PMMI named five inductees to the Packaging Hall of Fame. The Class of 2011 includes:Victor Del Rosso, Hi-Speed Checkweigher (retired);Lawrence C. Dull, MS, CPP, Packaging Knowledge Group;Arthur Gustafson, Algus Packaging;Thomas L. Schneider, CPP, Industrial & Shippers Supply; andM.H. “Pete” Wallace, SWF Machinery (retired).

Daniel MyersjoinedKraft Foods as executive vice president, supply chain, and will lead the functional supply chain groups including procurement, manufacturing, engineering and customer service and logistics.


Grocery Manufacturers Association appointedGeorge E. Dunaifas its vice president of food safety and technical services.


William R. NowakjoinedTranSystemsto lead the industrial engineering/time study area for the company’s management and supply chain consulting group.


The International Refrigerated Transportation Association(IRTA) elected new officers and directors.John Williamson, chairman of E.L Johnson’s Sons and Mowatt in Illford, Essex, UK, was elected 2011-2012 chairman of IRTA.Chris Mnichowski (Cold Train Intermodal, Inc., Overland, KS) was elected vice chairman, andM. K. Wong(OOCL, San Ramon, CA) was elected treasurer. Newly elected directors include:Peter Hurme(Cargo Business News, Seattle, WA);Keith Mowery(United States Cold Storage, Voorhees, NJ);Debbie McDowell (ICS Logistics, Jacksonville, FL); andMatt Zerfoss(Pictsweet Foods, Bells, TN).


The industrial automation group ofAdvantechandIndustrial Video and Control announced their partnership to provide state-of-the-art video surveillance solutions.


Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC signed an agreement to acquire the ONE-UP Pump Diaphragm business fromW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. 


Snyder’s-Lance, Inc. acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares ofGeorge Greer Company, Inc., a snack food distributor serving Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire markets.

Buckhorn Inc., a provider of reusable plastic packaging systems, acquired tooling assets and intellectual property fromMaterial Improvements L.P.for a new reusable plastic container used in producing, shipping, storing and processing bulk natural cheese.


Sunsweet Growers Inc. acquiredFunction Drinks, a southern California company known for its line of dietary supplement beverages.


Leprino Foods opened a plant in Singapore to make cheese and other dairy products for the Asia-Pacific region.


OpenGate Capital, an investment firm, plans to buy a Wisconsin dairy processing facility fromDean Foods.


Archer Daniels Midland signed an agreement to purchase a majority share ofElstar Oils SA, a Polish vegetable oil producer.


Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation announced plans to close its chicken processing plant in Dallas, TX.


TheInternational Association for Food Protection(IAFP) honoredRapid Recall Exchangewith the Food Safety Innovation Award at the 2011 IAFP Annual Meeting.


Sara Leewill sell its refrigerated dough business toRalcorpfor approximately $545 million.


Cargillhas made a binding offer to acquireProvimi, the global animal nutrition company, for an enterprise value of €1.5 billion fromPermirafunds, the private equity firm which owns Provimi.


Magnet Applications, a subsidiary of Bunting Magnetics Company, announced the addition ofPete Lipetzkyas its new general manager for the DuBois, Pennsylvania facility.

T.G.I. Friday’s securedBrand2 Squared Licensing, a division of Peppercom, to seek new licensees and create food and beverage consumer products that are like Friday’s menu items.

Spectris plc of  Surrey, England signed an agreement to acquire Stamford, CT-basedOmega Engineering. Both companies manufacture instrumentation and control systems.