The Originate Initiative

The Originate Initiative

Explore the latest stories from the innovation team at Hormel Foods sharing our leading efforts, industry insights, emerging trends and more.

All Stories The Originate Initiative

Food

Is Your Dinner Ready Yet?

Why busy consumers are buying heat-and-eat entrees more than ever before

People

Making it Happen

With a little help from Hormel Foods, Cari Clemons willed her career aspirations into existence

Food

Innovation at its Crunchiest

Revival of the CORN NUTS^® flavor portfolio is bringing consumers closer to the brand

People

Meet the Innovators: Norman Gu

Norman Gu has worked for Hormel Foods in China for more than 20 years.

Impact

Inside the Hormel Foods Supply Chain Revolution

A look into the company’s transformation toward a future-ready supply chain

Food

Meat Snack Mania

The Hormel Foods snacking strategy is resonating with Chinese consumers, fueling innovation for the future

People

Meet the Innovators: Kathie Sheldon

Kathie Sheldon joined Hormel Foods in 1988 and has been in product development for the past 28 years, the last seven as director of product…

Impact

Investing in the Next Generation

Hormel Foods finds innovative ways to benefit team members and their families.

Food

Refreshing Legacy Brands

Hormel Foods keeps heritage products relevant for today’s consumers through form innovation.

Food

From Seoul to Supermarkets

South Korea is amplifying its cultural influence on the global stage and onto our plates

People

All Ideas Are Welcome

Fostering a culture of open innovation at Hormel Foods: encouraging every voice, from the production floor to the c-suite.

People

Meet the Innovators: Steve Lykken

Steve Lykken, group vice president, supply chain, discusses the Hormel Foods production system, the use of new technology and the importance of…

Impact

Meet the Innovator: Richard Carlson

Richard Carlson, vice president of quality management for Hormel Foods, discusses expectations in food safety, why innovation is important, and what…

People

A Dawning Renaissance in School Cafeterias

Innovations in school foodservice: Transforming the K-12 market

People

A Culture of Innovation: The Originate Summit, Los Angeles

Bringing ideas to life through culinary exploration and team collaboration.

People

Meet the Innovators: Swen Neufeldt

Swen Neufeldt, group vice president of Hormel Foods and president of Hormel Foods International, discusses innovation strategies in the international…

Impact

The Evolution of the Restaurant Parklet

Outdoor eating spaces opened during the Covid pandemic saved many restaurants and changed the urban landscape. What’s next for this trend?

Food

Innovating Across the Globe With Iconic Brands

The names resonate worldwide, but products are optimized to satisfy local consumers

Impact

With a Flash, Hormel Foods Takes on Fried Chicken

Behind the scenes: How Hormel Foods turned the category on its head with a never-before-seen approach to fried chicken breast.

Impact

Meet the Innovators: Blake Flores

Blake Flores shares his insights on leading innovation and expanding markets through strategic partnerships and exciting new products.

Impact

Revolutionizing Food Innovation with AI

Technological advances are both here and on the way, and they can be harnessed by innovative thinkers.

Food

Innovation Spurring a New Era in Convenience Store Foodservice

Hormel Foods expanding presence in convenience-store industry as consumer demand for foodservice proficiency grows

Food

The Brave New World of Convenience Stores

From healthy meals to EV charging to high-speed internet, convenience stores are becoming go-to destinations.

People

Meet the Innovators: Annemarie Vaupel

Annemarie Vaupel, vice president of marketing for the foodservice division, discusses the importance of customers’ views, balancing new and…

Food

The Ribbon Pepperoni Revolution

Behind the scenes: How the innovation team at Hormel Foods sparked a culinary revolution with a fresh take on a classic topping.

Impact

Lending a (Robotic) Hand

Innovative products and smart automation drive efficiency in food service.

Impact

Insights and Trends Fueling Innovation

The culture of innovation at Hormel Foods begins with identifying consumer needs.

Impact

A Different Spin on Comfort Food

A growing number of consumers are seeking out food — and food companies — that give them a sense of wellbeing.

People

Meet the Innovators: Dave Anderko

Dave Anderko, consumer insights team leader at Hormel Foods, reflects on the importance of tracking trends, building partnerships with retailers, and…

Food

Creating a New Cashew

The innovators behind the Planters^® brand lead the charge for a tasty new product line.

Food

Novelty Seeking and the Omnivore’s Dilemma

Some people seek out novel foods, while others don’t. Both strategies offer advantages.

