Urner Barry's Weekly Insider's Turkey Hatch Report

Breakfast Remains a Deeply Rooted Institution in the U.S. and Its Future is Bright

Breakfast means breaking a fast and whether consumed at 6 a.m. or 11 a.m., it’s always been an important meal in the U.S. Last year Americans consumed nearly 102 billion breakfasts, with another 50 billion morning snack occasions rounding out the average morning, reports The NPD Group. And, the future of breakfast looks rosy too with forecast growth of breakfast foods that meet consumers’ primary needs of function, convenience, and enjoyment, according to NPD’s recently released Future of Morning study, which illustrates how morning foods are changing today and into the future.

“While breakfast as an institution is deeply rooted, the what, how, and why surrounding our food and beverage choices and...

Consumer Confidence Index Increased in January

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased in January, following a moderate increase in December. The Index now stands at 131.6 (1985=100), up from 128.2 (an upward revision) in December. The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – increased from 170.5 to 175.3. The Expectations Index – based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions – increased from 100.0 last month to 102.5 this month.

“Consumer confidence increased in January, following a moderate advance in December, driven primarily by a more positive assessment of the current job market and...

McDonald’s Goes Bigger on Breakfast by Adding the McChicken to Its Morning Menu Nationwide

For the first time, customers across the country can wake up to McDonald’s Chicken McGriddles and McChicken Biscuit breakfast sandwiches for a limited time. Available as early as 6am for fans looking to get a jump on their mornings, and always 7 days a week. A staple long-beloved by McDonald’s Southern customers, the two menu additions now give everyone the chance to enjoy McChicken for breakfast.

• Chicken McGriddles: Soft, warm griddle cakes with the sweet taste of maple, paired with our fan-favorite McChicken
• McChicken Biscuit: A warm, buttery biscuit paired with our beloved McChicken sandwich...

Aramark Chefs Dish on 2020 Food Trends

The start of a new decade brings a time of reflection and positive change, including what will influence the food decisions we make. Aramark, the largest U.S.-based food service company, asked its top chefs to share their thoughts about the top food trends of 2020. These trends are cutting edge, and may not always go mainstream, but they help influence what you’ll find in a grocery store or café near you in the months ahead.

Megatrend #1: Plant-Forward Takes a Giant Leap

As more people focus on their general health and the environment, putting more plants on the plate is a natural way to reduce the amount of meat in a meal. For example...

CHART: Industry Expectations for Weekly Cattle Slaughter

Denny's Expands Partnership with Beyond Meat and Launches Popular Plant-Based Beyond Burger

After the overwhelmingly successful Beyond Burger launch exclusively in Los Angeles restaurants, Denny's will now offer the popular plant-based burger made by Beyond Meat in more than 1,700 locations across the U.S. and Canada. To celebrate this milestone, Denny's is offering a free Beyond Burger with the purchase of any beverage at all participating locations on January 30 from 11am to 10pm, while supplies last.

The newest addition to Denny's core menu, the Denny's Beyond Burger features...

Amity Packing Company Recalls Raw Ground Beef Products

Amity Packing Company Inc., a Chicago, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,020 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically clear, thin pliable plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The raw ground beef items were produced on Jan. 6, 2020. The following products are subject to recall...

Moba-Pelbo Joins Forces with Innovo Solutions

Moba is proud to announce that Pelbo, one of its subsidiaries in Brugherio, Italy, has partnered up with Innovo Solutions, an Italian-based innovative company that develops, manufactures and installs pasteurization plants for food producers. Innovo's knowledge and experience will enable Moba-Pelbo to take egg processing to the next level.

Mr. Fabio Gualtieri, Pelbo's Sales Director, is very excited about what this new partnership will bring to Moba-Pelbo: "The new collaboration with Innovo will increase our expertise in handling big egg processing projects. Furthermore, we will expand...

Letter to Prime Minister: NFU Leads Charge on Trade and Standards Asks Ahead of Brexit

The National Farmers Union has taken the initiative and mobilized a huge coalition of farming, environmental, animal welfare and public health organizations to write a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on trade and standards.

Sent to coincide with the passing of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill which has now had Royal Assent, the letter said:

Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing to you as a broad coalition of major farming, environment, animal welfare and public health organisations who share and support your government’s stated commitment to ensuring the environmental, animal welfare and...

Ovostar Announces Operation Results for 2019 

Ovostar Union Public Company Limited, a vertically integrated holding company, one of the leading egg and egg products producer in Ukraine, announces its operational results for the year 2019.

As of 31 December 2019 the Company’s total flock was 8.1 mln heads, including 6.7 mln laying hens (31 December 2018: 7.6 mln and 6.4 mln. respectively).

The volume of eggs produced in 2019 totaled 1 587 mln (2018: 1 625 mln eggs). In the reporting period the sales volume in shell eggs segment fell by 17% to 1 147 mln eggs (2018: 1 381 mln). The volume of eggs exported was 525 mln that makes up 46% of the total sales in the segment (2018: 587 mln or 42%). The decrease of shell eggs sales is accounted for by...

