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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.

Articles

ARTICLES

Editor's Note

Food processors should use failure as a learning experience

Failure can lead to new successes

Debra Schug

October 3, 2017

Failure and fear hold a tremendous power over the food and beverage industry and, really, over everyone.

Craft spirits market poised to boom

With younger drinkers increasingly making cocktails their drink of choice, now might be the time to look to craft liquor.

Debra Schug

September 27, 2017

Millennials, once again, are rapidly changing alcohol beverage trends, now exhibiting a preference for craft liquor produced by small, local distilleries.

Editor's Note

New product offerings raise questions about the importance of brands

While brands are valuable, mergers, acquisitions and new product lines can lessen their importance

Debra Schug

September 12, 2017

Our annual list of top companies provides an interesting look at the value of brands.

Food processing innovation startup focused on modernizing manufacturing

Solve For Food plans to build an innovation center in Northwest Arkansas aimed at bringing the industry into the new age.

Debra Schug

September 8, 2017

Solve For Food wants to lead the industry into a new age of food processing. The company is seeking financing for its first Food Innovation Center, which will provide processors concept-to-consumption food production and innovation services using MATS.

State of Food Manufacturing

2017 State of Food Manufacturing Survey

The top 10 trends affecting the future of food manufacturing

Debra Schug

August 11, 2017

Respondents to our 2017 State of Food Manufacturing Survey say they expect automation to be a big part of future plans.

PepsiCo’s Food for Good program drives company innovation

How the purpose-driven business initiative has helped achieve company goals.

Debra Schug

August 9, 2017

Eight years ago PepsiCo piloted a different approach to social good with a purpose-driven business initiative called Food for Food (FFG). FFG generates no profit for the company, but uniquely takes advantage of the logistical expertise and technological knowledge of PepsiCo.

Editor's Note

Survey shows that budget concerns hold back innovation, productivity

Companies are not showing much change in capital, operations spending

Debra Schug

August 9, 2017

State of Manufacturing survey shows companies are still reluctant to spend.

Ed Girrbach, co-founder and owner of Great Lakes Potato Chip Company

Great Lakes Potato Chip Company finds growth in producing smaller

Michigan craft potato chip producer sees a niche in co-packing for smaller restaurants and grocery stores.

Debra Schug

August 3, 2017

When the Girrbachs were looking for ideas to start a food business, they originally considered the microbrewery market, but decided not to do beer. They instead looked at potato chips and realized years ago there were many regional chip manufacturers that have gone away.

Sustainability

Mondelēz’s sustainable cocoa sourcing program combats deforestation

Cathy Pieters, of Cocoa Life, on collaborating with African communities, transparency efforts, and how they will educate consumers.

Debra Schug

July 25, 2017

An environmental impact assessment shows the biggest driver of the company's end-to-end carbon footprint is the deforestation within its supply chain.

Conagra on digital grocery shopping and innovative products

VP of innovation says products in the center of the store are facing a unique set of challenges.

Debra Schug

July 20, 2017

Right now, as more consumers are doing more grocery shopping online, CPG companies are learning how to adapt to technology that enables product delivery in under an hour.

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