2023 American Food Manufacturing Summit: Highlights and Takeaways [Summit Recap]

We'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to the resounding success of our 2023 American Food Manufacturing Summit, which took place on November 14-15 at the Westin Chicago Lombard. 

From insightful presentations, productive 1-2-1 meetings, and vibrant networking to lively roundtable discussions and panels, we can confidently say that it was an outstanding experience!

Below, we'll provide a concise overview of the standout moments from our 5th annual American Food Manufacturing Summit. Whether you were present at the event or are considering joining us for future ones, this recap will give you a better feel of the on-site experience!

Table of Contents

Day 1 Highlights

Day 1 of the 5th annual American Food Manufacturing Summit began with a warm welcome from our co-chair and emcee throughout the Summit, Melissa Elliott, VP of Quality and Food Safety at Kellanova. Her opening remarks not only set the stage but also ignited excitement among the attendees!

We launched the event with a dynamic opening keynote from Helen Davis, Senior Vice President and Head of Operations, North America at the Kraft Heinz Company. Helen electrified the stage as she discussed the profound influence of connected workers on the shop floor and the exciting possibilities of leveraging AI and ML for immediate, data-driven decisions based on predictive insights.

Following the keynote, René Lammers, the EVP and Chief Science Officer of PepsiCo, led a plenary on innovating food and beverage products from discovery to manufacturing. In his session, René shed light on PepsiCo's dynamic approach to research and development, focusing on product quality, cutting-edge packaging, and advanced processing techniques.

Next up was a plenary session featuring Infor, Apex Systems, AWS, and Pompeian. This lively conversation revolved around the power of industry-specific cloud software to fuel innovation, automation, and growth. Topics ranged from harnessing real-time visibility and empowering the workforce to enabling swift, data-driven decision-making.

Following the insightful speaking sessions, we took a brief pause to enjoy refreshments, network, and engage in pre-arranged one-on-one meetings. This intermission provided an opportunity for all participants to forge new connections and explore innovative business solutions.

Day 1 carried forward with two engaging sessions. The first one, led by Jim Prunesti, Senior Vice President of Engineering, EHS, and Manufacturing Excellence at Conagra Brands, focused on reshaping the workplace through Industry 4.0 and digital transformation. During this session, Jim provided a glimpse into Conagra's digital transformation journey and unveiled brilliant strategies to foster a culture of innovation.

At the same time, Catherine Davidson, Vice President of Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment at Sabra Dipping Company, was delivering a presentation on redefining risk assessment protocols in today’s era of food safety. In this enlightening session, Catherine guided us through the processes of identifying potential harm factors, conducting in-depth risk analyses, and eliminating hazards.

Next up were some insightful workshops! In the Process Optimization stream, we had Juliana Giraldo, Application Sales Executive at Anaplan, Brian Mehr, Vice President of Vuealta, and John O'Brien, Vice President of FP&A at American Sugar Refining. This session illustrated the remarkable financial transformation journey of American Sugar Refining, showcasing how Anaplan played a pivotal role in its strategic financial planning.

Meanwhile, Kyle Jenson, Vice President at BIOIONIX, talked about sustainable disinfection without toxic chemicals. His session highlighted an innovative natural disinfection solution that empowers food processors to eradicate toxic substances such as PAA, bleach, and ammonia from their operations.

Afterwards, we transitioned into Lunch & Learn Roundtable Discussions, where industry experts engaged in moderated discussions about pressing issues in the field. These engaging conversations were led by executives from companies like Anaplan, Oracle, Peak Technologies, AVEVA, Specright, as well as Infor with AWS. 

Following the roundtables, we heard from more industry executives during their speaking sessions. Josh Chou, Chief Supply Chain Officer at McCormick & Company, delved into the art of meeting consumer needs through innovative food manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, external connectivity, and effective workforce practices.

Paul Kiecker, Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service at USDA-FSIS, illuminated the path to enhancing inspection and food safety practices through cutting-edge advancements in science and technology. His presentation covered the latest FSIS regulations, guidelines, and initiatives aimed at safeguarding public health.

Transitioning into the afternoon, we dove into some workshops from our solution providers. Eric Whitley, Director of Industrial Transformation at L2L, discussed revolutionizing the food manufacturing industry through a connected worker platform.

Concurrently, a panel featuring Willemijn Schneyder, CEO and Founder of SwipeGuide, Chris Luecke, Podcast Host of Manufacturing Happy Hour, and Joris Stolk, Brewery Manager at HEINEKEN, explored the crucial theme of sustaining operational efficiency through frontline-focused standard work and skills development.

Following these engaging sessions, we prepared for our next round of one-on-one meetings and a Networking Happy Hour.

