Member News & Headlines Blog

We’re all familiar with traditional fermentation, where microbes naturally transform nutrients to create products like yoghurt, sourdough bread, and beer. But this is really just the beginning. Bioprocessing and precision fermentation processes and technology have the potential to revolutionize how we create food. So, what is it all about?  

Precision Fermentation is a specialized form of bioprocessing that programs microbes to produce specific food ingredients, like proteins, fats, flavoring agents, enzymes as well as non-food ingredients, such as fibers, textiles, and modern polymers. Imagine microbes that create dairy without cows, or egg whites without chickens! This technology offers significant sustainability benefits with the ability to manufacture products with a smaller ecological footprint.  

Though it may sound cutting-edge, the technology first emerged in the 1970s, when it was used to produce insulin. Today, precision fermentation is scaling up with new applications on the horizon. In Illinois, the iFAB Tech Hub and its “Lab to Line” approach play a pivotal role in upscaling bioprocessing, supporting the journey from lab-scale innovations to full-scale manufacturing. iFAB, together with its partners, is setting Illinois up as a key player in the future of precision fermentation. 

If you want to know more, join CFBN at the Partnership Forum on November 14th. More information: https://chicagolandfood.org/event-5855969 

ABCs of Crisis Management.docx

Bad hires - those individuals who are not a good fit for their roles or a company because they lack the necessary skills, don't align with the company culture, or fail to meet performance expectations. I know at least some of you are wincing at the memory of a bad hire you’ve encountered (or been involved with) in the past! It happens more than you think. In fact, according to CareerBuilder, 75% of employers admit they have hired the wrong person at some point.

When an ill-suited individual joins a team that shares common values and behaviors, the negative impact can be significant. These bad hires can impact efficiency, cause deadlines to be missed, and strain relationships as other team members compensate for the underperformer.

When a bad hire joins a cohesive team, it can also compromise team dynamics, communication, collaboration, and trust. This disruption can lead to talented individuals becoming disenchanted, potentially resulting in the loss of key team members and that’s when retention challenges begin.

On June 13, 2024, CFBN partnered with the Contract Packaging Association and held the sold out event  'Charting a Path for Success: Navigating Tomorrow's Technology and its Impact on CPG Manufacturing' , hosted at Frain's Industries.

Ron Puvak, Executive Director at the Contract Packaging Association presented the State of the Industry Report Update.  

Going into the 2023 tax year, Manufacturers and Distributors were left uncertain. However, M&D business owners now have the opportunity to take advantage of the summer months to properly plan for compliance with tax initiatives such as:

• Section 174
• Fixed assets
• Section 263A – UNICAP

Dairy farmers are responsible for some of our favorite nutritious and delicious foods. But did you know they’re also charged with producing those foods in a cow-friendly and environmentally sustainable way? Not everyone is familiar with the U.S. dairy’s commitment to communities and the planet. Many people have questions about the sustainability of dairy farming practices, including manure management and wastewater treatment. If that’s you, keep reading to learn the farming practices used to achieve dairy sustainability across the U.S.

ofi (olam food ingredients), a global leader in food and beverage ingredients, has earned America’s first Rainforest Alliance Certification for its California orchards, setting a new standard for the industry, and continuing to emphasize the importance of sustainability in agricultural practices. This significant milestone underscores the company’s commitment to environmentally sound almond production.

We are excited to announce a significant milestone within our community: the merger of our two esteemed members, Forvis and Mazars. This union has resulted in the creation of Forvis Mazars, a new powerhouse in the professional services industry.

On June 1st, Forvis Mazars officially launched as a new global network formed by these leading firms. Mazars, an international partnership operating in over 100 countries and territories, and FORVIS, a top-ranked firm in the United States, have united to establish this formidable entity

Please give a warm welcome to one of our newest members, executive recruitment specialists, The Sterling Choice. With offices in the UK, the US, and the UAE, we are delighted to have The Sterling Choice team on board to share their breadth of recruitment expertise with our network.

In our dynamic and evolving industry, The Sterling Choice is a recruitment powerhouse. With a team that has worked on both sides of the table, they empathize with the many challenges faced by in-house talent teams, and the nuanced skill required to help them hire and retain great talent.

For the 23rd annual year, the Chicago Innovation Awards will celebrate the most innovative new products and services in the Chicago region.  Nominees can cut across all industries, from large corporations to new start-ups, for-profit and non-profit, high tech and low tech.  The key is innovation.

Reasons to nominate:

We encourage all of you who have developed a new product or service in the last 4 years to self-nominate for this year's awards.  Nominating is free, and can be submitted via an online form at https://chicagoinnovation.com/nominations/.  The deadline is July 31st.