flooring fulfills a variety of fitness facility needs such as basketball courts, group fitness spaces and functional training areas.

Designed from customer feedback and tailored specifically for light strength and conditioning workouts, Performance Motivate Plus complements Ecore’s Performance Beast flooring, which excels in handling heavier weights.

When the static electricity in a medical office, examination room or lab is under control, it helps reduce the risks of shocks to personnel, disruption of data, malfunction of sensitive equipment, igniting flammables, and reducing contamination due to electrostatic attraction.

PPG has signed a strategic agreement with flooring leader Shaw Industries Group, Inc. to offer the PPG Flooring line of resinous flooring products. The products will be available to Shaw’s customers in the commercial property market via its Patcraft brand. 

Milchwerke Schwaben’s presence in the dairy industry starts as early as 1922, dairy farmers in Ulm, Germany joined together to form a cooperative that would make it possible to produce dairy products with greater efficiency. This merger resulted in a company whose products meet the needs of consumers throughout Germany and abroad.

The company successfully completed a build-out with employee-centered construction for Crown Bakeries.

Buying online is growing, and FPL Food LLC in Augusta, Ga., has been leaning into this trend while also selling large volumes of beef to retail stores, foodservice and food manufacturing partners.

A single-stream mechanical recycling pilot demonstration produces the rFlex bale, a flexible packaging byproduct that could be used for future end markets and as a possible feedstock.

Niagara Bottling’s new 600,000-sq.-ft. production and distribution facility in Rialto, Calif., manufactures and distributes 120,000 bottles of water per hour. Supporting this throughput are 56 laser-guided vehicles, integrated with a 33,000-position robotic pallet shuttle storage system. Designed and built by E80 Group, the distribution automation operates 24/7/365.

Solutions for accurate control, easy maintenance and remote diagnostics.

Co-manufacturer Cascade Coffee adds automation to its secondary packaging operations by adding six cobot palletizing units.

Changing consumer preferences and regulations have introduced additional complexity to supply chains, necessitating that food and beverage retailers invest in robust traceability solutions.

For soda manufacturers seeking to fine-tune their syrup filtration processes, backflushable stacked disc cartridges can play a key role in ensuring consistent soft drink quality.

This new technology not only gives consumers confidence is knowing their food is safe, but helps supply chain participants and restaurants pull bad products.

Changing characteristics, product and orientation effect can disrupt product signals and affect detection sensitivity if not addressed. However, digital technologies and machine learning are pushing the innovation boundaries and streamlining inspection processes.

Belzona 5811DW2 (DW Immersion Grade) is a solvent-free coating initially designed for the protection of surfaces operating under potable water immersion or where potable water approval is required. 

Allagash Brewing Company reports that it has experienced a more than 40% reduction in unplanned work orders since implementing Limble, a CMMS and asset management platform, across its maintenance organization.

Designed to transfer contamination-sensitive bulk solid materials from intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) to downstream processes, dust-free, the system’s discharger frame is mounted on casters for in-plant mobility.

I recently toured our 2022 Plant of the Year in preparation for next month’s announcement and cover story reveal of our winner. While there, I had our July cover story in my head and filtered everything I saw through this question: “What is the state of food manufacturing today?”