[SURREY, BC, JUNE 19TH—] Reflecting Ishida Canada’s ongoing improvements to country-wide operations, the company is pleased to announce the promotion of David Parussini to National Service Manager.

In this new capacity, David oversees the technical service department, managing a team of service engineers and technicians. His responsibilities include supervising technical training, managing client service interactions, and developing preventative maintenance programs to optimize Ishida equipment performance across Canada.

David previously served as Service Technician and then Senior Service Engineer at Ishida Canada. Since joining the company in 2016, David has successfully secured new annual service contract revenue, strengthening long-term customer partnerships and expanding recurring business opportunities. He has also played a pivotal role in Ishida Canada's strategic growth by helping facilitate the launch of a new facility in Calgary and the addition of the company’s first Alberta-based team member, enhancing local support for customers and creating a stronger presence in Western Canada.

“David's combination of operational excellence and commitment to customer success exemplify the values that drive Ishida Canada's continued growth,” said Bill Taylor, President. “We are excited to recognize his contributions and look forward to his ongoing leadership as we continue expanding our service organization across the country.”

For more information on roles at Ishida Canada and to apply, interested candidates may visit www.ishidacanada.ca/careers.

CALGARY, AB, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ - Factor Meals, Canada's leading ready to eat meal brand, has officially opened a new 50,000 sq. ft. kitchen and distribution centre in Calgary, Alberta. The state-of-the-art facility establishes localized production in Western Canada, serving as a milestone in unlocking nationwide delivery for the brand this Fall.

Initially launched in 2022 to serve Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, the Calgary expansion allows Factor Meals to seamlessly scale its dietitian-approved, chef-crafted meal deliveries from coast to coast.

"Activating our Calgary kitchen is a critical piece of the puzzle for Factor Meals in Canada," said Ian Brooks, CEO of HelloFresh Canada, Factor Meals' parent company. "This facility positions us to achieve national service in the coming months, bringing fresh, nutritious, and convenient meals to millions of new households across the Western provinces."

The facility represents a major economic investment in the region, creating 400 new jobs across production, logistics, and management. The launch was supported by $3.6 million in provincial and federal funding, including $2.3 million from an Alberta Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit (APITC) and $1.3 million from a Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (SCAP) grant.

Tara Sawyer, Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, emphasized the impact of this regional integration. "Factor Meals' new facility is a prime example of how Alberta is attracting major investment in value-added processing. The Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit and the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership help companies establish and grow in our province while taking advantage of some of the best agricultural inputs in the world. Investments like this support local farmers, strengthen our ag sector and help meet the growing demand for high-quality agri-food products."

Calgary Mayor Farkas echoed the sentiment on the local impact. "Calgarians will benefit directly from this investment as Factor Meals expands in our city, creating hundreds of jobs and strengthening our local economy. This expansion reflects Calgary's continued growth as a destination for investment, where companies are choosing to scale, invest and be part of a city that is diversifying and building long-term economic strength."

Invest Alberta and Calgary Economic Development were instrumental in bringing this investment to life, providing Factor Meals with direct access to local supply chains, skilled talent, and government resources critical to establishing and scaling operations in the Calgary region.

"Factor Meals' decision to expand in Calgary reflects the momentum we're seeing across sectors where local innovation is transforming how we produce, move and deliver goods, including food-tech and agri-processing. With a competitive cost environment, room to scale, a highly skilled workforce and strong partnerships, Calgary offers what businesses need to scale with confidence." Said Brad Parry, President and CEO, Calgary Economic Development.

The facility will also integrate deeply with the regional agricultural supply chain, utilizing provincial incentives to advance the Province's agricultural sector.

"Factor Meals' investment underscores the growing strength of Alberta's integrated supply chain—from locally produced ingredients to advanced food processing and distribution. By choosing Alberta as a base for their Western Canada operations, HelloFresh and Factor are helping improve access to high-quality, affordable food options for consumers across the region. Invest Alberta is pleased to support companies making meaningful, lasting investments that connect our agricultural strengths with innovative food solutions and deliver tangible benefits to households," said Invest Alberta, Acting CEO, Keith Bradley.

