Global Pouch Forum 2016 to Highlight Food in Pouches

The 19th-annual Global Pouch Forum returns to Miami offering education, networking, a sold out exhibition space and keynote presentations from Campbell and General Mills executives.

By Joyce Routson

Andrew Gordon knows pouches. In 2004 he helped launch one of the first spouted pouches for Chiquita. Now, as senior program manager for packaging innovation at Campbell Soup Co., he oversees a number of packaging innovation programs at the prepared food giant.

More than just soup in a can, in 2012, the company launched the Go! line of microwavable soups in a pouch, targeted to the millennial generation. In 2013, it introduced a line of skillet sauces in a pouch. And it continues to expand the Plum Organics brand of baby and toddler food with flexible spouted packs.

Gordon will explore how Campbell is shaking things up in the soup aisle and beyond at the 2016 Global Pouch Forum, a conference sponsored by the Packaging Strategies group. Packaging Strategies magazine, along with its sister publications including Flexible Packaging, are proud to bring back this popular event June 15-17 at the InterContinental in Miami.

Gordon will present the keynote June 17. He has been at Campbell two years and previously was senior manager of packaging innovation and commercialization at the former MeadWestvaco Co.

A day earlier, on June 16, Tom Miller, packaging systems development manager with General Mills Co., will talk about his company’s passion for the pouch. Familiar brands such as Chex Mix, Bugles, Nature Valley and Fiber One all come in flexible packaging. The company has turned to pouches and other lightweight materials as part of an effort to save packaging waste and reduce its environmental footprint.

Miller will talk about the pouch formats the company is using and what considerations go into converting products into flexible. Gordon has a strong understanding of consumer and customer needs. He has worked at General Mills for 17 years, and is responsible for setting the packaging technology strategy for all business units.

There are a total of 15 sessions over the 1 ½-day conference, many of them featuring food manufacturers. Speakers include snack, produce, dairy and pet food makers. Suppliers will be well-represented in sessions about machinery and value-added features. There will also be sessions on food safety and traceability, recycling and private equity.

The platinum sponsor of the event is ProAmpac.

Pre-Conference Agenda

In addition, TAPPI will hold a pre-conference workshop on standup pouches on June 15 from 1-5 p.m. that will feature a number of speakers on pouch-making technologies. Also on the 15th is a tour of Karlville’s Miami headquarters. This is free of charge for registered attendees, but space is limited so those interested must sign up beforehand.

There will be plenty of networking opportunities. The June 16 evening exhibition and networking reception, featuring more than 80 table top exhibitors, is always popular and sponsored this year by Charter NEX Films.

This conference regularly sells out and for the past two years has had more than 500 attendees.

Other sponsors include Hoffer, Sonoco, Allied Flex, Kuraray and HP. A full list of sponsors and speakers can be found at www.globalpouchforum.com.