New Job Opportunity

G&C Foods Breaks Ground for a new cold storage distribution center

ARCOLD, a division of ARCO Design/Build (ARCOLD) that specializes in refrigerated facilities and cold storage, announces the groundbreaking of a new cold storage distribution center for G&C Foods in Alachua, Florida. Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, G&C Foods has emerged as a frontrunner in the food distribution sector, renowned for its unwavering commitment to excellence. With a focus on meeting clients' diverse needs, G&C has garnered widespread recognition for its innovative distribution system, expert product purchasing team, and unparalleled client service. Recently, G&C has expanded its reach across the United States and recently ventured into international markets, including Central and Latin America, the Caribbean, the European Union, and the Middle East. G&C's expansion into Central Florida is a strategic move aimed at tapping into the growth potential of the southeastern United States, enhancing the company's operations as well as its industry footprint. Rich Chapman, President of G&C Foods, commends the continuous dedication of the team in achieving this significant milestone, highlighting the company's steadfast commitment to its clientele. "The foundation laid by our past associates, and the dedication of our current ones, have made this enormous opportunity possible. This new distribution center is also a result of great partnerships with our customers and vendors. We appreciate the support and all the opportunities this facility will provide." Situated in Alachua, Florida, the facility spans approximately 254,000 square feet and incorporates the latest advancements in cold storage design and construction expertise of the ARCOLD Team. From cold storage construction to temperature-controlled food and beverage facilities, ARCOLD's cutting-edge design-build solutions deliver efficiency, durability, and unparalleled design. Located on 70 acres, the facility offers flexibility and scalability to accommodate G&C's future growth trajectory. The project is slated for completion in February 2025. "We're honored to have been chosen as G&C's design-build partner for this impactful project," remarked Josh Cronan, Vice President of ARCOLD. "Leveraging our integrated design-build approach and proven construction experience with large scale complex cold storage projects, we're excited to deliver a facility that supports their immediate and future needs for distribution and growth." "I'm extremely proud of our company becoming an integral part of the Alachua community. Our success is built upon my family's legacy of over 174 years in the food industry and unwavering faith," shared Dwight "Kip" Palmer, Owner/CEO of G&C Foods. "We look forward to G&C's commitment to community impacting Alachua and central Florida." The recent groundbreaking ceremony hosted representatives from local government and community officials including the City of Alachua, G&C, and ARCOLD. The ceremony marked the kickoff of a project that will contribute toward the economic development of the Alachua community.

Thermax Unveils Its State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Factory for Water and Wastewater Solutions in Pune

Thermax, a leading provider of energy and environment solutions, announced the opening of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Pune for water and wastewater treatment solutions. This marks a significant step aligned with Thermax's broader mission of conserving resources and preserving the future. The new facility that is spread across two acres embodies Thermax’s dedication to excellence and engineering, driven by innovation, quality, and customer-centricity. Thermax’s Water and Waste Solutions business, in recent years, has expanded significantly to include not only Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) but also Effluent Recycling Systems (ERS) and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) solutions. In addition to these, the plant will also implement and cater to Thermax’s newtechnologies to offer softener and filter vessels, tubular membrane modules, and Capacitive Deionisation (CDI) solution. The new facility can be scaled to double its capacity. The factory will integrate advanced production techniques and high levels of automation to enhance production efficiency and output while minimising waste. Securing its supply chain, the plant will be supported by nearly 1,000 vendors from Maharashtra and across the country. The facility will also host a remote monitoring setup based on Thermax’s Edge Live ® digital solution. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new water and wastewater solutions facility, Ashish Bhandari, MD and CEO of Thermax, stated, “At Thermax, we are making significant strides towards becoming a trusted partner in energy transition and advancing environmental stewardship. Establishing a world-class manufacturing facility for water and wastewater solutions reflects our relentless pursuit of setting higher benchmarks in providing clean solutions for diverse applications across industries as well as our resolute commitment to investing in enhancing the nation’s engineering capabilities. This technologically advanced plant will set new standards in efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, ensuring that our customers receive the highest-quality water and wastewater treatment solutions. We firmly believe that sustainability and profitability should go hand in hand, and our facility will deliver this premise in action for a better tomorrow, one where every drop counts.” The factory was inaugurated in the presence of industry experts, customers, and other stakeholders. The inauguration ceremony featured insightful presentations, guided tours of the facility, and interactive demonstrations showcasing the advanced features and capabilities of the water treatment and conservation products/systems that will be manufactured and assembled at the new plant. Thermax Water and Waste Solutions division’s innovative manufacturing line and products are poised to serve varioussectors, including industrial, commercial, municipal, and residential applications ranging from water treatment, effluent treatment, and sewage treatment to reverse osmosis (RO). Being a pioneer and advocate of clean air, clean energy, and clean water solutions, Thermax’s new factory operates entirely on solar energy and features a robust rainwater harvesting infrastructure. The facility not only complies with IGBC regulations but also underscores Thermax's commitment to green solutions throughout it operations. With the opening of its first water and wastewater equipment manufacturing facility, Thermax remains steadfast in its mission to provide advanced solutions to customers that not only enhance water quality but also contribute to sustaining the blue, ensuring a healthier environment for all.