After the break, we moved to an exciting plenary about the journey of digital transformation from individual plants to the broader ecosystem. Guided by Ted Combs, Industry Principal of Consumer Products at AVEVA, this session not only covered the latest developments and offerings but also explored the challenges and opportunities in the food ecosystem.

Concluding Day 1 of the conference, we heard from Andrew Jarrick, Director of  Environment and Sustainability at Diageo, and Courtney Andersen, VP of Supply Chain at General Mills. Both industry executives shared their expertise on strategies towards achieving net zero in food manufacturing through Industry 4.0 innovations and digitization. In particular, Andrew and Courtney talked about utilizing robotics and AI-powered systems to optimize sustainability efforts and digitizing manufacturing processes for better operational efficiency, traceability, and quality control.

We wrapped up the day with closing remarks, followed by a vibrant Networking Drinks Reception, bringing together our valued delegates, sponsors, and speakers for enjoyable networking.

A special appreciation goes out to our Room 1 emcee, Melissa Elliott, and our Room 2 emcee, Catherine Davidson, for their insightful contributions and support throughout the day!

Day 2 kicked off with the Women In Leadership panel discussion to inspire and motivate us for the rest of the Summit!

The panel shared incredible stories of six prominent executives in the field, such as:

• Catherine Davidson, VP of Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment at Sabra Dipping Company
• Courtney Andersen, VP of Supply Chain at General Mills
• Tola Alade-Lambo, VP of Food Safety and Quality at McCain Foods
• Jennifer Williams, VP of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Tyson Foods
• Liz Palmer, PhD., Senior Director of Quality at Barry Callebaut Group

The panellists opened up about what inspired them on their leadership journeys, talked about how they've built confidence and resilience throughout their careers, and gave us a peek into their special leadership styles and how they guide their teams. They didn't shy away from talking about the real challenges for women in leadership and suggested some practical steps to create a culture that supports and empowers women in leadership roles.

After this session and the opening remarks from Melissa Elliott, we dove into a session with Alexandre Eboli, EVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Conagra Brands. Alexandre shared some innovative strategies for end-to-end supply chain excellence, emphasizing the importance of employee engagement, environmental responsibility, technological investments, and collaboration with suppliers.

Following Eboli's session, Mahirwan Bhagia, VP and Chief Food Safety and Quality Assurance Officer at PepsiCo, stepped into the spotlight to reveal the company’s innovative approach to food safety with digital solutions. His presentation underscored the vital role of information sharing and communication as well as shed light on the prominent safety challenges facing today's food manufacturing industry.

Next, Charles Buckley, Senior Director of Sales-Renewables at Vanguard Renewables, led a plenary about sustainable organic materials management with solutions from his business. The session addressed subjects like optimizing the conversion of organic waste into renewable energy, fostering circular economies, and innovating waste management strategies.

After our initial Day 2 sessions, we enjoyed our final networking break of the summit with more engaging 1-2-1 meetings and refreshments!
 

Around midday, we got back to the lively industry discussion with some insightful workshops! The session on Process Optimization was delivered by QAD Redzone, featuring its Global Account Director, Brandon Bradley, and National Account Director, Chris Stanovic. The session discussed the shortcomings of legacy shop-floor technologies and how over 1,300 RedZone customers are adopting a "results-based" approach to achieve significantly improved outcomes for frontline workers.

The other workshop shared some great insights from Chester Boyt, Chief Revenue Officer at Amerisan. The session focused on the critical importance of enhancing food safety in the industry to protect both consumer well-being and a company's reputation.

The day resumed with a session from Dr. Robert Tauxe, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Tauxe discussed the evolving landscape of foodborne diseases, highlighting how the utilization of advanced whole genome sequencing surveillance tools enhances outbreak detection and trend analysis.

At the same time, we were hosting an insightful presentation from Jody Bayne, Director of Supply Chain Quality at Ferrara Candy Company. This session discussed the value of mock recall preservation and good traceability systems within food safety practices.

After Bayne’s session, we shifted our focus to Phil Gautrin, General Manager, USA, at Proaction International, and Luis Munoz Estrada, VP of Operations at Yamamotoyama. Together, they revealed how Proaction International enabled Yamamotoyama to adapt effectively to the era of Industry 5.0 with its proactive approach. 

Meanwhile, there was a workshop featuring two experts from L&T Technology Services Limited - their VP of Plant Engineering, North Americas, Sanjay Barnwal, and Head of Plant Engineering, Americas, Brian King. Their lively discussion explored the benefits of combining digitalization and digital twin solutions for line operations.

Then, it was time for lunch with some engaging roundtable discussions featuring Rahul Deb, Director of Procurement at Kellanova; Joseph Johnston, SVP of Engineering and Operations at Meati; and Angie Thayer, Director, Food Labeling and Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at Treehouse Foods.

