Phyllis Koegel

As the Marketing Director for OU Kosher, the world’s leading Kosher certifying agency, Phyllis is responsible for the marketing and new business development by assisting food producers worldwide obtain OU Kosher certification for their products. Phyllis developed an early passion for consumer behavior and marketing. She joined the Orthodox Union in 2006 after serving as Marketing Manager for Sabra Hummus. At Sabra Hummus, she helped launch the hummus category to the American market. Hummus became a staple in American households and grew to a billion-dollar food category. Sabra Hummus was purchased by Pepsico in 2008 and has grown to over $1 billion in annual sales. Prior to joining Sabra, Phyllis was involved in the development and success of the International Kosherfest Trade show. As Show Director from 1989 – 2002, she worked with thousands of Kosher food manufacturers and oversaw the strategic planning and execution of the show. Phyllis was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. She obtained an MBA in Marketing from Pace University in 1988. She now lives in Woodmere, N.Y. and has three children and sixteen grandchildren.

Private Label Goes High-Protein OU Kosher Is Part of the Pitch

A tour of the modern protein aisle The 24-item expansion that took Simple Truth Protein past 110 products reads like a tour of the modern protein aisle: a high-protein cereal with 14 grams per serving in cinnamon and berry, 100% grass-fed beef sticks at 9 grams, and protein-boosted frozen meals, beverages, chips and desserts — […]

The Natural-Color Shift: Sourcing It OU Kosher Certified

The dye phase-out has moved from planning to execution The move away from synthetic dyes has shifted from planning to execution. The FDA wants the six remaining petroleum-based colors — Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 — out of the U.S. food supply by the end of 2026, […]

When Whey Runs Short, Scale Is an Advantage

The Whey Squeeze Whey — once a low-value byproduct of cheesemaking — has become one of the food industry’s most sought-after ingredients, and supply has not kept pace. By mid-June 2026, whey protein concentrate was trading above US$13 a pound, up roughly 250% from a year earlier, according to AgTech firm Ever.Ag, while whey protein […]

The End of Self-Affirmed GRAS: What Food Manufacturers Need to Know Now

What Is GRAS — and Why Is It Changing? At the center of the change is the GRAS framework — short for Generally Recognized as Safe. GRAS is the regulatory pathway that allows food ingredients with a long history of safe use, or sufficient scientific backing, to be used in products without going through FDA’s […]

GLP-1 and the Food Industry Reset: Why OU Kosher’s Scale Matters

The food industry is entering a period of accelerated change—driven not only by advances in technology and AI, but also by new pressures emerging from healthcare. One of the most disruptive: the rising influence of GLP-1 medications. In late December, Reuters reported that broader access to GLP-1 weight-loss pills—like Novo Nordisk’s once-daily oral version expected in early 2026—could trigger sweeping product […]

Hiland Global Consulting: Pioneers of Full-Circle Certification Management

Hiland Global Consulting has long been a premier partner for food manufacturers, serving as a bridge between companies and certifying bodies for Kosher, Organic, Non-GMO, and Gluten-Free standards. While they’ve built a reputation as the “fixers” for complex regulatory challenges, 2025 marks a strategic shift for the firm. We recently caught up with Chad Lewis, Hiland Global’s Chief Operating […]

Automation at Scale, Assurance by Design: How OU Kosher Aligns Digital Production with Verified Compliance

Major manufacturers are pouring multi-billion-dollar budgets into digital production and logistics Major manufacturers are pouring multi-billion-dollar budgets into digital production and logistics—including OU Kosher certified brands and companies such as Oreo (Mondelez), Kellogg’s, Chobani, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo. As plants add sensors, data historians, and automated workflows, OU Kosher is evolving with them. In many cases, […]

FSMA 204 Is the Story: How Retailers and OU Direct Are Raising the Traceability Bar

FSMA 204 (food traceability rule) is accelerating traceability requirements for high-risk foods. While the FDA has proposed extending compliance to July 2028, major retailers like Walmart, Kroger, and Target—together representing over 10,000 OU kosher-certified products—are already demanding strict compliance with electronic record keeping. These retailers are leading the charge in raising traceability standards ahead of […]

From 1933 to Today: Why Lay’s Just Made Its Biggest Change in 100 Years

In October 2025, Lay’s unveiled what it calls the largest rebrand in its nearly 100-year history. The iconic yellow sun logo now radiates new energy through “Lay’s Rays.” The bags feature matte finishes and farm photography that underscore a simple message: these chips come from real potatoes. And with all the visual changes—new rays, new […]

Unlock the Passover Market: Your Products and Ingredients May Already Be Closer Than You Think

represents one of the highest-demand shopping periods of the year—and a major opportunity for both food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers. If your company produces gluten-free, clean-label, or kosher products and ingredients, you may already be closer than you think to meeting Passover certification standards. OU Kosher’s streamlined process can help manufacturers and suppliers qualify for […]

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