Archive for year: 2024

The 68th Summer Fancy Food Show, a pivotal event for the specialty food industry, has once again sold out, indicating a promising and expansive future for food and beverage innovators. Organized by the Specialty Food Association, this year’s show boasts an impressive lineup of more than 2,300 exhibitors from across the globe. As an attendee representing The WEBBER/SMITH Group®, a leader in designing food-safe environments for the food and beverage industry, I am thrilled to provide insights into what makes this event a cornerstone for both industry professionals and enthusiasts.

Unpacking the Significance of the Summer Fancy Food Show

The Summer Fancy Food Show is more than just an exhibition; it’s a hub of innovation and a meeting ground for thought leaders in the specialty food industry. For us at The WEBBER/SMITH Group®, it’s an opportunity to connect with clients and peers, and to stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies in food production and safety. The show’s sell-out status underscores its importance and the vibrant interest in exploring new tastes, technologies, and marketing strategies.

Show Highlights and What to Expect

This year, the show is set to feature an array of international pavilions, each showcasing unique products from around the world. These pavilions provide a snapshot of global food trends and offer attendees a taste of unique ingredients and culinary innovations. For businesses like ours, understanding these global influences is crucial as they often dictate the direction of consumer preferences and market demands in the U.S.

In addition to the diverse exhibitors, the show offers an extensive educational program that includes lectures, panels, and workshops led by industry experts. These sessions are invaluable for gaining insights into consumer behavior, regulatory changes, and new marketing techniques. For professionals involved in designing and building food-safe environments, such as The WEBBER/SMITH Group®, these learnings can influence design considerations and operational efficiencies.

The Role of The WEBBER/SMITH Group® at the Show

At The WEBBER/SMITH Group®, our focus is on creating environments that not only comply with rigorous food safety standards but also embrace sustainability and efficiency. Attending the Summer Fancy Food Show allows us to observe firsthand the operational challenges our clients face and the innovative solutions they are employing. This direct insight informs our client-centric design process, ensuring that our solutions are not only compliant but also forward-thinking.

Our team is particularly interested in the latest advancements in food processing and packaging technology. With sustainability being a key concern for the industry, we are keen to explore eco-friendly packaging solutions and energy-efficient design adaptations that could be integrated into our projects.

Networking and Business Opportunities

Networking is a critical component of the Fancy Food Show. The event gathers thousands of industry professionals, making it an ideal platform for forging new partnerships and strengthening existing ones. For The WEBBER/SMITH Group®, these interactions are essential for understanding client needs and market shifts. They also provide a forum for discussing potential collaborations that could lead to more innovative, scalable, and cost-effective design solutions for our clients.

Looking to the Future

The insights gained from the Summer Fancy Food Show are instrumental for us at The WEBBER/SMITH Group® as we continue to refine our design and construction practices to meet the evolving needs of the food and beverage industry. By staying connected with the latest industry trends and maintaining a presence at key events like this, we ensure our services remain at the cutting edge, providing our clients with the best possible outcomes.

As we prepare to participate in this year’s show, we are excited about the opportunities to learn, share, and connect with our peers and clients. This event promises to be a dynamic platform for discovery and innovation, and we look forward to contributing to and being part of the ongoing transformation in the specialty food industry.

By attending the 68th Summer Fancy Food Show, The WEBBER/SMITH Group® not only reinforces its commitment to excellence and innovation in food-safe design but also continues to support and contribute to the growth and success of the specialty food industry. For anyone involved in the food and beverage sector, this show is a not-to-miss event that promises new insights, exciting opportunities, and a glimpse into the future of food.

We’re thrilled to announce that the WEBBER/SMITH Group® will be participating in the highly anticipated 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo, set to take place this May in Indianapolis. As industry leaders in engineering and design for food-safe environments, we are excited to engage with professionals from the confectionery and snacks industries and showcase our comprehensive range of services.

Why the Sweets & Snacks Expo?

The Sweets & Snacks Expo is the premier event for new product introductions, business-building solutions, and innovations in the candy and snack industries. For us, it represents an unparalleled opportunity to connect with over 18,000 industry professionals and more than 800 exhibitors. We’re particularly excited to explore the latest trends in consumer preferences and technological advancements that align with our commitment to designing and engineering state-of-the-art food and beverage facilities.

What We Bring to the Table

At the WEBBER/SMITH Group®, we offer a complete suite of engineering services focused on creating efficient, safe, and innovative environments for the food and beverage industry. From total design for new facilities to expansions and renovations, our in-house team of experts handles it all. We believe our presence at the Expo will allow us to demonstrate how our master planning and remedial design services can directly address the unique needs of the confectionery and snacks industries.

Showcasing Our Expertise

We are looking forward to showcasing several of our recent projects which highlight our expertise in integrating complex systems and ensuring compliance with stringent food safety standards. These projects demonstrate our ability to enhance operational efficiencies and manage project scopes of various magnitudes, from minor renovations to major expansions.

Networking and Collaborative Opportunities

Networking is a core component of the Expo, and we are eager to meet with existing clients and forge new relationships. The collaborative atmosphere of the Expo will allow us to exchange ideas, learn from other industry professionals, and potentially partner on future projects. Our team is particularly interested in discussions around sustainable practices and how we can integrate these into our designs to not only meet but exceed, the expectations of our clients and the industries we serve.

