Significant challenges as well as exciting opportunities for the food manufacturing industry defined the year 2024 for food processors.
From supply chain challenges to an evolving regulatory landscape, food processors were forced to create efficient processes and utilize the best tools and ingredients in order to meet consumers’ demands.
But above all, one topic was at the forefront of food processors’ minds throughout the year: food safety. Food safety remained a top priority for every manufacturer in the industry, with several key trends and events shaping the industry's approach to ensuring product safety.
Pathogens, Allergens, and Chain of Custody Awareness
Foodborne illnesses can pose a risk at any moment. Pathogens such as Listeria and H5N1 (to name just two) continued to threaten in 2024. This meant food processors emphasized risk mitigation through systems like HACCP and through GMPs to prevent contaminations of pathogens, as well as cross-contamination of allergens.
Other areas and tactics for food safety that we saw emphasized in 2024:
-
Color-coding systems: As we discussed in this recent article, color-coding tools, clothing, and supplies allow for easy and quick identification and communication of information that’s essential for food safety and protect employees and consumers from allergens and pathogens.
-
Chain of custody: From origin to destination, understanding the full chain of custody ensures transparency, accountability, and the ability to trace potential contamination sources.
-
Enhanced employee training: Food processors provided comprehensive continuous education on food safety practices, including hygiene, sanitation, and proper handling procedures.
-
Employee safety: Proper PPE is an evergreen tool for employee protection as well as food safety regardless of new potential contaminants.
Nelson-Jameson focus on food safety in 2024
For its part, Nelson-Jameson has echoed the industry's focus on food safety—inside and outside of our facilities.
Voluntary SQF program
Nelson-Jameson has voluntarily brought the SQF program to its four active distribution centers in Marshfield, Wis., Amarillo, Texas, Jerome, Idaho, and Turlock, Calif. The Nelson-Jameson Turlock site has scored a perfect 100% for eight years in a row, and Amarillo also received a 100% score in its first two audits in 2023 and 2024. Its Marshfield location has a 13-year average score of more than 98.6%, with 2024’s score being a perfect 100%.
Safety at home and on the road
In 2024, Nelson-Jameson continued its commitment to food safety during the transportation stage. Perishable cargo must reach its destination in a timely manner and in the right climate-controlled and monitored conditions within the vehicle to maintain the ingredients’ quality and integrity. By managing its own fleet, Nelson-Jameson can optimize routes and quickly communicate and solve any issues in real-time.
Best Sellers: Food Safety and Beyond
Nearly everything a food processor does can contribute to food safety for employees and consumers. Below are some of the best selling from Nelson-Jameson in 2024.
Ingredients
The foundation of the best foods is the best ingredients. Beyond taste and texture, overall product quality, food safety, and nutritional value all require the highest-quality ingredients. They’re how food and dairy processors can differentiate their products, keep customers coming back, and build a strong brand reputation.
- Starter media
- Best-selling starter media: dsm-firmenich Delvo®Start EM-7 Starter Culture Media
- Ripening enzymes
- Best-selling ripening enzyme: dsm-firmenich Kshrase® C, Flavor Producing Enzyme
- Peppers
- Best-selling pepper ingredients: EDCO Peppers
Trending products:
Givaudan Annatto WS 28 Liquid Food Coloring
dsm-firmenich Delvo®Cid+ Natamycin Liquid - Natural Food Preservative
Lab Supplies and Accessories
High-quality lab supplies are a must for any food processor. They're crucial in ensuring consistent results, enhancing efficiency, and contributing to a safe working environment.
- Lab Reagents, Chem and Media
- Best-seller in the category: Neogen® Petrifilm™ Aerobic Count Plates
- Lab sampling, product supply
- Best-seller in the category: 2-oz Capitol Plastic Products Vials
- Environmental sampling
- Best-seller in the category: Neogen® Quick Swabs
Trending products:
Sanitary Process & Maintenance
Food processing facilities are only productive when they’re up and running. Nelson-Jameson is a single-source supplier of equipment, accessories, and the food safety expertise needed to ensure continuously smooth operations. Below are the top categories we saw in the past year.
- Process Equipment & Accessories
- Best-seller in the category: Waterboss Spray Nozzle
- Sanitary Pipe, Valves, Fittings (PVF) & Acc
- Best-seller in the category: Alfa Laval A13MHP Tri-Clover® UltraPure Clamp Ring
- Industrial Commodity Products
- Best-seller in the category: Optimax® 250-lb Scale
Trending products
Safety Products
Equally important to food safety is the safety of food processing plant staff. Providing employees with proper protective gear, such as gloves, aprons, hairnets, and safety glasses can minimize the risk of accidents, injuries, and even contamination while reducing costs. Investing in high-quality PPE not only protects food processing workers, it also helps maintain regulatory compliance and enhances overall operational efficiency.
