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Hoshizaki America appoints technology director. Digan Patel, formerly of The Coca-Cola Co., has taken the role of director-IoT platforms and connected solutions. August 21, 2026 Hoshizaki America has appointed Digan Patel as director-IoT platforms and connected solutions. Patel brings nearly 20 years of experience in technology, digital products and IoT solutions. Prior to joining Hoshizaki America, he spent his career at The Coca-Cola Co., where he held leadership roles across product management and technology, including leading digital and IoT initiatives supporting Coca-Cola Freestyle and its fleet of connected equipment. In his new role, Patel will help advance Hoshizaki America's smart equipment strategy and broader digital capabilities, leveraging his experience across IoT, digital platforms, product management, automation and AI to develop technology-enabled solutions that deliver meaningful value to customers. "Digan's extensive experience in connected technologies, IoT, digital platforms and emerging technologies will help accelerate our vision for smarter, more connected solutions that deliver greater value to our customers," says Sally Ray, vice president of marketing and product management at Hoshizaki America, in the release. "His proven ability to bridge technology and business outcomes makes him a strong addition to our team as we continue to advance innovation across our product portfolio." Mike Carlson will step into the role of VP of sales following Mike Chick's departure. The appointment of the former Taco Bell executive is a step in Jack in the Box's previously announced succession plan. - Advertisement - Top industry news. For subscriber service, email [email protected]. - Advertisement -

Production ramping up at fairlife's New York dairy plant. 3 MINS READ Webster, NY - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, The Coca-Cola Company, and fairlife on Thursday celebrated the initial ramp-up of production at the new, $650 million, state-of-the-art fairlife facility in the town of Webster, Monroe county, NY. The 745,000-square-foot facility, which is said to be one of the largest dairy processing plants in the Northeast, will serve as fairlife's flagship regional facility. The facility will take in 5 to 6 million pounds of milk per day and has already created approximately 380 new full-time jobs in the town of Webster. This is fairlife's fourth plant in the US; the other plants are located in Michigan, Arizona and New Mexico. fairlife offers a wide range of products including fairlife(R) ultrafiltered milk, Core Power(R) protein shakes, and fairlife(R) Nutrition shakes. The Coca-Cola Company has been a strategic partner to fairlife since it was launched in 2012 through the company's ultimate acquisition of fairlife in 2020. "Today we're celebrating the continued scaling of production at our fairlife Webster facility. This facility reflects fairlife's continued investment in delivering nutritious, great-tasting products to consumers while creating meaningful opportunities for the communities we call home," said Becca Kerr, fairlife CEO. "During this early phase of production, this facility is helping meet growing consumer demand, supporting New York dairy farmers, creating approximately 380 full-time jobs and driving long-term economic growth across the region." Empire State Development is providing up to $21 million in assistance for the fairlife project through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program. Also, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) awarded the firm an 8,470-kW low-cost ReCharge NY power allocation at its March 2024 meeting in support of the project. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Monroe County Industrial Development Agency, the town of Webster, Rochester Gas and Electric, and Greater Rochester Enterprise were also instrumental in bringing the company to New York state. New York state also provided $20 million through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation to help the town of Webster upgrade its wastewater treatment plant. "We are excited to see production underway at the Webster fairlife facility. We have so much to be proud of when it comes to New York agriculture and this is another major accomplishment to add to that list," said Richard A. Ball, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. "fairlife's $650 million investment is a powerful vote of confidence in all that New York has to offer," said Hope Knight, Empire State Development president, CEO and commissioner. "Under Governor Hochul's leadership, ESD has built a strong, productive partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, and we're proud that fairlife is choosing New York to put down roots, create hundreds of new jobs, support our dairy farmers and strengthen the Upstate economy for years to come." Did you enjoy this article? Find more articles like it:

Fairlife celebrates opening of $650M Webster processing plant, largest dairy facility in Northeast U.S. Fairlife opens its $650M milk processing plant in Webster, NY, creating 380 jobs in the largest dairy production facility in the Northeast U.S. Soft opening marks major expansion for Coca-Cola subsidiary with 380 jobs created and future capacity reserved for growing protein beverage demand. Fairlife CEO Becca Kerr joined New York Governor Kathy Hochul and local officials on Thursday, August 20, 2026, for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to mark the soft opening of the company's new $650 million milk processing plant in Webster, Monroe County. Representing one of the largest capital investments in the history of The Coca-Cola Company, the 745,000-square-foot facility is the largest single industrial development in Monroe County history and the largest dairy production plant in the northeastern United States. Hiring at the plant has advanced ahead of initial projections, with Kerr announcing that Fairlife has already created approximately 380 full-time jobs in the region - surpassing the original 250-job target tied to state performance incentives and internal build-out forecasts. The facility is slated to operate continuous 24/7 shifts with all three core processing lines running during the second half of the year, manufacturing high-protein, lactose-free ultra-filtered milk, Core Power protein shakes, and Nutrition Plan meal replacement beverages. At full operational throughput, the Webster plant is expected to process roughly 5 million pounds of raw milk daily, sourcing directly from dairy farm cooperatives across the Rochester, Niagara, and Finger Lakes regions. The facility will generate approximately 200 semi-trailer and milk tanker movements per day, prompting public infrastructure upgrades including the planned extension of Boulter Industrial Parkway and local road widening around Tebor and Basket roads to accommodate heavy transport flows. The newly opened plant also features built-in shell space reserved for future industrial expansion. Addressing attendees, Kerr noted that soaring consumer demand for dairy-based protein formats makes the Webster site a central pillar for long-term national supply, calling the opening "one step in our Webster journey". Governor Hochul reaffirmed state and municipal backing for future phases, emphasizing that New York's agricultural policy and strong dairy infrastructure position the region as the primary hub for Fairlife's continuing production growth. The commissioning of the Webster plant represents a major structural shift in Northeast dairy processing, providing a high-volume processing outlet for regional raw milk pools amid broader market shifts. As consumer preferences increasingly pivot toward value-added, ultra-filtered functional beverages, the massive facility strengthens New York's farmgate processing capacity and expands Coca-Cola's dairy footprint across high-demand North American markets. You may be interested in. Legal Notice Related notes.