Learning and Innovation

The Sweets & Snacks Expo is also an educational platform that provides insights into market trends and consumer behaviors. By attending the various educational sessions, we aim to gain deeper insights into the current and future landscape of the snacks and confectionery industries. This knowledge will directly inform our strategic planning and design processes, ensuring that our solutions are not only effective but also innovative and forward-thinking.

Meet Us There!

If you are attending the 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis this May, make sure to stop by the WEBBER/SMITH Group’s booth. Our team will be on hand to discuss how we can help your business through our tailored engineering and design solutions. Whether you are planning a new facility, considering an expansion, or simply looking for ways to optimize your current operations, we have the expertise to assist you.

We can’t wait to connect with you at the Expo and explore what the future holds for the snacks and confectionery industries. See you in Indianapolis!

For more information about our services and past projects, please visit our projects page. Let’s build something great together.

As a leader in engineering and designing food-safe environments, The WEBBER/SMITH Group® is eager to announce our participation in the 2024 Petfood Forum in Kansas City. This event is an essential gathering for professionals in the pet food industry, providing a platform to discuss the latest trends, technologies, and production techniques.

With our extensive experience in the food and beverage sector, we are well-equipped to contribute to the forum’s discussions. Our company excels in a variety of engineering disciplines that are crucial for constructing top-quality food manufacturing facilities. Our expertise includes designing HVAC systems to ensure hygienic conditions, integrating advanced plumbing systems for optimal cleanliness and safety, and implementing customized fire protection systems tailored to meet the specific needs of food production environments.

During the Petfood Forum, we plan to share our insights and experiences from our projects within the pet food industry, including our work on facilities that produce a range of pet food products from dry and wet foods to treats and chews. Our designs always adhere to strict FDA regulations, ensuring pet food safety and quality.

Our portfolio includes projects where we have designed renovations and expansions with a focus on reducing pathogen growth and preventing cross-contamination—key aspects of maintaining product safety and quality. We handle complex projects that address the specific needs of pet food production, covering everything from ingredient handling to packaging and distribution.

This forum will be an opportunity for us to delve deeper into these projects and share our design strategies that help pet food manufacturers meet the high expectations of consumers and regulatory standards.

Participating in the Petfood Forum underscores our commitment to innovation and safety in the food and beverage industries, specifically within the specialized area of pet food production. Our involvement highlights our role as a leader in creating efficient and compliant manufacturing environments.

For industry professionals and companies looking to enhance their pet food production facilities with cutting-edge, food-safe engineering solutions, engaging with The WEBBER/SMITH Group at the 2024 Petfood Forum in Kansas City is an opportunity not to be missed. Connect with our experts at the forum to learn how our innovative design and engineering services can help you meet the highest standards of quality and safety.

We are thrilled to announce that The WEBBER/SMITH Group® will be attending PACK EXPO East 2024, set to take place from March 18-20 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. As a leader in engineering and building design for the food and beverage industry, we are excited to be part of this dynamic event, which stands as the largest PACK EXPO East show to date.

PACK EXPO East 2024 promises to be an unparalleled gathering of over 7,000 industry professionals and more than 400 exhibitors, showcasing the latest in packaging and processing solutions across 100,000+ net square feet of exhibition space. This event is the premier destination for those looking to explore cutting-edge technologies, forge new partnerships, and witness innovation in action.

For 45 years, the WEBBER/SMITH Group® has been dedicated to creating sustainable, food-safe environments that are scalable, cost-effective, and meticulously executed. Our participation in PACK EXPO East underscores our commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends and solutions that enhance operational efficiency and safety.

Attendees will have the opportunity to delve into a wide array of solutions addressing the needs of over 40 vertical markets, including food and beverage, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and more. The show floor will be brimming with educational opportunities, networking events, and the chance to connect with experts and peers alike.

We invite you to join us at this landmark event to discover how our client-centric design development process can benefit your operations. Whether you’re looking to improve your current facilities or embark on new projects, PACK EXPO East provides the perfect platform to explore possibilities and drive your business forward.

Don’t miss this chance to experience the future of packaging and processing technology. We look forward to meeting you at PACK EXPO East 2024 and discussing how we can support your goals with our expertise in creating food-safe environments.

For more information and to register for the event, please visit https://www.packexpoeast.com/

In the ever-evolving landscape of the packaging industry, staying informed about the latest trends and data is crucial for businesses and professionals alike. The “3rd Quarter 2023 PMMI Quarterly How’s Business” report, published by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, offers a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the industry. This insightful report covers key aspects such as new orders, quotations/proposal activity, late payments, backlog, supply chain disruptions, and broader economic indicators like the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), Consumer Price Index (CPI), and Producer Price Index (PPI).

From the contraction and expansion trends in new orders and quotations to the challenges and improvements in supply chain disruptions, the report provides a detailed look at the industry’s performance in the third quarter of 2023. Additionally, it delves into the broader economic context, offering valuable insights into the manufacturing sector’s health and price trends affecting the industry.