The New Cold Consumer

With nearly $2 billion in net sales, Wells is one of the nation's largest dairy processors, producing millions of frozen novelties each day. Its manufacturing footprint spans three states, and its portfolio includes some of the most recognizable names in the frozen aisle. More on the 2026 Processor of the Year: Palermo Villa: Pizza and More, Powered by Innovation Wells Enterprises: A Century of Ice Cream, a New Era of Innovation

Named Refrigerated & Frozen Foods' 2026 Processor of the Year, Palermo's continues to invest in manufacturing technology, including a new West Milwaukee crust production facility designed to bring authentic, old-world pizza-making techniques to commercial scale. In this episode of From the Cold Corner, Editor-in-Chief Kelley Rodriguez talks with Nicholas Fallucca, chief product and innovation officer and third-generation member of the Palermo family, about the company's evolution, its latest manufacturing investments and the challenges of turning culinary innovation into commercially viable frozen pizzas. More on the 2026 Processor of the Year: Palermo Villa: Pizza and More, Powered by Innovation Wells Enterprises: A Century of Ice Cream, a New Era of Innovation

Refrigeration can account for more than half of a cold storage facility’s energy use, but improving efficiency doesn’t always require major capital investment. Danfoss’ Adam Anderson joins From the Cold Corner to discuss controls, data, defrost strategies and other ways operators can get more from existing refrigeration systems.

A refrigeration system can maintain temperature while quietly losing efficiency. What dirty coils, refrigerant leaks and other warning signs can reveal—and why preventive maintenance should be part of a cold facility’s energy and sustainability strategy. Mike Pastorello, president and CEO of Refrigeration Technologies joined Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ From the Cold Corner podcast to discuss how everyday refrigeration maintenance can influence energy efficiency, equipment life and sustainability—and why operators should look beyond the thermostat for signs of trouble.

AFFI’s new Left on the Line guide shows frozen food processors how small changes in equipment, processes and employee practices can reduce food loss, improve yield and uncover new value. Kai Robertson, AFFI sustainability advisor and author of the guide, joined From the Cold Corner to discuss why one of the first steps may simply be changing how processors think about waste.

Three Lineage leaders explain how automation, nearly 100,000 pallet positions, and an integrated transportation strategy come together at its Hobart, Indiana, facility. Kelley Rodriguez, editor-in-chief of R&FF, is joined by Jim Thompson, vice president, transportation logistics, Jeff Andersen, director, regional operations, and Thomas Kalep, general manager, Lineage Hobart. ▶ Inside Lineage’s Massive, Automated Cold Storage Facility of the Year

In this special edition of From the Cold Corner, four industry experts unpack the consumer trends fueling growth across refrigerated and frozen foods—and what shifting demands around convenience, nutrition, value and flexibility mean for manufacturers and processors. Kelley Rodriguez, editor-in-chief of R&FF, is joined by Sally Lyons Wyatt, global EVP and chief advisor at Circana; Alison Bodor, president & CEO of AFFI; Kiernan Laughlin, EVP at Deep Foods and general manager of Deep Brands; and Megan Torres, brand strategy manager at Reser’s Fine Foods.

Food safety doesn’t stop at the plant walls. Fabiola Negrón, director of food safety at Registrar Corp, shares practical strategies for improving traceability, identifying gaps, strengthening supplier oversight and preparing for recalls before a crisis hits. Sponsored by Rytec

Demographic shifts and the rise of online grocery and food delivery services are driving demand for strategically located, multi-node cold storage networks. Dennis Davis, senior director of business customer development at DHL Supply Chain and Josh Lewis, president at RL Cold discuss the partnership’s plans for 5 million square feet of new space across North America. 

The industry is entering a new phase where packaging design must account for the entire product lifecycle, from material selection and manufacturing to end-of-life recovery and reuse. Paige Greenberg, sustainable packaging engineer at Plastic Ingenuity, joins From the Cold Corner to discuss more.