PepsiCo India to Create Employment Opportunity at its new Manufacturing Facility

PepsiCo India, a leading global consumer packaged goods company, announced an investment of INR 1266 cr in India to establish a state-of-the-art flavour manufacturing facility in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, reaffirming its commitment to expand operations in the country. Spread over 22 acres, this plant will play a significant role in scaling up PepsiCo's beverage production in India, generating employment and positively impacting the local economy. Truly embracing Atmanirbhar Bharat’s vision, this is PepsiCo India’s second flavour manufacturing facility in the country, and will manufacture beverage flavour ‘In India, for India’. This innovative facility not only underscores PepsiCo's commitment to scaling its business operations in India but also extending efforts to positively impact and contribute to the diverse communities it serves. Aligned with PepsiCo’s Winning with pep+’ (PepsiCo Positive) philosophy of driving sustainable accelerated growth, the plant will be implementing various state-of-the-art technologies to ensure efficient water usage and replenishment, setting new industry standards for eco-conscious operations. Jagrut Kotecha, Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo India & South Asia, said, “With support from the government of Madhya Pradesh, we aim to strengthen our footprint while driving impactful progress in enhancing the socio-economic landscape of the region. Bolstering the 'Make in India' vision, the new flavour manufacturing facility will champion sustainability, aligning with our ‘Winning with pep+’ philosophy, creating a positive value chain while delivering on our promise of continuous innovation in our products. Through meaningful engagement, our goal is to work towards comprehensive development, contributing to the holistic advancement and welfare of the communities we serve.” George Kovoor, Senior Vice President, Beverages, PepsiCo India, said, “We are excited to announce the setting-up of our second flavour manufacturing facility in India, a significant testament to PepsiCo's unwavering commitment to the region. We aim to ramp up the production of our beverages to meet the rising demand in the country. This strategic investment not only strengthens our dedication to providing the highest quality beverages to our consumers but also reinforces our responsibility to drive sustainable practices across our operations.” In line with PepsiCo India’s global sustainability goals, the manufacturing facility will operate entirely on renewable energy sources leading to a reduction in carbon footprint by an impressive 1.9 metric tons per day. With Zero Liquid Discharge technology, the plant aims to achieve approximately 90% overall water efficiency, ensuring responsible management of water resources, replenishing 100% of the water used at the facility. PepsiCo’s first flavour manufacturing facility in India is in Channo, Punjab. With its second plant, the company aims to fortify the presence of its flavour facility in India and make meaningful strides towards enriching the socio-economic fabric of the region. The construction of the upcoming plant is slated to start in 2024 and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2026.

Errigal Bay to create job opportunities in plant based food sector

Errigal Bay, an Irish shellfish producer, has announced plans to open an oat milk facility in Donegal County. The company cited a decline in demand for seafood and a growing market for plant-based products as the reasons behind this decision. The new facility will be located beside one of Errigal Bay’s existing seafood processing facilities, which was originally intended as a cold store for seafood but is no longer needed due to changing market conditions. In a recently approved planning application, Errigal Bay stated that the loading on its existing facility has reduced over the years because of decreased demand for seafood. The company plans to enter the plant-based sector to protect its current employees and create more job opportunities. The new facility will also support local farmers by using oats grown in the nearby Finn Valley and rapeseed oil sourced from within Donegal. The facility will produce byproducts that will be used for consumer foods, health products, and animal feed.

