\r\nHealdsburg, Calif.-based Rack & Riddle, a manufacturer of custom-produced sparkling wines for retailers and wineries, announced it has ramped up production to 750,000 cases a year in its new 67,000-square-foot, automated production facility. The building includes a robotic neck freezer, automated corker, robotic case packing, and automated stacking and wrapping cases.
\r\n","imageSrcset":{"src":"https://assets1.storebrands.com/sb/styles/max_width_320/s3/2019-11/0-1.jpg?itok=Q6lvMkaq 320w, https://assets1.storebrands.com/sb/styles/max_width_480/s3/2019-11/0-1.jpg?itok=_6T94d57 480w, https://assets1.storebrands.com/sb/styles/max_width_640/s3/2019-11/0-1.jpg?itok=mVhNby6J 640w, https://assets1.storebrands.com/sb/styles/max_width_800/s3/2019-11/0-1.jpg?itok=SVC34Tar 800w","sizes":"(min-width: 1300px) 245px, (min-width: 920px) 19vw, (min-width: 720px) 32vw, 100vw"},"imageCaption":"A look inside Lakeside Foods new facility, the new facility will include automation such as robots for case packing and palletizing packed cases.","imagePosition":"right","imageAdvertisement":false,"imageSize":"medium","imageLink":"","imageExpandable":null,"fullSizeImage":{"id":5368,"alt":"","width":1077,"url":"https://assets1.storebrands.com/sb/styles/max_width_800/s3/2019-11/0-1.jpg?itok=SVC34Tar","height":1436}},{"id":13180,"bundle":"image_text","text":"Mount Franklin names new CEO, expands confectionary business
\r\nEnrique Grajeda has been named the president and CEO of El Paso, Texas-based Mount Franklin Foods, maker of branded and private label snacks, nuts, confectionery and foodservice items. Grajeda previously served as chief financial officer of the company since 2014. The company also announced it broke ground and began construction on a new 220,000-square-foot candy manufacturing site that is in the Mexican state of Chihuahua across the U.S. border from Santa Teresa, N.M. It will open in May 2020 and create more than 350 new jobs.
Sonoco debuts sustainable packaging initiative
\r\nHartsville, S.C.-based Sonoco developed a new sustainable packaging initiative called EnviroSense that will include a range of new materials such as cans made from 100% recycled paperboard, rigid plastic packaging with post-consumer recycled content, recyclable mono-material flexible pouches, and new packaging designs made from agricultural fibers. The materials reduce the environmental impact in different ways: compostability, recyclability, fiber sourcing and the use of bio-based materials.
Woodland Foods appoints new leaders
\r\nAram Karapetian has been named president of Woodland Foods in Waukegan Ill. The company specializes in supplying and importing more than 1,600 specialty ingredients to make globally sourced foods. Karapetian has been with the company for 15 years, most recently as chief financial officer. Additionally, Todd Larson joined as director of quality and food safety, and Ray Janson will become vice= chairman of the board of directors.