- Shoe Covers
- Best-seller in the category: Tingley Boot Saver® Shoe Covers
- Aprons
- Best-seller in the category: Ansell Die-Cut Vinyl Apron
- Disposable Gloves:
- Best-seller in the category: Gloveworks RDT Nitrile Industrial Gloves
Trending products:
Bulk Packaging Products
High-quality bulk packaging products are essential for food manufacturers to ensure the safety, freshness, and appeal of their products. By using durable and reliable packaging materials, food processors can protect their products during transportation and storage, prevent contamination, and extend shelf life. Below are the categories where we saw the most investment in quality packaging solutions to help reduce waste and optimize supply chain efficiency.
- Cheese bags and liners
- Best-seller in the category: CNG block bag
- Food Grade Poly Packaging
- Best-seller in the category: Poly sheeting
- Cheese wraps
- Best-seller in the category: Ply Ban II Cheesecloth
Trending products:
Sanitary Maintenance (JanSan)
Any food processing environment must be clean and sanitary at all times to ensure food safety. Investing in quality JanSan supplies helps food processors improve hygiene standards, comply with food safety regulations, and create the best possible products for consumers. These are just a few of our most popular JanSan items from 2024.
- Brush/Broom
- Best-selling brush/broom: Sparta® Flared Flo-Thru Brush
- Footwear and surface sanitizers
- Best-selling surface sanitizer: Alpet® D2 Surface Sanitizing Wipes
- Paper Products and Dispensers
- Best-selling paper product: Pro-Towel® HD Shop Towel
Trending products:
Lab Equipment & Instrumentation
Combating threats to food safety requires a holistic approach. Accurate and reliable testing and analysis in food processing are as important of a piece to that approach as ever before. State-of-the-art equipment allows food processors to ensure product quality, safety, and compliance with regulatory standards. Precise measurements, rapid analysis, and efficient troubleshooting are all necessary for improving product quality and increasing efficiency. These are the best-selling lab equipment items trending in 2024.
- Testers
- Best-seller in the category: Neogen® Clean-Trace® Surface ATP Test Swabs
- PH Meters, Electrodes, Accessories
- Best-seller in the category: METTLER TOLEDO Ingold Xerolyte® pH Electrodes
- Chloride Analyzers
- Best-seller in the category: M926 Silver Electrode, 1 Cathode and 2 Detecting
Trending products
Combined Acid Buffer for the M926 Chloride Analyzer
Building and Facilities Maintenance
Proper tools require proper maintenance, which extends the lifespan of facilities and equipment, reducing long-term costs. Investment in reliable maintenance products helps food processors prevent equipment breakdowns, reduce downtime, and ensure compliance with safety and sanitation regulations. Here are some of the most popular tools that help food manufacturers run effectively all year.
- Maintenance
- Best-selling cable ties: ACT metal detectable cable ties
- Best-selling tools: Kraton Ultimate Utility Knife with Sheath
- Best-selling absorbent and spill control item: SpillBlocker Removable Barrier Dike Straight Section
- HVAC, Boiler and Plumbing
- Best-selling solar salt: Compass Minerals Water Softener Salt Extra Coarse
- Best-selling air filters: Viskon-Aire
- Best-selling water filters: 3M Dirt/Rust Water Filter Cartridge
- Mats and Matting
- Best-selling specialty mats: Knobby Mat™ with X on Back
- Best-selling disinfectant mats: Crown Standard High-Wall Disinfectant Foot Mat™
- Best-selling anti-fatigue mats: WorkSafe® Rubber Anti-Fatigue Mat
Trending products
Cleaning Chemicals
With effective cleaning agents and sanitizers, food processors can prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants and ensure food safety in their products as well as safety for workers. Investing in reliable cleaning chemicals can help food processors improve hygiene standards, comply with food safety regulations, and create the best food safety outcomes. Here are some of the best-selling cleaning chemicals from 2024.
- Sanitizers:
- Alkali cleaners
- Best-selling alkali cleaner: Deptal EL™ Single Cycle CIP Alkaline Cleaner
- Acid cleaners
- Best-selling acid cleaner: Deptacid One Acid Cleaner - Descaling & Non-Foaming Detergent for Single-Phase CIP Applications
Trending products:
Material Handling
Reliable pallets, carts, and conveyors can streamline workflows, reduce labor costs, and minimize the risk of accidents. Investing in quality materials handling solutions helps food processors improve productivity, enhance worker safety, and maintain product integrity. Here are some of most popular material handling categories and items in 2024.
- Tools and Accessories
- Best-seller in the category: Cheese Trier
- Pails, Totes, Drums & Containers
- Best-seller in the category: Plastic Pail with Plastic Handle
- Metal Detectors
- Best-seller in the category: Delrin® Metal Detector Test Cards
Trending products
The Go-To Distributor for Food Processors in 2025
As we move into 2025, food manufacturers must remain agile and adaptable to navigate the expected and unexpected food safety challenges and capitalize on new opportunities. Nelson-Jameson was thesingle-source distributor of choice to food, dairy, and beverage processors in 2024. Contact us to learn how we offer more food processing solutions than ever in 2025.