Apical to expands its global footprint, creating job opportunities in Indonesia

Apical, a leading vegetable oils processor with an expanding global footprint, has announced that it has invested US$1 billion in Dumai, Riau to boost the production of its value-added products in Indonesia. The investment, which commenced at the end of 2021, aligns with Indonesia government's vision to advance the downstream industries and is part of Apical's ambitious plans to facilitate broader collaborations with its distributor partners both on and beyond Java Island and increase its local market penetration. This move is expected to expand the company's distribution network and contribute to the growth of the Indonesian economy. "This investment affirms Apical's commitment to our local business and the positive development of the local palm oil industry. We believe that through downstream activities, we can make a significant contribution to the national economy, create more job opportunities and support the growth of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country," said Mr. Manumpak Manurung, Head of Government and Industry Relations at Apical. Apical, a member of the RGE group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto, is dedicated to deepening collaborations with its stakeholders, covering local governments, food industry companies and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) throughout Indonesia. Through collaborations with these stakeholders on various culinary creations and activities using Apical's extensive range of products, which include brands like Vitas, Medalia, Camar and Harumas, the company aims to stimulate the growth of the food industry and provide greater economic opportunities for the wider community. Market Development Manager at Apical, Mr. George Tjijptamustika, said that the company is looking to increase the number of distributor partners on Java Island and open up new distribution areas outside of the island, such as in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. He further added that Apical plans to review its pricing strategies in order to make its products more accessible to more consumers.

dsm-firmenich Opens new pilot plant to scale up beverage production

dsm-firmenich, innovators in nutrition, health and beauty, has opened a new pilot plant in Plainsboro, New Jersey designed to enable collaboration with customers. The pilot facility is part of dsm-firmenich's Taste, Texture & Health Business Unit and will support the company's commitment to accelerate global diet transformation – by providing food & beverage brands with the capabilities to create enjoyable eating and drinking experiences that are healthier for people and more sustainable for the planet. The facility offers a full range of capabilities and equipment to help customers move from development on the benchtop to small scale-up production in the pilot plant that will inform and accelerate final large-scale production. The pilot plant is focused on scaling up beverage production and will support applications such as juices, ready-to-drink coffee and tea, sports drinks, carbonated soft drinks, sparkling water, energy drinks, as well as dairy & plant-based products like milks, creamers, and protein shakes. The pilot plant was designed to enable strong collaboration within the dsm-firmenich and customer teams during benchtop development as well as to incorporate consumer feedback into the overall development process. The new pilot lab is strategically adjacent to both the dsm-firmenich development labs as well as to the consumer sensory lab and focus group room which enables the voice of the consumer to be brought into the process throughout development. In addition, the area is designed with a conference room with a direct view of the pilot facility which maximizes collaboration with customers. Maurizio Clementi, Executive Vice President Taste for Taste, Texture & Health: “This new facility will help us deliver on our ambition to bring progress to life by enabling our customers to make even more innovative foods and beverages that are delicious, nutritious, and sustainable. Our fully equipped pilot plant is a powerful next step in our vision for our Taste, Texture & Health North American headquarters, allowing us to partner even more impactfully with customers to create the next generation of consumer food and beverage experiences that are good for people and the planet. Our state-of-the-art facility will be a vibrant place where passion and expertise meet.” Chris Perkins, Senior Vice President Taste, Texture & Health North America: “With this new pilot plant, we offer our valued customers and partners a comprehensive set of capabilities and the latest cutting-edge equipment, all carefully designed to foster collaboration, improve consumer insights, and accelerate time-to-market. We have built a solid infrastructure in Plainsboro propelled by an incredibly talented team with a strong innovation network. It’s truly an inspiring place to work, together with our customers, partners, knowledge institutes and talents.”

VILVI GROUP's Historic Investment, planning new workplaces

VILVI GROUP launches the largest investment project in its 31-year history. The preliminary plan is to invest around 50 million EUR in new cheese production capacity in Bauska, Latvia, on the territory of the Group’s company SIA Baltic Dairy Board. The project is planned to be completed by 2027, and new workplaces are planned. The project is financed with its resources and loans from Citadele Bank. The Latvian Government, through the Latvian State Development Finance Institution, will contribute 8.5 million EUR to the project. VILVI GROUP is one of the largest dairy processing groups in the Baltic States, with a historical export share of around 90 per cent. The main export markets are the European Union countries, Group exports also to Asia and other continents. The Group consists of Vilkyškių pieninė, Modest, Kelmės pieninė, Kelmės pienas, Pieno logistika and Baltic Dairy Board in Latvia. According to preliminary unaudited data, the net profit of VILVI GROUP was 14.6 million EUR in 2023, or 15 per cent more than in 2022, when the net profit was EUR 12.7 million. The Group’s EBITDA amounted to EUR 21 million, an increase of 9.1 per cent compared to the previous year.

Nestlé Australia Invests $32 Million Expansion for Milo Production and supports 200 new jobs

Nestlé Australia has announced a $32 million investment in its Smithtown factory, which manufactures Milo – bringing investment in the site to approximately $80 million in the last decade. The investment will upgrade the Milo manufacturing line introducing state-of-the-art manufacturing technology to the factory and supporting an increased production capacity. Factory Manager James Garley said the investment in the site reflects Nestlé’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing. “We’re committed to investing in continuous improvements and upgrades to our Smithtown factory so we can continue to proudly make iconic brands like Milo right here.“Over the next 12 months, the project will inject an estimated $20 million into the local economy and support almost 200 jobs as we construct a new building to house Milo production. “It’s a complex project, but the team will work to ensure the facilities continue to deliver the choc-malt crunch of Milo Australians have loved for generations,” Garley said. The upgrade is due to be completed by the end of 2024.

