Competition Heats Up in Canada as Emerging Channels Enter the Playing Field

Emerging channels in Canada are delivering a new wave of competition for traditional foodservice operators. Technomic’s 2019 Canadian Emerging Channels Consumer Trend Report explores these new players, covering everything from food halls to meal kits. While usage of these channels is currently low overall, there is strong appeal among younger consumers. This, along with future expansion plans, means that emerging channels are poised to steal share from restaurants moving forward.

“For younger consumers, a wider variety of need states compared to older consumers and a greater willingness to experiment and try new things leads to greater usage of emerging channels,” explains Bret Yonke, manager of consumer insights at Technomic. “Moving forward, the broad nature of these channels means competition on multiple fronts. Food halls and food trucks will be the greatest threat for lunch occasions, while eatertainment and meal kits will...

Ahold Delhaize USA Announces Leadership Changes at Stop & Shop and Giant Food

Ahold Delhaize USA today announced leadership changes at two of its U.S. brands. The changes include:

• Mark McGowan, President, Stop & Shop has made the decision to leave the organization. McGowan will remain with Stop & Shop through year-end, at the company’s request, to ensure a seamless transition.
• Gordon Reid, President of Giant Food, will become President, Stop & Shop. Reid will begin transitioning to this new role in the coming weeks, and officially assume the role in late July.
• Ira Kress, SVP, Operations for Giant Food, has been appointed as...

United Premium Foods Purchases Amboy Group Out of Bankruptcy

The Board of Directors of United Premium Foods (“UPF”), a private investment group based in N.J., today announced the company has purchased the Amboy Group, a provider of quality meat and food products, out of bankruptcy. In addition to UPF’s acquisition of Amboy, Amboy Woodbridge Realty, an entity affiliated with UPF, acquired the real property and cold storage business.

“The acquisitions include a state-of-the-art meat processing and cold storage facility, as well as an extremely strong and loyal customer base,” said Jim Kwon, chairman and acting CEO, UPF. “We are confident that with additional working capital, supplemental management and a new operating team, we can improve operating efficiencies while growing the company’s market share and reach. This investment is affirmation of our belief in the strong fundamentals of the business and our confidence in the upside potential of this company...

Monetizing the Munchies: How Legal Marijuana Use is Affecting the U.S. Snacking Industry 

In the U.S., interest in cannabis is growing—and laws are shifting to meet consumer demands. Most recently, the Illinois legislature approved recreational marijuana use for adults, with sales of cannabis products containing the psychoactive element, THC, anticipated to start in January 2020. With Illinois soon entering the mix, marijuana will be legal in 11 states and Washington DC, despite still being federally illegal.

The increased legalization of cannabis in the U.S. presents big opportunities for the American food and beverage market—particularly for the snack and confectionery category...

CHART: Industry Expectations for Weekly Cattle Slaughter

CHART: Industry Expectations for Weekly Hog Slaughter

The Urner Barry hog slaughter poll for the week ending 6/22/19 resulted in an average industry participant response of 2,447,000 head...

Boston Market Launches New Summer Sandwich Menu 

The first day of summer – and longest day of the year – is just around the corner, and that can only mean one thing: time to sack the sad sack lunch. While the nation gears up for summer Fridays and weekend picnics in the park, we quickly forget that lunch is arguably the most important meal of the day, and no one deserves a subpar sandwich. To help guide the way (well, minus the "sub") toward more mouth-watering midday options, the rotisserie everything experts at Boston Market® are debuting four new sandwich offerings this month that must be tasted to be believed – literally.

Friday, June 21 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Boston Market is inviting everyone to leave that corner bakery and/or cafe in the dust and enjoy a free sandwich on the house – pitting "theirs" against ours in a full-on sandwich throwdown. Simply bring in your current favorite sandwich and taste the difference fresh, never frozen (and never "fil-a'd") rotisserie chicken can make. You'll be hooked. Guests are then invited to vote for...

Dunkin' Begins Nationwide Delivery Rollout through Grubhub

More of America will now run on Dunkin' without ever having to leave their home or office. Dunkin' today announced that it is partnering with Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB), the nation's leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, to begin the rollout of its new Dunkin' Delivers service. As the first step in this launch, today more than 400 Dunkin' restaurants throughout New York City's five boroughs will now offer delivery through Seamless, Grubhub's New York brand. Following the initial launch, Dunkin' and Grubhub will look to expand the Dunkin' Delivers service to restaurants throughout other markets in the coming months, including in Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Using Seamless or Grubhub, people who live and work in New York City can enjoy their favorite Dunkin' coffees, espresso drinks, Cold Brew and frozen beverages – as well as donuts, breakfast sandwiches, bagels and more – delivered directly to them, wherever they are throughout the day. New Yorkers looking for a convenient Dunkin' delivery experience can simply open the Seamless or Grubhub mobile app or website, choose their favorites and...

