Topeka, KS—The , aleading food manufacturing companywith a portfolio of popular brands across coffee, pet, and snacking, and its subsidiary Big Heart Pet Brands, Inc.aremaking a significant investment inthe Topeka region through an expansionof its manufacturing facilityto supportits workforce and continued growth of the business. The project includes a capital investment of $17.8 million in real property and $2.7 million in equipment, positioning Topeka as a hub for advanced food production and innovation.

“We are excited to continue to expand our operations in Topekato support the consumers who count on our beloved brands, including Meow Mix and Milk-Bone,and the dedicated workforce that worksdiligentlyto continue to deliver thesehigh-qualityproducts,” said Luke Livingston,Director, Operations, The J.M. Smucker Co.“Our facility hasbeen part of the Topeka community for more than55years and this investment represents our commitment to continueto grow together.”  To accelerate this growth, the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) board of Topeka and Shawnee County has approved economic development incentives totaling $383,000, aimed at supporting the company’s long-term success and strengthening the local economy.

“This significant investment by anindustry leaderin Smuckerrepresents a major step forward for Topeka’s manufacturing sector,” said Rhiannon Friedman, President of GO Topeka. “This investmentenhances our industrial base and creates further opportunities for sustained economic growthand we’re proud to partner with a company that shares our vision for a thriving community.”

also recently announced a $34 million expansion, creating 60 jobs and further cementing Topeka’s reputation as a hub for advanced food production and innovation. Together, these investments reflect sustained momentum in the region’s food manufacturing sector and its growing importance within the broader supply chain. 

That growth is being reinforced by the upcoming launch of LINK Innovation, which will provide dedicated space and programming to support product development, commercialization and access to capital for food and beverage companies. Structured to connect established manufacturers with emerging brands and investors, LINK Innovation adds another layer to Topeka’s coordinated ecosystem, strengthening the pipeline from production to innovation to scale.

Atlanta, GA (February 12, 2026) - AMMEGA Group, global provider of belting solutions for conveying and power transmission, announced the expanded availability of a next-generation detectable conveyor belt engineered to help food manufacturers reduce contamination risks and reinforce quality control standards. Designed to improve X-ray and metal detection sensitivity without compromising performance, Dectyl XMD is purpose-built for confectionery, bakery, snack, meat and poultry, and prepared foods environments where compliance and product integrity are non-negotiable.

At a time when food processors face increasing pressure to safeguard production lines from foreign body contamination, Dectyl XMD delivers a clear operational advantage. Its detectable formulation helps ensure that any belt fragments can be identified early in the process, helping reduce waste, prevent recalls, and protect brand reputation. To ensure detection performance across various food industry subsegments and amid varying production conditions, AMMEGA provides Dectyl XMD Test Cards that allow manufacturers to test and validate the minimum detectable size of Dectyl belt fragments within their own food processing line.   

“Food safety is one of the strongest drivers in the market today. Dectyl XMD was designed to give our customers confidence in compliance, in inspection accuracy, and in the consistency of their product output,” said Bobby Bauman, Director - Global Product Line Management, Conveyor Belting at AMMEGA. “It reflects our commitment to providing solutions that are not only high-performing but also aligned with contemporary safety expectations.” 

Through its leading brands, Ammeraal Beltech and Megadyne, AMMEGA continues to meet food safety and performance needs with a range of conveying and power transmission belts. Dectyl XMD aligns seamlessly with AMMEGA’s broader hygienic conveying portfolio, including and , the new Megadyne belts engineered specifically for food processing environments, made with food-contact approved materials to support clean, compliant, and reliable production. Megadyne’s synchronous belts set a new standard for ultra-high performance belts allowing for reduced envelope size and extended life in power transmission applications in food processing.

Together, AMMEGA’s leading brands offer comprehensive solutions toolkit to: 

• Improve food safety and traceability
• Reduce unplanned downtime tied to belt wear or contamination events
• Extend belt life and lower total cost of ownership
• Enhance consistency and quality across high-volume production lines 

“AMMEGA is committed to delivering conveying solutions that support safer, smarter, and more efficient production,” Bauman added. “Whether customers are modernizing existing lines or designing new operations, our portfolio provides the performance and assurance they need to meet global food safety standards.” 

