Kroger Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results and Updates Full-Year 2020 Guidance

The Kroger Co. reported its second quarter 2020 results, provided a Restock Kroger progress update on the three-year transformation plan, and shared a COVID-19 response update.

Comments from Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen

"Each day I'm inspired by the work our incredible associates do to bring to life our purpose, to Feed the Human Spirit. I am proud of our dedicated associates who are serving our customers when they need us most. Our top priority is to provide a safe environment for associates and customers and as the pandemic continues, we will continue to rise to meet the challenge.

Customers are at the center of everything we do and, as a result, we are...

German Farmers Urge China to Impose Limited Import Curbs After Swine Fever Find

The head of Germany’s farming association DBV on Friday called on China to impose only limited import restrictions and not a national import ban on German pork after a case of African swine fever (ASF) was found in a wild boar in Germany.

South Korea imposed an import ban on German pork after ASF was discovered in a dead wild boar, not a farm animal, near Germany's border with Poland on Thursday. Germany has major exports to other Asian countries, especially China.

DBV president Joachim Rukwied said pig farmers are...

Sysco Introduces ‘Foodie Solutions’ to Help Customers Approach Foodservice During COVID-19 Pandemic

As foodservice operators continue to navigate the coronavirus pandemic and states begin to lift restrictions like indoor dining, Sysco has launched Foodie Solutions, a platform created to support foodservice operates during this time.

Through perspective from supporting restaurants and operators across the U.S. Sysco identified essential tools to help customers respond quickly to the changing environment and new trends that have developed during COVID-19 shutdowns.

“Foodie Solutions’ comprehensive suite of toolkits is designed to help operators drive traffic..."

OIE: Germany Should Ring-Fence Swine Fever Outbreak to Limit Trade Fallout

Germany should follow Belgium's example and contain the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) locally to wild animals to limit trade restrictions on pigmeat exports, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Thursday.

A case of ASF has been confirmed in a wild boar near the German-Polish border in the state of Brandenburg, raising concern that some countries will impose import bans on German pigmeat or from regions where it has been found.

ASF is harmless to humans but deadly for pigs and outbreaks in...

New Zealand to Review Livestock Exports by Sea After Capsizing of Ship

New Zealand on Friday launched a review of its livestock exports by sea, after a ship that left its shores with nearly 6,000 cows and 43 crew members capsized off Japan last week.

Gulf Livestock 1, which left Napier Port last month bound for China sank after Typhoon Maysak lashed the area with strong winds and heavy seas.

Japan's coastguards have suspended search operations, after two crewmen were rescued while another died after being found unconscious. Thirty-six Filipino crew members, as well as...

NAMI Issues Statement on OSHA Citation Related to COVID-19

The North American Meat Institute released the following statement from Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts regarding an Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) citation related to COVID-19.

“While the meat and poultry industry remains vigilant working with many government agencies to stop the spread of COVID-19, OSHA engages in revisionism.

“The meat and poultry industry’s first priority is the safety of the men and women who work in their facilities. Notwithstanding inconsistent and sometimes...

CDC Study: Adults With Covid-19 About 'Twice as Likely' to Say They Have Dined at a Restaurant

Adults who tested positive for Covid-19 were approximately twice as likely to have reported dining at a restaurant in the 14 days before becoming ill than those who tested negative, according to a new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"In addition to dining at a restaurant, case-patients were more likely to report going to a bar/coffee shop, but only when the analysis was restricted to participants without close contact with persons with...

Weekly Unemployment Claims Remain Elevated

The U.S. Labor Department reported 884,000 first-time filings for unemployment claims, unchanged from the previous week's revised level. For the week ending August 29, the advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 9.2%, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the unrevised rate the week before. Continuing claims from those filing for at least two weeks rose from the week prior, reaching 13.385 million. That is an increase of 93,000 from last week's report and an indicator that job improvement through the summer may be tailing off as fall begins.

For the week ending September 5, the 4-week moving average was 970,750, a decrease of 21,750 from the previous week's revised average. Claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program continued to rise, increasing more than...

U.S. Regulators Fine Pork Giant Smithfield Over Covid-19 Outbreak

The U.S. Department of Labor fined Smithfield Foods Inc. over a Covid-19 outbreak that infected nearly 1,300 workers and led to four deaths at a South Dakota plant, alleging that the pork giant failed to protect employees.

The action is the federal government's first Covid-19 related penalty for a meatpacker, the Labor Department said. It comes after the novel coronavirus rapidly spread last spring among workers that power the $213 billion U.S. meat industry, forcing Smithfield and other companies to temporarily close plants and disrupting the supply of meat to grocery stores.

Smithfield said it would contest the citation, which carries...

Imports Spike as Economy Continues Recovery and Retailers Stock Up for Holidays

Imports surged to unexpected high levels this summer and may have hit a new record as the U.S. economy continues to reopen and retailers stock up for the holiday season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“It’s important to be careful how much to read into these numbers after all we’ve seen this year, but retailers are importing far more merchandise for the holidays than we expected even a month ago,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Some of these imports are helping replenish inventories that started to run low after...