Debra Schug

Debra Schug was Editor-in-Chief of Food Engineering. She began her media career over a decade ago writing and producing broadcast news for both television and radio at the local and national level. She spent many years as the managing editor for two trade magazines in the oil industry and the research editor for an annual petroleum report. She has a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University.

Plant of the Year

Inside the 2018 Food Plant of the Year: Kraft Heinz

Advanced automation simplifies deli meat production at winning Kraft Heinz food plant

Debra Schug

April 9, 2018

Food Engineering recognizes Kraft Heinz as its 2018 Food Plant of the Year. The first completed greenfield project for one of the largest food companies in the world results in a truly state-of-the art deli meat processing facility.

Dr. Tim Ryan, president of The Culinary Institute of America, shares a sake toast with Chairman Hiroshi Sakurai (right) and President Kazuhiro Sakurai of Asahi Shuzo to celebrate a new agreement between the CIA and the Japanese sake producer.

The craft spirits scene heats up around the NYC area

Why a Japanese sake producer decided to open up its first US brewery now and what it means for the craft beverage industry.

Debra Schug

April 5, 2018

The new facility will allow Asahi Shuzo International to produce more than 332,000 gallons of sake annually.

How food and beverage companies can be faster and more flexible in the future

At its annual US Innovation Day, Siemens puts digital transformation tools on display.

Debra Schug

March 30, 2018

From providing transparency and traceability to speeding up and reducing costs in the product and production planning process, these are just some of the capabilities of the Siemens’ solutions demonstrated at the company’s annual US Innovation Day, on March 27 at the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) in Chicago.

Frozen ready meals market predicted to grow

Consumers appear to be relying on frozen ready meals to meet the needs for their healthy, busy lifestyles.

Debra Schug

March 29, 2018

New methods of packaging, freezing foods will likely be adopted by food producers as demand for frozen ready meals grow, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organic Valley discusses the organic milk market and being environmentally-friendly

At the Good Food Expo, Organic Valley’s Theresa Marquez talks about the company's corporate social responsibility programs.

Debra Schug

March 25, 2018

The 2018 Good Food Expo in Chicago gathered together a collection of speakers, chefs, farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, buyers, sellers and consumers who are interested in improving the food system for a better future.

Building a Future Food Factory, Part 6: Legal Issues

When selecting a site for a new food or beverage plant, be prepared for legal issues.

Debra Schug

March 21, 2018

Now, we turn to the legal component of the site selection process and the issues that could get you into trouble if not carefully considered.

New automation solution for pizza production

Soft Robotics introduces robotic end-of-arm tooling gentle enough to make pizzas.

Debra Schug

March 16, 2018

Robotics have been steadily moving further up the packaging and processing line in food and beverage production. And the latest example of this trend is the automated pizza solution from Soft Robotics.

Tariff decision could drive up costs for certain food and beverage items

CMI urges exemptions for steel and aluminum used to make food and beverage cans.

Debra Schug

March 9, 2018

The CMI says 42 percent of tinplate steel needs to be imported to manufacture food cans that provide nutritious product for American consumers. More than 60 percent of primary aluminum needs to be imported from foreign sources to produce aluminum cansheet, used to manufacture beverage cans.

Michigan and Iowa encourage processors to choose them for future factories

These Midwestern states want food and beverage manufacturers to know they are open for business.

Debra Schug

March 9, 2018

Recently, these two states have made investments into their assets and offerings for manufacturers, particularly those in the food and beverage industry.

Editor's Note

Processors must overcome fear to drive innovation

Don't let fear of failure stand in the way of innovation

Debra Schug

March 9, 2018

We all want to know what the next big thing will be, but there is the fear we’ll bet on the wrong horse. And that fear is very real when you are betting millions of dollars on product development.