• Bunge North America (St. Louis) has announced that its subsidiary, Bunge Foods, has executed a definitive agreement to sell its bakery business to Dawn Food Products, Inc. (Jackson, Mich.) for $76 million. The sale includes the assets that produce mixes, frozen dough, syrups and toppings.

  • Fortitech Europe (Dianalund, Denmark) has named Henning Villadsen technical director.

  • Sargento Foods Inc. (Plymouth, Wis.) has promoted Chris Meyer to senior facility engineer and Wanda Witt to master data manager. In addition, Ravirajsinh Jhala has joined the company as a food scientist. Sargento also announced the retirement of Larry Gentine, president of the Food Service Division and second son of Sargento founder Leonard Gentine Sr., effective Jan. 31, after 35 years of service.

  • Solbar Industries Ltd. (Ashdod, Israel) recently announced several additions to its marketing team: Henri de Kerchove, Brazil, assuming responsibilities for Solbar's South and Central American soy protein markets; Paul Hargarten, USA, supporting de Kerchove and Solbar's North American marketing team as regional technical sales manager; Jose Ladd, Germany, now responsible for marketing and sales of soy proteins for all of Europe; Thomas Lee, president, New Asia Ingredients, Singapore, to coordinate Solbar's marketing efforts in China; and assistant marketing director Karina Bedrack, sales manager for SPE soy isoflavones.

  • Cargill Health & Food Technologies (Minneapolis) has announced the promotion of Steve Snyder to vice president of sales & marketing, Cargill H&FT.

  • David Michael & Co. (Philadelphia) has announced that Diane Gilinsky was recently named the Women in Flavor and Fragrance Commerce's Honoree of 2003 at the group's 21st Annual Open Dinner Meeting. Gilinsky began her career as a Quality Control Technician for David Michael & Co., and recently was promoted to vice president, Technical Services & Regulatory Affairs for the company.

  • Dairy Management Inc.'s (Rosemont, Ill.) Do it with Dairy program has expanded its technical support team at the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research with the addition of an established industry expert. Dean Sommer, cheese and food technologist, will serve as a critical resource for cheese manufacturers and end users interested in expanding the use of cheese, particularly as an ingredient.

    n Proliant Inc. (Ames, Iowa) has announced the retirement of Keith A. Barnes, president and CEO, effective December 31, 2003. Barnes has been with Proliant for 13 years and will remain with the organization in a consultant role.

  • International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (New York) elected Dennis M. Meany as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, effective January 1, 2004. International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. also announced the appointment of Burton M. Tansky, president and chief executive officer of The Neiman Marcus Group Inc., to its Board of Directors.

  • D.D. Williamson (Louisville, Ky.) has announced the 25th anniversary of its Little Island Industrial Estate plant in County Cork, Ireland. The celebration took place on September 19th.

  • Blue California (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) has announced the appointment of Cecilia McCollum as vice president of sales and marketing.

  • Daryl R. Schaller and Linda E. Miller have been re-elected to the board of directors of MGP Ingredients Inc. (Atchison, Kan.), as has Michael Braude.

  • This year's winner of the Danisco Award is Charlotte Jacobsen, senior scientist at the Danish Institute for Fisheries Research (Lyngby, Denmark). She received the award for her knowledge on rancidification processes in fish oil and her work with enabling the use of fish oil in food without the products becoming rancid.

  • Brian Buck, vice president and general manager, Takasago International Corp. (USA) Flavor Division (Rockleigh, N.J.), announced the opening of the Takasago USA SensoralTM Center of Excellence during a grand opening ceremony at the company's North American headquarters.

  • Balchem Encapsulates (New Hampton, N.Y.) has announced two senior level management promotions in the company's Animal Nutrition and Health business segment. Dana Putnam, Ph.D., was promoted to business manager for the business segment, and Jack E. Garrett, Ph.D., was promoted to manager, technical services.

  • Karen Olks joined Chr. Hansen Inc. (Hoersholm, Denmark), as technical sales representative for the company's dairy customers in the Northwest, covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and parts of California.

  • Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Decatur, Ill.) named Graham P. Keen vice president of corporate marketing.

  • Huber Engineered Materials (Atlanta), a business unit of J.M. Huber Corporation, has announced the acquisition of Micro Powders and Braig, Incorporated (MPBI), located in Benicia, Calif.

  • PepsiCo (Purchase, N.Y.) announced a strategic realignment of its Beverages & Foods Division, creating a major management center in Chicago. Pepsi-Cola North America will remain in Purchase, N.Y., but the newly formed unit will combine the Tropicana and Dole juices and juice drinks brands into one integrated management team, with Greg Shearson serving as president.

  • Institut Rosell-Lallemand (Montreal, Canada) has announced that Aldo Fuoco has joined the firm as vice president for Sales and Marketing.

  • Bongards' Creameries (Bongards, Minn.) and Land O'Lakes (St. Paul) have entered into a whey marketing agreement for Bongards' whey proteins and other whey products.

  • J. Manheimer Inc. (Teterboro, N.J.) has added chef David Burke to its team of flavor experts.

  • Buckton Scott Nutrition Inc. (Fairfield, N.J.) has been named exclusive U.S. distributor of Biodar Ltd.'s Betacote™20VB beta carotene.

  • Ralcorp Holdings (St. Louis) named David L. Bere corporate vice president and president/CEO of Bakery Chef Inc., Ralcorp's newest subsidiary.

  • Interbrew appointed Simon C. Thorpe president and CEO of Labatt USA (Norwalk, Conn.).

  • Aurora Foods (Columbus, Ohio) will be combined with Pinnacle Foods Holding Corp., with C. Dean Metropoulos serving as chairman and CEO.

  • Greyston Bakery (Yonkers, N.Y.) has opened a new 23,000-sq.-ft. facility.

  • Silliker Inc. (Homewood, Ill.) and the International Dairy Foods Association (Washington) formed a strategic alliance to provide enhanced laboratory, technical and training services to the dairy foods industry.

  • Members of the National Juice Products Association and the Processed Apples Institute recently met in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the consolidation of the two associations. The new association, known as the Juice Products Association (JPA), is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

    n Brad Wiersum has been named vice president of marketing and retail sales for the foods division of CHS Inc. (St. Paul, Minn.).