SpartanNash to Open New Micro-Fulfillment Center to Better Serve Online Grocery Shoppers

Grocery retailer and distributor SpartanNash announced plans to open its first SpartanNash Micro-Fulfillment Center, located at 5199 68th St. SE in Caledonia, Mich. The 55,000-square-foot facility will hold 16,000 products and pick and pack Fast Lane orders for 24 Ada Fresh Market, D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare and Forest Hills Foods stores throughout West Michigan, primarily in the Grand Rapids and Holland area.

“Fast Lane has been a tremendous value-add for our store guests as the pandemic heightened the importance of safe, efficient grocery shopping, pickup and...

Maple Leaf Foods to Purchase Four Saskatchewan Pig Farms

Maple Leaf Foods announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase four pig farms in central Saskatchewan from a group of companies known as Polar Pork. The acquisition will enhance Maple Leaf Foods' overall pig supply and substantially increase its pig production capacity in the province.

The purchase, which is expected to close in June 2022 subject to satisfaction of closing conditions, includes two sow barns and two nursery barns with the potential to supply approximately 140,000 pigs to Maple Leaf Foods. The security of supply that this strategic acquisition provides to Maple Leaf Foods is directly tied to its plans to continue to grow production at its flagship pork processing plant in Brandon, Manitoba in order to increase...

Maple Leaf Foods Completes Purchase of Ontario Poultry Plant and Associated Supply

Maple Leaf Foods completed its previously announced purchase of a poultry processing plant located near Schomberg, Ontario, together with the associated poultry supply.

The purchase was completed in accordance with the exercise of a put option by the vendors, Certm Inc. and certain related companies, which was part of a 2018 purchase and...

Future Meat Technologies Launches Industrial Cultured Meat Production Facility
Future Meat Technologies, an industry-leading company developing innovative technology to produce cultured meat, has opened the world's first industrial cultured meat facility. With the capability to produce 500 kilograms of cultured products a day, equivalent to 5,000 hamburgers, this facility makes scalable cell-based meat production a reality.

"This facility opening marks a huge step in Future Meat Technologies' path to market, serving as a critical enabler to bring our products to shelves by 2022," says Rom Kshuk, CEO of Future Meat Technologies. "Having a running industrial line accelerates...

Wholestone Farms to Build Pork Processing Facility in South Dakota

Wholestone Farms, a farmer-owned pork processor, has secured property in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, located near the intersection of I-229 and Benson Road within an appropriately zoned industrial park. Wholestone Farms plans to develop the purchased land into a new, state-of-the-art pork harvest and processing facility. The project value is estimated at over $500 million and will initially employ over 1,100 people.

"Wholestone Farms and its farmer-owners have a strong culture of corporate citizenship and with many of our members currently living and doing business in the area, we look forward to...

West Liberty Foods Unveils Customer Innovation Center and New Logo 

West Liberty, Iowa-based West Liberty Foods recently unveiled their new Customer Innovation Center, located at their Bolingbrook, Illinois facility. This dedicated, nearly 7,000 square foot facility was specifically designed to enable strategic customer collaboration and innovation. The space features development kitchens and areas designed for product showings, innovation and concept development, and customer planning and brainstorming meetings.

“In the midst of the food industry’s rejuvenation post-Pandemic, this was the perfect time for West Liberty Foods to create a dedicated space for our Sales Team and customers,” said Brandon Achen, President. “We look forward to...

Eat Beyond Portfolio Company Nabati Foods Builds New Facility

Eat Beyond Global Holdings, an investment issuer focused on the global plant-based and alternative food sector, is announcing that its portfolio company Nabati Foods Global recently completed construction of a new manufacturing facility in Edmonton, Alberta. The building is roughly five times larger than the original pilot plant.

Nabati Foods offers whole, natural, plant-based, foods including dairy-free cheesecakes, cheese alternatives, and plant-based meats. Its products are compatible with most dietary restrictions or preferences and are free of all common allergens. The products are non-GMO and contain no refined sugars, dairy, eggs, gluten, or soy.