Dectyl XMD, Megaliner XMD, Megalinear FC and Megasync^TM Titanium belts are available now through AMMEGA and authorized distribution partners. For more information, and consultation on the best fit for manufacturing applications, please visit and

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2026 /CNW/ - Armstrong Cheese, voted Canada's Most Trusted Brand in the Cheddar Cheese Category*, has introduced a new High in Protein Marble Cheddar Cheese — an innovation that has already earned them the 2026 Product of the Year in the Cheese Category by Kantar.**

Rather than asking Canadians to rethink their meals, Armstrong's new High in Protein cheese offers a familiar, craveable way to boost protein through a food Canadians already know and love. 

"With Armstrong High in Protein Marble Cheddar Cheese, we set out to deliver the great taste Canadians expect from Armstrong Cheese with the protein they are increasingly seeking," said Tina Galluccio, Director of Marketing, Saputo Canada. "Being recognized as Product of the Year is something we are incredibly proud of, because it reflects how strongly this product is resonating with Canadians and how naturally it fits into everyday meals and snacks."

Proudly Canadian, Armstrong High in Protein cheese is lower in fat and high in protein, delivering the signature melt, stretch, and flavour for which Armstrong is renowned, without compromising the taste Canadians love.

The recognition as 2026 Product of the Year in the Cheese Category reinforces Armstrong's continued focus on innovation that resonates with Canadian shoppers.

Armstrong High in Protein Marble Cheddar Cheese is now available at major grocery retailers across Canada in cheese sticks, shredded cheese, and block formats.

*Armstrong Cheese was voted Most Trusted Brand in the Cheddar Cheese category (tie) based on Canadian consumer research conducted by BrandSpark.

** The Kantar Product of the Year designation is determined through a quantitative study using a nationally representative survey of 4,000 Canadian consumers, who vote on products across defined categories.

BLOOMFIELD, N.J., Feb. 12, 2026 /CNW/ - SGS, the world's leading testing, inspection and certification company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Murray-Brown Laboratories, a nationally-recognized food testing laboratory based in Denver, Colorado (United States). Murray-Brown Laboratories supports North American producers, manufacturers, and retailers by ensuring that their food, pet food, and nutraceutical products meet safety and compliance standards through advanced microbial and analytical chemistry capabilities including pesticide and mycotoxin detection. With North America leading the global food safety testing market in terms of regulatory frameworks and food recall management, this move marks SGS's commitment to expanding its service to the industry. 

"Over the past few years, we have seen an increased demand for rapid and advanced testing services from our North American clients - driven by stricter FDA and USDA regulation, an increase in foodborne illnesses, and consumer demand for safe and high-quality foods," said Jodi Jurgens, Head of SGS's Food Group in North America. "Our clients expect precise and timely results, while consumers expect safety and quality in the food supply chain. With new analytical chemistry capabilities offered by Murray-Brown Laboratories, we are excited to expand our service scope while also strengthening our geographical footprint for microbiological testing services. This addition to the SGS Food Testing Network will of course also allow us to better serve SGS and Murray-Brown Laboratories' clients while safeguarding the public."

Murray-Brown Laboratories also strengthens SGS's services for the nutraceutical industry with additional kratom, kava and hemp testing capabilities. With the expanded geographic footprint for microbial testing, SGS will be able to offer PCR and advanced microbial pathogen detection technologies to a wider range of food producers. These DNA-based molecular test methods are playing a critical role in rapidly detecting contaminants and pathogens to prevent foodborne illnesses. In the United States, the FDA continues to process a record number of microbial assays year-over-year. This highlights the significance of microbial testing for early detection of harmful pathogens.

SGS has been delivering food and pet food testing services in North America for over 27 years and for over 35 years globally. It operates six state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited labs across the United States. As a top global service provider for food safety testing, SGS holds the largest number of global accreditations to support North American manufacturers in bringing their products to market within the region and globally. This acquisition also contributes to achieving SGS's corporate strategy, , while aligning with its platform. Strategy 27 seeks to double North American sales between 2023 to 2027 by responding to megatrends driving growth in the TIC industry - including societal expectations for safe, high-quality foods and nutritional transparency.