Ruiz Foods Products Inc Recalls Bacon Breakfast Wrap Products

Ruiz Foods Products Inc., a Denison, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 246,514 pounds of frozen, not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breakfast wrap products containing bacon that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically small rocks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen egg, potato, bacon and cheese wrap items were produced on Jan. 17, 2019 and Jan. 18, 2019. The following product is subject to recall...

May’s Retail Sales Show Consumer Resilience and Confidence in the Economy

Retail sales rose 0.5 percent in May seasonally adjusted from April and up 3.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year, the National Retail Federation said today. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.

“Today’s retail numbers, and upward revisions to prior months, reinforce the ongoing strength of the consumer and are consistent with a pick up in the pace of the economy in the coming months. The strong job market, recent income gains and elevated confidence translates into ongoing support for spending. Households, in the aggregate, are in solid financial condition but an escalation in trade tariffs will undoubtedly create a considerable downdraft to confidence and spending, or lead to...

Domino's and Nuro Partner to Bring Autonomous Pizza Delivery to Houston

Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, and Nuro, the robotics company transforming local commerce, are partnering on autonomous pizza delivery using the custom unmanned vehicle known as the R2 later this year. The global leader in pizza delivery will use Nuro's unmanned fleet to serve select Houston Domino's customers who place orders online. This partnership will expand Nuro's autonomous delivery operations, which have safely and successfully been running in the Houston metro area since March 2019.

"We are always looking for new ways to innovate and evolve the delivery experience for our customers," said Kevin Vasconi, Domino's executive vice president and chief information officer. "Nuro's vehicles are specially designed to optimize the food delivery experience, which makes them a valuable partner in our autonomous vehicle journey. The opportunity to bring...

Table 87 Frozen, LLC Recalls Pork and Beef Pizza Products

Table 87 Frozen, LLC., a Brooklyn, N.Y. firm, is recalling an undetermined amount of frozen pizza products containing pork and beef that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The scope of this recall now includes ready-to-eat, prosciutto and pepperoni pizza products produced from June 3, 2017 through June 4, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

More Footage and Now Lawsuits Stemming from FairLife and Fair Oaks Farms Situation

High-protein milk brand Fairlife has received two class action lawsuits alleging deceitful marketing practices following the release of videos by the Animal Recovery Mission portraying animal abuse at Fair Oaks Farms in northwest Indiana, which has supplied some of its milk. In the wake of a video released by the Animal Recovery Mission proposing five individuals committed animal cruelty and abused calves, a second video was released by the Animal Recovery Mission showing alleged abuse of dairy cows.

The complaints accuse Fairlife's co-founders Mike and Sue McCloskey, also owners of Fair Oaks Farms, of engaging in fraud and violating consumer protection laws. The Newton County Sheriff's Office announced charges against three workers in the video that were identified by authorities. Edgar Gardozo-Vasquez has been arrested and is being held at the Newton County Jail. The other two men have not been located or arrested, and the investigation is ongoing. The recent video was shot by a member of the Animal Recovery Mission posing as an employee at Fair Oaks' rotary milking system. The sheriff’s office is currently reviewing the footage...

ALLETE Clean Energy's Diamond Spring Wind Project Will Provide Renewable Energy to Corporations

Allete Clean Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE (NYSE: ALE), announced today a power sales agreement with Smithfield Foods, Inc. for the remaining output of the Diamond Spring wind site ALLETE Clean Energy will build, own and operate in Oklahoma.

The Smithfield agreement follows an earlier announcement of power sale agreements with two large Fortune 500 companies, Walmart and Starbucks. Walmart has agreed to purchase 175 megawatts for 15 years, Smithfield will purchase 75 megawatts for 12 years, and Starbucks will purchase 50 megawatts for 15 years. The approximately 300-megawatt Diamond Spring site, which is ALLETE Clean Energy’s first project to sell wind power to corporate customers, is now fully contracted with the Smithfield agreement...

ANALYSIS: Keeping Tabs on Feed Costs

While it is undeniable that any number of internal and external factors have the potential to impact a given commodity, it can be argued that production levels are perhaps one of the most impactful variables in the supply and demand equation...

Affluent Food Shoppers More Likely to Purchase Natural and Organic Products

The belief that natural and organic practices produce foods that are tastier, more nutritious, and healthier continues to germinate in the minds of key consumer demographics. The result has created a pervasive and enduring trend that spreads to virtually every corner of the food and beverage industry.

Wealthy Americans are among the most influential and active participants in the natural and organic food market, according to Affluent Food Shoppers, a new report by market research firm Packaged Facts.

Packaged Facts’ consumer survey data found that affluent food shoppers are increasingly moving in the direction of eating more organic and natural foods. They are more likely than non-affluent food shoppers to respond that they are eating more natural foods or organic certified foods compared to...

While Restaurant Delivery gets All the Buzz, Digital Orders Overall Grow by Double-Digits

The growing access to foodservice delivery has garnered lots of attention from the marketplace and media, but while delivery grabs the spotlight, digital restaurant orders overall steadily grow by double-digits, reports The NPD Group. Restaurant digital orders, which are defined by meals or snacks ordered via mobile app, internet, or text message, have grown by 23 percent over the past four years and now represent 3.1 billion visits and $26.8 billion dollars. NPD forecasts digital orders to continue to grow by double-digits through 2020 with growth across all service modes including delivery, on premises, and carryout, according to NPD’s Delivering Digital Convenience report.