Des Nedhe and EPCOR partnering to bring economic and employment opportunities in Canada

The Des Nedhe Group (Des Nedhe), the 100% owned development arm of the English River First Nation, and EPCOR Utilities Inc. (EPCOR) announced a working partnership to develop a new water treatment facility and associated infrastructure to provide potable water to several proposed residential, commercial and industrial developments within Corman Park and the area surrounding Grasswood Junction, Des Nedhe's reserve property just south of Saskatoon. The partnership is expected to lead to skills training and employment opportunities for members of the English River First Nation, resulting in greater capacity and self-sufficiency. This aligns with the fundamental right of self-determination for First Nations and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Des Nedhe and EPCOR also hope to partner in ongoing business arrangements to further socio-economic development opportunities for the Nation and build additional water and wastewater management capacity among its members. "At Des Nedhe, we are always striving to build long-term sustainable partnerships. This partnership with EPCOR will continue to support English River First Nation and Des Nedhe's growth in the water and wastewater infrastructure development at Grasswoods Junction," said Sean Willy, President and CEO, Des Nedhe Group. "EPCOR has been an outstanding new partner and will be key to the unique partnership already established with the Rural Municipality of Corman Park. We look forward to working with all involved to support future development in south Corman Park." "EPCOR is committed to exploring opportunities that see First Nations communities become active partners in delivering water and wastewater management solutions for municipal and industrial purposes that generate economic benefits for their communities," said Jay Baraniecki, Vice President of Commercial Development. "Our partnership with Des Nedhe seeks to develop First Nations' capacity in utility operations and management, and help build a strong and prosperous future for the English River First Nation, and the surrounding communities that will be served by this new infrastructure." "The Rural Municipality of Corman Park welcomes the opportunity to partner with Des Nedhe and EPCOR on this innovative project that enhances development opportunities within our region," said Reeve Judy Harwood. "We look forward to the socio-economic development benefits and the positive impacts this project will have on our future growth."

Asahi Global Procurement Commences Operations in Singapore with Grand Opening Celebration

Asahi Global Procurement Pte. Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., is pleased to announce that it has commenced operations from January 31 and celebrated the grand opening of its new office in Singapore. AGPRO is the first truly global function within Asahi with a focus on driving global procurement initiatives for the entire Asahi Group. Celebrations were held at the new office, 79 Robinson Road, #25-03, Singapore, located in the island country's business district. The location selected provides an environment to facilitate the strengthening of relationships, collaboration and innovation with key suppliers, and engagement with stakeholders. It provides a smart working environment for employees as they work with colleagues from integrated regional and local procurement teams, focusing on the delivery of financial and non-financial benefits, while contributing to the sustainability agenda. Around 60 guests, who included strategic partners, took part in the official opening, hosted by Tomas Veit, CEO, AGPRO, together with special guests, Atsushi Katsuki, President and CEO at Asahi Group Holdings and Kaoru Sakita, Chief Financial Officer at Asahi Group Holdings. The format of the celebration took a relaxed and informal approach, with short speeches to declare the opening as the ribbon was cut. Representatives of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) were amongst the guests. The EDB has worked closely with AGPRO on its plans to establish itself in Singapore and AGPRO will continue to build its working relationship for the future. Atsushi Katsuki, President and CEO, Asahi Group Holdings, said:"As we kick off Asahi Global Procurement, we're taking a big step forward in Asahi Group's journey. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our partners, including the Singapore Economic Development Board, for their unwavering support. The commitment and dedication of our Asahi team, who have brought this to fruition after tireless efforts and preparation, fills me with immense pride. Asahi Global Procurement will play a pivotal role in the procurement domain as we work towards our goal of integrating sustainability into our management. We will continue forging strong collaborations with our partners to pave the way to a sustainable future." Tomas Veit, CEO, Asahi Global Procurement, said:"In this special moment of excitement, both personally and as a business, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to our Procurement Team together with our internal and external key stakeholders, including the EDB for being an integral part of our global procurement journey in Singapore, setting the stage for collaborative success and growth. Thanks to the unwavering passion and extraordinary efforts of our team, we find ourselves at the intersection of speed, quality, and readiness for the future. Their dedication has been the driving force behind our journey, ensuring a path marked by excellence and anticipation."

Food & Beverages