People

Meet the Innovators: Svetlana Peña

Svetlana Peña, innovation lead, pipeline creation at Hormel Foods, shares insights on retail innovation and collaborating with customers and…

Impact

Food Production from Farm to Fork

Exploring consumer perceptions of the food manufacturing industry

Food

Building a Food Future

From AI-powered product analysis to 3D-printed food, significant technological innovations are redefining food manufacturing.

Food

The Epic Hunt for Food Innovation

At MegaMex Foods, inspiration for new products often comes from surprising places.

People

Meet the Innovators: Tyler Hulsebus

Tyler Hulsebus, vice president of engineering, discusses the importance of innovation in bringing in new technologies, new processes and new ways of…

Impact

The Farms of the Future

Innovation is changing the agricultural landscape to lead us into a new age of food production.

Impact

Innovation from the Ground Up

Water and energy savings innovations earned Fontanini Foods the Green Plant of the Year award.

Impact

Meet The Innovators: Tom Raymond

Tom Raymond, director of environmental sustainability at Hormel Foods, is focused on helping the company achieve its environmental sustainability…

Impact

Giving For Good

Exploring how consumers perceive the good being done when food brands give back

Impact

Meet the Innovators: Lisa Selk

Lisa Selk, senior vice president of Brand Fuel at Hormel Foods, talks about trends, fostering a culture of innovation and using data to fuel growth.

Impact

Soil, Health & Scaling Regenerative Ag

Applegate and its research partners are laying the groundwork for a supply chain that incorporates climate-positive practices for better human health.

Impact

Innovation in Refrigeration

Our reliance on refrigerants increases as Earth’s temperature rises. Innovators are rising to the challenge to find solutions.

Impact

Fueled for the Future

A glimpse into the Hormel Foods Originate Innovation Summit

Impact

Meet the Innovators: Nate Smit

Nate Smit, enterprise lead for breakthrough innovation at Hormel Foods, looks to the future of innovation in the food industry

Food

Today’s Shopper: Where and Why

Exploring the evolving preferences of today’s consumer

Food

Bold in Flavor, Easy on Prep

The debut foodservice brand from MegaMex Foods is a finalist in the Hormel Foods Best of the Best Innovation Competition

Impact

Unleashing Innovation in Global Markets

From local roots to global reach, Hormel Foods innovates across borders.

People

Savoring Authenticity

Consumers quest for authentic and fusion food experiences

Impact

Of Food Trends — and Food Tribes

How we eat is not just about taste and nutrition. It’s also about identity.

Impact

Meet the Innovators: Marianne Pollock

Explore innovation from a global lens with Marianne Pollock, director of innovation for Hormel Foods International

Impact

Beyond the Barcode: Grocery’s Robot Revolution

How automation is transforming stores and filling labor gaps

People

Meet the Innovators: Leslie Lee

Leslie Lee, vice president, digital experience at Hormel Foods, discusses how innovation in data analysis and digital marketing serves the company and…

Food

Click into the Cart

Take a stroll through the virtual aisles and explore the attitudes of consumers when shopping online.

Food

The Fuel Behind the Brands

Empowered by a longstanding culture of innovation, the team at Hormel Foods uses insights to craft the products that define tomorrow’s trends.

Food

From Trend to Table

5 factors that will get a consumer to try a trend at home and other insights from our Brand Fuel team

Food

Real Avocados, Real Heat

The MegaMex Foods team takes home the Hormel Foods Innovation Prize for creating the world’s first avocado hot sauce.

People

Meet the Innovators: Heather Vossler

Heather Vossler, assistant vice president of insights, innovation and brand analytics, talks about insights-led innovation and how it serves the…

Impact

Tracking the AI Revolution

AI systems have been part of our lives for over 20 years — but the landscape is radically changing.

Impact

The Speed of Innovation

Hormel Foods Builds Four Centers for Innovation

People

Meet the Innovators: Kevin Myers

Kevin Myers, senior vice president of research and development and quality control, discusses the many styles of innovation at Hormel Foods.

Food

AI in the Kitchen

Consumers are seeking a balance between convenience and control when asked about taking the emerging technology into the kitchen.

Impact

Sun-Powered Snacking

Processing 100,000 pounds of grain a day takes a lot of energy, and this plant gets it from the sun

Food

Hot Take – Pizza on the Grill

Grilled pizza is quickly becoming a summer staple amongst the foodies and trend-inclined consumers on social media.

People

Meet the Innovators: Scott Aakre

Scott Aakre, senior vice president of Brand Fuel, introduces The Originate Initiative

Impact

When Less Is More

On a journey toward providing safe and sustainable packaging solutions

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