Kevin Marban, General Manager of Factor Meals, confirmed that the facility is already operational and heavily focused on this regional network. "With 400 new roles, this facility allows us to work closely with local suppliers while delivering fresh meals directly to customers' doorsteps across Western Canada," Marban said. "We're incredibly grateful for the partnership with the city and the Province and look forward to continuing to support the local community."

Inside the State-of-the-Art Calgary Kitchen

The facility operates as a large-scale commercial kitchen and production site designed to prepare high-quality meals fresh daily. Built to support premium flavour development, freshness, and strict food safety, the infrastructure includes advanced industrial ovens, grills, braisers, and blast-chilling capabilities. To seamlessly manage the supply chain from raw ingredients to final fulfillment, the site features extensive commercial-scale warehouse space with dedicated receiving docks for fresh-cut produce and proteins. The operation utilizes multiple temperature-controlled zones and ambient storage to maintain strict cold-chain integrity.

Community Partnerships

Beyond economic development, Factor Meals is establishing local food rescue initiatives to distribute surplus ingredients and meals to residents experiencing food insecurity. The brand has partnered with Second Harvest nationally, alongside local organizations including the Calgary Food Bank and the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary.

Learn more about Factor Meals at www.factormeals.ca

Nestlé, Arcus, Interzero, and thirteen other leading companies are joining forces in a landmark project to turn household plastic waste into new packaging - including food packaging - as Europe tightens requirements for recyclability and recycled content.

Every year, vast quantities of flexible plastic packaging — coffee bags, meat packaging films, crisp packets and confectionery wrappers — are incinerated or downcycled into lower-value products rather than recycled into new packaging. Today, less than 15 percent of this packaging type is recycled, despite accounting for nearly half of all plastic packaging placed on the European market. InFACT aims to change that.

A complete value chain from bin to shelf

InFACT brings together 16 international partners covering the entire value chain: collection, sorting, recycling, packaging production, and food companies. The project is led by Danish Technological Institute and runs from 2026 to 2028, and is funded by Innovation Fund Denmark through the TRACE programme.

"We have brought together partners covering the entire chain from household waste bins to supermarket shelves. That is essential if we are to build a circular infrastructure that works technologically, environmentally and economically," says Per Sigaard Christensen, Business Manager at Danish Technological Institute.

A technical challenge meets political reality

Modern flexible food packaging is technically advanced - typically built from multiple polymer layers, barrier films, printing inks, adhesives and, in some cases, metallised surfaces. This makes the material almost impossible to recycle through conventional mechanical remelting. InFACT combines several complementary recycling technologies to crack that challenge.

In addition, key barriers have been a fragmented value chain and the lack of viable business models. InFACT is designed to address this by connecting technologies, documentation and market demand across the full packaging chain.

The project launches at a pivotal moment. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which entered into force in February 2025, tightens requirements for recyclable packaging and documented recycled content by 2030. InFACT is designed to help industry translate these requirements into practical circular infrastructure.

"If we can establish a commercially viable infrastructure for flexible plastic packaging, we can both support the implementation of EU requirements and strengthen the resilience of European industry. InFACT can help reduce Europe's dependence on imported fossil oil and build a more self-sufficient circular plastics economy," adds Per Sigaard Christensen.

Business-critical for the food industry

"For a food company, packaging is business-critical. It must protect products, meet high food safety standards, and, at the same time, be documented as part of a more circular economy. No single company can create these solutions alone. That is why InFACT matters: the project brings the full value chain together to develop the infrastructure the food industry will need," says Birgitte Krenk, Nordic Head of Operations at Nestlé.

