Baking & Snack - April 2018 - 22

Packaging equipment market to
reach $8.8 billion by 2022
Single-source solutions, increased machine versatility and a move to flexible packaging are driving innovation in the CPG packaging sector, according to the "State
of the Industry 2017 - US Packaging Machinery" report by PMMI, the Association
for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
The report shows a 4.8% rise in the US packaging machinery market from 2015
to 2016, with a total market value of $9.8 billion. It also forecasts US shipments to
grow at a CAGR of 2.4% to $8.8 billion in 2022.
"The forecast for the packaging machinery market continues to be robust," said
Jorge Izquierdo, vice-president of market development at PMMI. Major growth is
anticipated in food and beverage markets, with factors such as population growth,
increased demand for automation and machinery optimization, as well as a rise in
e-commerce fueling development.

Weston Foods embarks on
transformation plan
Weston Foods, Toronto, is setting forth on an ambitious transformation plan
geared toward accelerating the company's change agenda.
"Weston Foods experienced a challenging year in 2017, and we recognized the
need to accelerate our change agenda," Galen Weston, chairman and CEO, said
during a March conference call with analysts. "And as a result, the business has
embarked on an ambitious three-year transformation plan, led by our president,
Luc Mongeau."
Mr. Mongeau described the baking industry as
"an exciting category with a healthy growth potential," noting that Weston Foods is well positioned
to compete in the category behind its expansive
portfolio. But the company did not perform well in
2017, and a change is necessary, he acknowledged.
"While improvements have been made in recent
years, a challenging 2017 has highlighted the need
to accelerate our company's change agenda," he
explained. "As a result, in late 2017, we launched a
transformation program designed to improve our
ability to delight consumers and customers and improve our agility and operational efficiencies. This
will better position us for future growth and produce a reliable and growing stream of earnings. Our transformation program will
achieve these objectives through three work streams, restructuring of our organization, simplification of our operations and amplification of our growth efforts."
Since kicking off the transformation program in November, Weston Foods has
seen encouraging results, Mr. Mongeau said. He said the company has moved to a
single sales team to better serve customers and has transitioned from four business
units into one lean organization. The company also has begun to work on simplifying its work stream.
-Eric Schroeder, Food Business News

22 Baking & Snack April 2018 / www.bakingandsnack.com

Aspire Food Group, Austin, TX,
which specializes in edible insect
farming technology, acquired Exo,
Brooklyn, NY, maker of cricketbased protein bars.
Mondelez International, East
Hanover, NJ, announced plans to
phase out production later this
year at its facilities in the Brazilian
cities of Bauru and Piracicaba,
shifting production to Curitiba
and Vitória de Santo Antão.
The American Society of
Baking's Robert A. Fischer Award
was presented to Ed Heina, vicepresident, sales and marketing,
and owner of Cobblestone Ovens,
Inc., at BakingTech in Chicago.
Archer Daniels Midland Co.
opened a flavor and ingredient
creation, application, development
and customer innovation center at
the Biopolis research hub
in Singapore.
BakeMark, Pico Rivera, CA, a
manufacturer and distributor of
bakery ingredients, products and
supplies, agreed to acquire the
Multifoods brand and two manufacturing facilities from CSM
Bakery Solutions, Sandy Springs,
GA. The facilities are located in
Elyria, OH, and Spartanburg, SC.
Bunge, White Plains, NY, completed its acquisition of a 70%
ownership interest in IOI Loders
Croklaan, Channahon, IL. IOI
Loders Croklaan manufactures
palm and tropical oil products.
The Product Inspection Group
of Mettler Toledo, Lutz, FL, has
moved into a new facility in Pasco
County, FL. The 270,000-sq-ft
building houses four
business units.

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