"With this new facility, Nabati Foods is now capable of producing...

ADM to Build New Soy Crushing Facility in North Dakota

ADM announced its plan to build North Dakota’s first-ever dedicated soybean crushing plant and refinery to meet fast-growing demand from food, feed, industrial and biofuel customers, including producers of renewable diesel.

Based in Spiritwood, ND, the approximately $350 million crush and refining complex will feature state-of-the-art automation technology and have the capacity to process 150,000 bushels of soybeans per day. Strategically located in a major soybean producing area, ADM’s global logistics network will enable the facility to access...

PLANT PROTEIN: Get to Know Players in the Plant Protein Market: The Better Meat Company

“Of course people like eating burgers, people like eating meat! We want to give people that same experience, just with a far more diversified portfolio of proteins. Whether that means it’s a blended burger, a plant-based burger, or a burger made from microbial proteins, we want to give people the experience of eating meat that people want, but with a much smaller footprint on the planet.” said Paul Shapiro, The Better Meat Company’s CEO, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, podcast host, plant-based fish stick enjoyer, and animal lover.

With just three growth packed years in the industry and 16 employees, The Better Meat Company provides high quality plant protein formulations to major food companies for use in both blended meat-plant hybrid products and traditional plant-based foods...

Cargill Unveils Plans for New Canola Processing Facility in Regina, Saskatchewan

Cargill announced plans to break ground on a new canola processing facility in Regina, Saskatchewan, to support the growing global demand for canola products. The company expects to begin construction on the $350 million project, which will have a similar design to Cargill’s existing Camrose facility, early next year with plans to be operational by early 2024. The company will also update and modernize its canola facilities in Camrose and Clavet over the next 12 months to increase volume and broaden capabilities at both locations.

“We are confident in the continued growth and competitiveness of the canola processing industry and look forward to helping farmers access increasing...

ADM Advances Protein Innovation with Opening of New Plant-based Lab in Singapore

ADM celebrated the opening of its new cutting-edge, plant-based innovation lab, located in ADM’s Biopolis research hub in Singapore. The lab will develop next-level, on-trend and nutritious products to meet growing food and beverage demand in the Asia-Pacific region.

“ADM is a pioneer in plant-based nutrition innovation, and this new facility will enhance our ability to meet rapidly growing consumer demand in the Asia-Pacific region and bring exciting new products and solutions to the market,” said Leo Liu, ADM president, Asia-Pacific. “Protein continues to be a focus for consumers who are experimenting with plant-based options to meet their health and nutrition, sustainability and...

Tyson Foods Invests $425 Million in New Tennessee Poultry Complex

Tyson Foods along with local, state and federal officials met Thursday to officially open the company’s new poultry complex in Humboldt, Tennessee. The $425 million project, which includes a processing plant, feed mill and hatchery, represents Tyson’s biggest investment in Tennessee and the single largest corporate investment ever in Gibson County.

“We’re pleased to add to the growth in Gibson County with the opening of our new 370,000 square foot processing facility,” said Dean Banks, President and CEO, Tyson Foods. “We appreciate the support of all those who played a role in making this facility possible—the local community, county, state and...

Butterball to Invest a Total of $8.7 Million in Two Arkansas Processing Facilities

Butterball, one of the largest producers of turkey products in the United States, announced that it is investing a combined $8.7 million and creating a total of 360 new jobs within three years in two processing facilities in Northwest Arkansas. The expansion includes a $4.7 million investment in Ozark where the company will create 160 jobs and a $4 million investment in Huntsville where it will create 200 new jobs.

“Having been a longstanding employer in Arkansas through our feed mills, turkey growing operations and production facilities, Butterball appreciates the continued support from the state of Arkansas as we look to...

Cargill Opens Antibiotic-Free Premix Plant in Ohio 

During a virtual event for producers, customers and media, Cargill announced the opening of its new premix animal nutrition facility in Lewisburg, Ohio. The 220,000 square-foot, future-ready facility is deploying advanced technology not previously used in animal agriculture or pet food production that allows the use of less resources to produce feed, while ensuring the highest quality and traceability of its products for Cargill customers.