FACTS ABOUT InFACT

• InFACT stands for Infrastructure for the Flexible plastic pAckaging Circular Transition
• Project period: 2026–2028
• Total budget: EUR 3.2 million
• Funded by Innovation Fund Denmark via the TRACE program, a mission-driven research and innovation partnership focused on circular economy for plastics and textiles.
• Goal: Demonstrate circular infrastructure in which flexible plastic packaging is converted into new packaging
• Partners: Nestlé Danmark A/S, BKI foods A/S, Hilton Foods Denmark A/S, Cloetta AB, City of Copenhagen, Interzero GmbH, TotalEnergies, Fraunhofer IVV, ARCUS Greencycling Technologies, Re:Lab AB, Topsoe, Coveris GmbH, Dapofa A/S, University of Southern Denmark, VANA and Danish Technological Institute
• PPWR: Regulation (EU) 2025/40, entered into force 11 February 2025

LAS VEGAS, NV — WeighPack Systems, a leading manufacturer of automated packaging machinery, recently delivered a compact and efficient potato chips packaging system designed to help snack food producers improve packaging consistency, reduce manual labor, and maximize production floor space.

The integrated solution combines a PrimoLinear® V5 Net Weigher, VersaPak™ Tabletop Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) Bagger, incline infeed conveyor, and exit conveyor for direct case loading, creating a complete packaging line from product feeding through finished package handling. The system is specifically designed for delicate snack products such as potato chips while maintaining product integrity throughout the packaging process. WeighPack offers a variety of packaging solutions for chips, popcorn, nuts, crackers, granola, jerky, and other snack food applications.

The PrimoLinear V5 Net Weigher accurately portions potato chips and other snack products before discharging them into the VersaPak bagger. Available in configurations of up to four weighing lanes, the V5 features 5-liter weigh bucket capacities, precision strain-gauge load cells, vibratory feeding technology, and durable 304 stainless steel construction throughout the frame and product-contact surfaces. Designed for sanitation and operational efficiency, the system includes tool-less removable funnels and hoppers, wipe-down construction, and a tilting hopper for simplified cleaning and maintenance.

A color touch-screen interface and microprocessor-based operating system provide intuitive control with recipe storage, recall, allocation, and adjustment capabilities, allowing operators to quickly switch between products while maintaining weighing accuracy and production efficiency.

The VersaPak Tabletop VFFS machine forms, fills, and seals pillow bags using non-proprietary roll stock film. Producing up to 20 packages per minute, the compact bagger accommodates pouch widths ranging from 2 to 8 inches (50–200 mm) while occupying minimal floor space. The VersaPak is also compatible with recyclable and compostable paper-based films, enabling manufacturers to support sustainability initiatives without sacrificing packaging performance.

Product is automatically elevated from ground level via the incline conveyor to the weighing system, then transferred into the VersaPak for bagging. Finished packages are discharged onto an exit conveyor that transports bags directly into shipping cases, creating a streamlined packaging process that minimizes manual handling and improves overall line efficiency.

Watch the system in action - https://www.weighpack.com/weighpack-compact-potato-chips-packaging-system-with-v5-and-versapak/

"This system demonstrates how snack food manufacturers can implement automated weighing and bagging technology in a remarkably small footprint," said Luis Pilonieta, sales director at Paxiom Group. "By combining accurate net weighing, reliable bagging, and integrated conveying, processors can achieve greater efficiency while preserving product quality and flexibility."

The compact potato chips packaging system is ideal for startups, growing snack brands, co-packers, and manufacturers seeking an economical entry point into automated packaging. The system can also be adapted for a variety of free-flowing food products beyond potato chips, including popcorn, pretzels, nuts, crackers, baked snacks, confectionery, pet treats, and dried foods. The PrimoLinear V5 platform can be expanded up to four lanes as production requirements increase. The V5 net weigher, conveyors, and a wide range of weighing, pouch filling, bagging, flow wrapping machines are available for live demonstrations at the Paxiom Xperience Center in Las Vegas. Visitors are invited to schedule a complimentary tour, test their own products on production-ready equipment, and work directly with packaging automation specialists to evaluate the best solution for their application. Learn more and book your visit: https://www.paxiom.com/paxiom-xperience-center/