Super Bowl Chicken Wing Consumption Projected to Increase in 2020 as Prices Sit at Attractive Levels

Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner and football isn’t the only thing that is taking centerstage. Chicken wings will be on millions of tables come Sunday evening.

In all, Americans will chow down on 1.4 BILLION chicken wings during this year’s big game. Sitting only behind pizza as the most popular food item, foodservice and retail stores have been stocking up in preparation for the droves of football fans looking to get their fingers messy with barbecue and hot sauce...

China's Ministry of Commerce Guarantees Sufficient Pork Supply Ahead of New Year Celebrations

On January 25, 2020, China will celebrate the Lunar New Year. As the most important traditional festival for China, the celebration is dependent on preparations including increasing availability of various meats, organic vegetables, and imported fruits. After an outbreak of African swine fever decimated the Chinese hog herd, China has been gearing up for the holiday by releasing pork from state reserves and increasing imports of the most desired meat in the country.

According to an Urner Barry pork analysis, export demand reached record levels in November in anticipation of the Lunar New Year Holiday. In early November, the resumption of exports from Canada and China was announced, creating more tightness in the United States' domestic market as Canada shifted their exports from the U.S. and Mexico to China. By December, China's pork imports surged...

Research and Markets' 2020 Study on China's Pork Import Market

According to Research and Markets' latest report on China's pork import market, China's annual pork consumption is around 55 million tons, and is growing slowly in recent years.

In 2018, the pork imports were less than 3% of the pork consumption. Rising pig breeding costs and stricter environmental policies have forced many small and medium-sized pig farms to close down, and swine fever occurs frequently. These factors discourage the growth of pork output in China.

It is expected that from 2020 to 2024, the import volume of pork and pig offal in China will continue to rise, and China's pork market will receive attention from...

Covantis Initiative Announces Lead Technology Partner - ConsenSys

The founding members of the Covantis initiative, which aims to modernize global trade operations, have announced the selection of ConsenSys, a market-leading Ethereum blockchain technology company, as the lead technology partner to develop its transformative platform.

“The founders set up a robust selection process, including a two week hackathon, to ensure that we chose the right technology partner to meet our industry’s needs,” said Stefano Rettore, independent advisor to the project. “ConsenSys presented prototypes that demonstrated excellence in its field and has a track record of using blockchain technology to digitize processes in...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Cold Storage: The Year-End Figures Are In

After a great deal of anticipation, chicken market participants and observers finally get a glimpse of the year-end 2019 Cold Storage Report...

ANALYSIS: US Table-Laying Hen Flock Climbs to Near-Record Level

U.S. egg production totaled 9.8 billion during December 2019, up 4% from last year, according to the USDA’s monthly Chicken and Eggs report released this week. The number of hens laying table or market type eggs rose to...

Industry Reacts to EPA's WOTUS Rule 

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army fulfilled a promise of President Trump by finalizing the Navigable Waters Protection Rule to define "waters of the United States" (WOTUS). For the first time, the agencies are streamlining the definition so that it includes four simple categories of jurisdictional waters, provides clear exclusions for many water features that traditionally have not been regulated, and defines terms in the regulatory text that have never been defined before.

Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, stated, "President Trump is restoring the rule of law and empowering Americans by removing undue burdens and strangling regulations from the backs of our productive farmers, ranchers, and rural land-owners. The days are gone when the Federal Government can claim a small farm pond on private land as navigable waters." Perdue thanked President Trump and Administrator Wheeler for...

Kroger Shares Fresh Food Trends for 2020

Kroger announced its top food trend predictions for 2020, insightfully curated by its culinary experiences team and product developers, chefs and innovators.

Kroger's Top Five Trends for 2020:

1. NOWstalgia

Consumers are increasingly seeking out foods and flavors that bring back fond childhood memories. New foods will continue to be added to grocery shelves that deliver nostalgic flavors in a reimagined way—charming customers of all ages and generations...

Kroger and Ocado to Operate High-Tech Customer Fulfillment Center in Maryland

The Kroger Co. and Ocado announced Frederick, Maryland, as the latest location for a Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC).

"Kroger is incredibly excited to construct one of our industry-leading Customer Fulfillment Centers in Maryland in relationship with Ocado to bring fresh food to our customers faster than ever before," said Robert Clark, Kroger's senior vice president of supply chain, manufacturing and sourcing. "Through our strategic partnership, we are engineering a model for the region, leveraging advanced robotics technology and creative solutions to redefine the customer experience."

Kroger has partnered with Ocado to accelerate its ability to provide customers with anything, anytime, anywhere. The CFC model – an automated warehouse facility with...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Thigh Meat and Boneless Pork Ham Values: Raising the Bar 

While turkey thigh meat and boneless pork hams typically trade independently of one another here in the States, upon moving south of the border, these two proteins often...

