The Year in Food Manufacturing: Some of the Stories that Defined 2025

From regulatory updates to evolving needs for operational efficiency, food processors spent 2025 adapting their systems and utilizing the best technologies to meet both compliance standards and consumer demands.

The past year had no shortage of developments for food manufacturers. But a few stories were among those at the forefront of minds: aligning with new regulatory compliance, supporting automation to combat labor challenges, and enabling food safety, consumer health and sustainability goals.

The heightened focus on food safety

Food safety remained a top priority for food processors, but the stakes continued to evolve. 

Compliance: Among the biggest stories is the ongoing, heightened need for validated, auditable food safety systems. Driven by FSMA compliance (traceability and low-moisture foods sanitation were among the guidelines that saw progression), manufacturers are continuously focusing on things such as environmental monitoring and documented preventive controls to ensure their facilities are audit-ready.

AI in quality control: AI has become the norm in every industry, with food manufacturing being no different. The exploration and adoption of AI and machine learning to analyze real-time data from production continued, helping to predict food safety risks, optimize quality assessment, and enhance efficiency in hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) systems.

Food additive developments: Manufacturers began preparing for and adapting to bans on certain synthetic food dyes and other additives (see the complete list of actions at the FDA website). These changes compel manufacturers to reformulate their products and explore alternative options. And beyond compliance, consumer demand for "clean labels" has pushed companies to proactively investigate new formulas.

An emphasis on efficiency and compliance

Automation and labor independence: The central theme for operations is using technology to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. Solutions like SupplyRITE^® are automating the management of consumables to cut administrative labor, while preventive maintenance services ensure high-value automated equipment operates with minimal unexpected downtime.

Color-coding for compliance: To meet HACCP and SQF requirements, facilities are relying more than ever on color-coded tools and PPE as the most direct way to enforce zoning and segregation, which is critical for preventing cross-contamination and meeting new sanitation guidance.

Nelson-Jameson’s focus

For its part, Nelson-Jameson has echoed the industry's focus on food safety—inside and outside of our facilities. Check out just some of our content below to learn more about our story and the things we were talking about throughout 2025!

• Meeting New Standards to Protect Your Consumers and Brand
• How to Harness Industry Resources for Food Safety Excellence
• Communicate & Iterate: Why Improving Color-Coding is an Ongoing Initiative
• VMI: A Simple Solution to Complex Supply Management for Food Manufacturers
• A Blueprint for Expansion: Strategically Planning a Distribution Facility
• Answering Questions on the Importance of Sanitation and Hygiene Programs

Best Sellers 2025: Protecting products and the food supply

Nearly everything a food processor does can contribute to food safety for employees and consumers. Below are some of the best-selling products from Nelson-Jameson in 2025.

Ingredients

Preservation: Delvocid+

Dairy enzymes: Maxilact LGi 5000

Peppers: Brined Jalapeno Peppers

Trending products:

1. Food-grade salt
2. Food defoamers

Lab Supplies & Accessories

Microbiological media:

1. Neogen® Petrifilm® Aerobic Count Plates
2. Neogen Petrifilm E.coli Coliform Count Plates
3. Neogen Petrifilm Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plates

Sample containers:

1. 2-oz Capitol Plastic Products vials
2. Whirl-Pak write on sample bags
3. Whirl-Pak standard sample bags

Sample collection:

1. Neogen Quick Swabs
2. QualiTru® TruStream7 septa

Trending products:

1. Neogen® Reveal® Multi-Treenut allergen test kit
2. Neogen Petrifilm Bacillus cereus count plates

Sanitary Process & Maintenance

Process equipment & accessories: Strahman® Wall Mounted Mixing Station

Sanitary pipe, valves, fittings (PVF) & accessories: 2.5–3" Alfa Laval PMO service kit

Industrial commodity products: 2" RSD gray sanitary hose

Trending products & services:

1. Alfa Laval Clariot Connect
2. Filter bags
3. On-site valve service
4. On-site PHE service

Safety Products

Shoe covers: Tingley Boot Saver® shoe covers

Aprons: Endurosaf™ reusable protective apron

Disposable gloves: Gloveworks RDT nitrile industrial gloves

Trending products: 

1. Dominator™ DM3-MD Series metal detectable safety glasses
2. Howard Leight Laser Trak metal detectable ear plugs

Bulk Packaging Products

Cheese bags and liners:

1. 40-lb block bag for cheese
2. 640 barrier tube liner

Cheese wraps: Ply Ban II cheesecloth

Trending products: 

1. 40-lb cheese block corrugated box
2. Lidding roll stock

Sanitary Maintenance (JanSan)

Brushes and brooms: Vikan® Edge Bench Brush

Footwear and surface sanitizers: Alpet® D2 surface sanitizing wipes

Paper products and dispensers: Pro-Towel® HD shop towel

Trending products:

1. Delfin® Mistral 201 BL D2 industrial vacuum
2. Airless SmartStep™ footwear sanitizing system with stainless steel handle

Lab Equipment & Instrumentation

Testers: Neogen® Clean-Trace® Surface ATP test swabs

pH Meters, electrodes & accessories: Hygiena™ Ultrasnap™ ATP swabs

Chloride Analyzers: Nelson-Jameson M926 Chloride Analyzer

Building & Facility Maintenance

Maintenance: ACT metal detectable cable ties

HVAC, boiler and plumbing: Compass Minerals Water Softener Salt extra coarse

Mats and matting (specialty mats): Knobby Mat™ with X on back

Mats and matting (disinfectant mats): Crown Standard High-Wall Disinfectant Foot Mat™

Trending products: Petro-Gel® lubricant

Cleaning Chemicals

Sanitizers:

1. ProvaGrate UR drain ring
2. Hydrite HydroxySan Plus (contact a specialist)

Acid cleaners: Hydrite Wheycide

Trending products: 

1. DeVere Security Floor® granular treatment - dry-activated, USDA Organic - powerful listeria eliminator (contact a specialist)
2. EfferSan sanitizing tablets

Material Handling

Tools and accessories: Vikan® HyGo Mobile Cleaning Station

Pails, totes, drums, and containers: Sparta® Bronco™ round container

Metal detectable: Metal detectable scissors

Trending products: 

1. Low-density black can liner
2. Ezi-action® drum pump

Overall Top Sellers of 2025

1. dsm-firmenich Delvo®Start EM-7 starter culture media
2. Delvocid+
3. Maxilact LGi 5000

The go-to distributor for food processors in 2026

As we move into 2026, food manufacturers must remain agile and adaptable to navigate the expected and unexpected food safety challenges and capitalize on new opportunities. Nelson-Jameson was the single-source distributor of choice to food, dairy, and beverage processors in 2025. Contact us to learn how we offer more food processing solutions than ever in 2026.