Having enjoyed some delicious food and lots of valuable insights, we returned to our sessions, with Adam Armstrong, VP of Customer Success at Specright, taking the stage! Adam’s session highlighted the role of digitized specification data in enhancing food safety, expediting new product development, and promoting sustainability.

After Specright’s presentation, we immersed ourselves in an insightful panel discussion about the growing challenge of labor shortages in food and beverage manufacturing and the most effective strategies to address them. The engaging conversation featured four distinguished experts: Andrew Jacobs, Senior Director of Quality and Regulatory at McCormick & Company; Kirk Santos, SVP of Global Talent at Constellation Brands; Sabina Gebczyk, Global Director of Talent, Organization Development, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, Equity at Griffith Foods; and Laura Cespedes, VP, HR, Operations and Procurement, North America at the Kraft Heinz Company.

In a thought-provoking Diversity Equity and Inclusion Panel, we had the honor of hosting Courtney Andersen, VP of Supply Chain at General Mills; Fernando Hernandez, Senior Director of Supplier Diversity and Global Procurement at the Coca-Cola Company; and Jeannette Robles, Director of Global Diversity Equity and Inclusion at ADM. 

During this session, our speakers delved deep into the dynamic landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion within food manufacturing. They shared personal stories that have profoundly shaped how their organizations embrace diversity and inclusion, underscoring how these experiences have been instrumental in molding them into the accomplished leaders they are today.

As we concluded the discussion, the experts generously provided actionable advice for fellow leaders, offering concrete steps towards building and growing current diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in their organizations, driving tangible progress for the future.

As the Summit drew to a close, concluding two days filled with learning, networking, and knowledge exchange, our remarkable emcee Melissa Elliott delivered her closing remarks and announced the winners of our survey prize giveaway. Another big shout-out to Catherine Davidson for being a fantastic emcee for Room 2!

In celebration of our attendees' outstanding participation, we're delighted to unveil our prize champions, who've brought an extra dash of thrill to our event! Our congratulations to Oscar Torres of Santa Monica Seafood, our survey winner, and Pauline Budzik from Nestlé, the networking star!

We are delighted by the achievements of our 2023 American Food Manufacturing Summit! Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the esteemed experts mentioned earlier, as well as every delegate and sponsor company who contributed to making this Summit an extraordinary experience. Our summits thrive on your unwavering support and enthusiasm!

We genuinely hope that the Summit left a profound and lasting impact on you, just as it has on us. If you couldn't join us this time but are eager to be part of this exceptional gathering next year, don't hesitate to express your interest. It's never too early to get excited about what's to come.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR: 6th annual American Food Manufacturing Summit | November 2024 in Chicago, IL

Visit the summit's website to learn more and secure your pass today!

Save your spot at next year's discussion as an attendee, solution provider, or speaker with early registration opening now! To keep yourself in the loop about upcoming Summits, explore our event calendar at generisgp.com/events. 

An enlightening and insightful experience surrounded by like-minded individuals who are welcoming and willing to share their experiences. All the topics presented were value-added and of great quality.

Oscar Torres, Innovation and Compliance Manager @ Santa Monica Seafood Company

I was able to connect with many people and vendors. Will be able to bring back information to incorporate into my workspace! I found this to be a valuable experience and am glad I had the opportunity to participate.

Penny Mack, Director of Supplier Quality @ Conagra Brands

Great sharing of best-in-class practices by leading manufacturers in the food industry.

Fernando Garcia Vidal, Vice President of Engineering @ Monogram Foods

Enjoyed all the discussions around the shared struggles we have in food manufacturing. Had great vendor discussions. Speakers were all interesting and the content covered so many critical issues we are facing.

Lisa Seibel, Senior Director,  FSQA @ Russell Stover Chocolates

I loved that it was a blend of manufacturing and food safety/quality topics. I have always been a very operations-minded QA person so I enjoyed that this summit covered both. The speakers had impressive qualifications and were engaging. Most of the session topics were of interest and applicable to me. The time set aside for networking between sessions was a great opportunity to get to talk to people you would not normally get exposed to and share experiences.

Danae Lucas, Senior Director of Food Safety and Quality @ Revolution Foods

I enjoy coming to these events - meeting old colleagues and seeing new technologies that can benefit my company.

Pauline Budzik, Sr. Quality Expert @ Nestle USA

Learn more about our upcoming North American events and secure your spot today:

• 10th annual American Manufacturing Summit | March 19-20, 2024
• 8th annual American Supply Chain Summit | April 30-May 1, 2024
• 7th annual American Packaging Summit | June 2024
• ... and more 2024 events!

Subscribe so you never miss a blog!