Quaker Steak & Lube Kicks Off 2020 With New Menu

Quaker Steak & Lube is starting the new year with an exciting new all-day menu featuring salad, sandwich, entrée, sauce and dessert options to give guests fresh choices. Most notable on the menu are new steak and seafood options that are woven throughout the menu pages providing a wider variety for guests. Additionally, Quaker Steak & Lube is introducing a new extreme hot sauce. Dubbed "Eat Heat," it is the hottest sauce yet from the brand and requires guests to sign a waiver upon ordering. The menu offers something for everyone, including options for healthier alternatives.

A lightly seasoned, pan-seared salmon headlines Quaker Steak's new menu. Salmon can be ordered as its own entrée or paired as Surf & Turf with flame-grilled chicken or...

JUST Launches New Egg Offering 

JUST announced the second quarter availability of a new JUST Egg offering: a fluffy, folded egg, perfect on top of toast, inside breakfast sandwiches or as a plant-based, protein-packed addition to any meal.

The product will begin rolling out in April in the freezer section of Whole Foods Markets; select Albertsons Safeway stores; Gelson’s Markets in Southern California; Stop & Shop in the Northeast, Kings Food Markets in the New York metro area and Giant Martin's in the Mid-Atlantic, with more to come. In all, it will be sold in approximately 5,000 stores at launch and will be available for restaurants and other foodservice destinations from major distributors.

The folded JUST Egg will be sold as a box of four, and the key ingredient is protein from the...

Cell-Based Meat Company Aiming to Bring Products to Market Following Strong Funding Round

With a Series B funding round of $161 million, cell-based meat, poultry and seafood company Memphis Meats is pushing towards bringing its first products to market.

The $161 million in funding marks the highest funding round in the cell-based industry and the company announced they are looking to use the funds to build a pilot production facility to grow its products and bring them to market.

In total the company has raised $180 million and are working on selecting an official...

Trump Administration Recruits Six New Members as U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions

Today, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the addition of six new U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions. These champions are U.S. businesses and organizations pledging to reduce food loss and waste in their own operations by 50 percent by the year 2030. New champions in 2019 and announced today include: Browns Superstores, Compass Group, Giant Eagle, Hello Fresh, Las Vegas Sands, and The Wendy’s Company.

“Food products make up 22 percent of municipal solid waste sent to our nation’s landfills annually and working with my partners at USDA, we are challenging American businesses and consumers to reduce food waste,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “The commitments made by...

Kroger Promotes New Leaders to the Central and Dillons Divisions

The Kroger Co. announced the retirement of Pam Matthews, president of the Central division, and promotions of Colleen Juergensen—currently president of the Dillions division—to president of the Central division and Steve Dreher—currently vice president of the Dillions division—to president of the Dillions division.

Pam Matthews to Retire After 40 Years of Service

Matthews will retire from the company, effective February 2, after 40 years of service. Most recently, she's led the Central division, which has 134 stores and more than 15,000 associates, primarily throughout Indiana, southern Illinois, and...

Rabobank Pork Quarterly Q1 2020: Opportunities Are Emerging from Risks

Rising disease pressures continue to challenge the global market and will remain the major change driver in global animal protein in 2020, according to Rabobank’s latest Pork Quarterly titled ‘Opportunities Are Emerging from Risks.’

“Although the severity of African swine fever’s (ASF) impact is subdued in some regions, the scope of the disease has expanded over recent months,” according to Chenjun Pan, Senior Animal Protein Analyst. “The ramifications in 2020 will lead to continuous caution on production expansion in some regions and higher import demand on the global balance sheet.” Several ongoing, regional trade-deal discussions will...

Bojangles’ Names Gary Vaynerchuk to Board of Directors

Bojangles’, Inc. announced today it has added Gary Vaynerchuk, a serial entrepreneur and the CEO and co-founder of VaynerMedia, to its Board of Directors. As a board member, Mr. Vaynerchuk will work alongside senior leadership at the Company to help guide the famous chicken and biscuit chain’s future.

Vaynerchuk is known for establishing one of the first e-commerce wine sites, WineLibrary.com, and helping his father grow the family wine business from $3 million to $60 million in sales in just five years. He now runs VaynerMedia, a full-service digital agency servicing Fortune 500 clients across the company’s four locations.

“With Gary’s extensive experience in building brands and passion for disruptive innovation, he’ll bring a fresh perspective to...

Sweet Earth Awesome Burger Enters First National Restaurant Partnership with Ruby Tuesday

Sweet Earth Foods, an award-winning and rapidly growing plant-based food innovator, announced Ruby Tuesday as its first-ever national restaurant partner for the Sweet Earth Awesome Burger.

Ruby Tuesday will offer the Sweet Earth Awesome Burger as an off-menu plant-based protein through mid-March, with the potential to become a permanent menu item. Customers can also substitute the meatless Awesome Burger patty as part of any of the restaurant's wide variety of signature burger offerings.

"At Ruby Tuesday, our focus is to provide freshly prepared, high-quality meal options that are full of flavor at an affordable price," said Jenifer Boyd Harmon, Chief Marketing Officer for Ruby Tuesday. "We know many of our customers have...