The Lewisburg West facility broke ground on November 8, 2018 and represents a $50 million investment in expanding Cargill’s existing feed production operations. The facility produces...

Hormel Foods Opens its Newest Production Facility

Hormel Foods Corporation, a global branded food company, announced the opening of its newest production facility, Papillion Foods, located in Papillion, Nebraska, which will make dry sausage products for the company.

"We are excited to be opening up this facility to not only help meet the demand for our branded sausage products, but also provide fantastic career opportunities in our community," said Ed Finnegan, Papillion Foods plant manager. "We've been able to...

Tyson Foods Announces Plans for Additional Production Facilities for Its International Business

Tyson Foods, Inc. announced plans to build new production facilities in China and Thailand, and expand its facility in the Netherlands. The latest expansions, adding over 100,000 metric tons of fully cooked poultry capacity, build on the company’s global growth strategy to become the leader in protein by serving emerging markets and strategic customers.

“Global population and income growth will continue to drive an increased need for protein,” said Dean Banks, president and CEO of Tyson Foods. “These investments allow us to increase our in-country operations and global export capabilities, helping us bring more safe, high-quality protein for...

Agrotop to Build Georgia's Largest Food Processing Plant for Chirina

Agrotop, a leading global player in the poultry and livestock industry, will build a new state-of-the-art meat processing plant for Chirina, Georgia's largest food-producing company.

The completed ready-to-eat (RTE) food processing plant is expected to begin production within a year and generate 8–10 tons of chicken products per day. The factory, which will be Georgia's largest, will produce sliced meats, sausages and cold cuts.

The new production facility will be built in a modular way, enabling...

Eat Just and Proterra Asia Partner on JUST Egg Protein Facility and Expansion

Eat Just, Inc. announced a partnership with a consortium led by Proterra Investment Partners Asia Pte. Ltd. (Proterra Asia), an investment management firm focused on the food and agribusiness sectors, to meet demand for the plant-based JUST Egg in Asia.

The consortium will invest up to $100 million and Eat Just will invest up to $20 million to build and operate their first-in-Asia, and largest, plant protein production facility in Singapore. The resulting Eat Just subsidiary, to be known as Eat Just Asia, will serve JUST Egg manufacturing and distribution partners across Asia.

The partnership combines Eat Just’s proprietary protein separation technology, leadership and innovative business model with...

French Plant-Based Protein Maker Roquette Sees Short-Term COVID-19 Impact

The plant-based protein market has seen a slowdown in new product launches and lower sales in restaurants and cafeterias due to COVID-19 but benefited from more people cooking at home and trying new products, French manufacturer Roquette said.

The market for plant-based protein such as meat-free burgers has surged in the past few years, attracting major investment from global agrifood groups, including Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, and Nestle, hoping to capitalize on a trend towards healthy eating generally, including less red meat.

But lockdowns around the world to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have shaken the market, Jean-Philippe Azoulay, Head of Pea and New Proteins Business at French ingredient maker...

Bell & Evans Begins Construction On an Organic Chicken Facility

Premium poultry producer Bell & Evans began construction on a new 411,500 square foot, Organic-Certified Chicken Harvesting Facility in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania. The first precast walls were placed in July, and the facility will be operational by late 2021. The project will cost the company approximately $330 million and double its current production capacity.

Bell & Evans produces 100% premium Raised Without Antibiotics chicken and Organic chicken, approximately 60% and 40% of its business, respectively. The additional capacity will allow Bell & Evans to continue expanding...

Amazon to Add Thousands of Jobs to Phoenix Metro Area

Amazon.com, Inc. announced 11 new sites across the Phoenix metro area expected to be open by the end of 2020 to support customer fulfillment and delivery operations. The new sites are expected to create more than 3,000 new full- and part-time jobs with a minimum $15 per hour wage and comprehensive benefits starting on day one.

The news follows Amazon’s recent announcement of the company’s Phoenix Tech Hub expansion at 100 Mill, which will bring more than...