Although convenience is understandably the top reason consumers choose digital ordering, other top reasons include: no waiting; the ability to order, pay, and have it ready; ordering at my “own” pace; and earning rewards/feeling valued. In addition to these reasons...

Chairman Roberts Hears from Administration on Current, Future Ag Trade Efforts

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a hearing titled, “Certainty in Global Markets for the U.S. Agriculture Sector.”

Below are Chairman Roberts’ remarks as prepared for delivery:

"Good morning. I call this meeting of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry to order.

Ambassador Doud, Undersecretary McKinney, and Dr. Johansson, we are happy to have you all back again before the Committee to discuss the need for certainty in our global agricultural markets...

Consumer Disloyalty is the New Normal

Assume the people you consider to be the most loyal customers on the planet are, in fact, disloyal. Because 92% of the time, you’ll be right. New Nielsen findings demonstrate that just 8% of consumers consider themselves to be firmly committed loyalists.

Yet the marketing tactics and investments rarely reflect these realities. A whopping 46% of consumers tell us they are more likely to try new brands than they were five years ago; a clear signal to a trend we should expect to intensify. Yet we see few signs that adjustments have been made to marketing initiatives or innovation pipelines to match these numbers.

The implications of not dramatically rethinking campaigns that focus on winning or retaining loyal customers are meaningful. The drag effect of consumer demand for choice and...

Kroger and Ocado Break Ground on America's First High-Tech Customer Fulfillment Center

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), America's largest grocery retailer, and Ocado (LSE: OCDO), one of the world's largest dedicated online grocery retailers, today broke ground on America's first customer fulfillment center (CFC).

"Kroger is incredibly excited to reach this meaningful milestone in our Restock Kroger vision to serve America through food inspiration and uplift," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Our partnership with Ocado will introduce transformative ecommerce, fulfillment and logistics technology in the U.S. and bring customers fresher food faster than ever before, accelerating our ability to provide anything, anytime, anywhere...

EU Plans for U.S. Specific Quota on High-Quality Beef Imports

The European Union (EU) plans to provide the U.S. with a country-specific quota for high-quality beef imports, according to a report from Australian trade publication Beef Central. The U.S. Trade Representative and the European Commission reached an agreement in March to grant the U.S. a country-specific share of the 45,000 metric tons duty-free quota. The U.S. will receive an initial allocation of 18,500 tons from the 45,000 tons EU grainfed quota, increasing to 35,000 tons over the next seven years, according to the report. The other major suppliers, Uruguay, Australia and Argentina will share the remainder of the quota volume. Consultations with these other suppliers have now occurred and the next step in the process is for the European Commission to formally begin...

Tyson Foods Unveils Alternative Protein Products and New Raised & Rooted Brand

As part of efforts to expand its protein offerings, Tyson Foods, Inc. (NSYE: TSN) today introduced the company’s first plant-based and blended products, along with its new Raised & Rooted® brand. The initiative makes Tyson Foods the largest U.S. meat producer to enter the growing alternative protein segment with its own products.

TheRaised & Rooted brand was created to provide great-tasting plant-based and blended foods that are rooted in how people eat today. The initial products under this new brand, which will launch with several major retail customers this year, include plant-based nuggets as well as blended burgers made with a combination of beef and plants. In addition, the company’s existing Aidells® brand has launched Aidells Whole Blends™ sausage and meatballs, made with chicken and plant-based ingredients.

Tyson Foods expects to introduce additional alternative protein products through multiple customers and sales channels. This includes...

Pasture Raised Foods LLC Recalls Raw Whole Poultry Products 

Pasture Raised Foods, LLC, doing business as Greener Pastures Chicken, a grower/non-inspected processor located in Elgin, Texas, is recalling an undetermined amount of frozen raw whole poultry products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen raw whole poultry items were produced from Nov. 29, 2018 through May 24, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

ANALYSIS: April Turkey Exports: A Year Over Year Assessment

According to the USDA’s most recent data, total turkey exports for the month of April came in just shy of 25,200 metric tons; a substantial 8.2% rise over this time last year...

NPPC Supports Executive Order to Keep America First in Agriculture 

Based on recommendations by the administration’s Rural Development Taskforce, President Trump today signed an executive order to streamline regulations for agriculture biotechnology, a development welcomed by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

“Agriculture is one of the crown jewels of the U.S. economy,” said David Herring, NPPC president and a pork producer from Lillington, North Carolina. “Today’s executive order paves the way for common sense regulation to keep America first in agriculture so that we remain the global leader in an economic sector that has offset the U.S. trade imbalance for decades and that is so critical for the prosperity of our rural communities.”

The executive order (EO) provides a framework to support leadership in emerging technologies such as gene editing for livestock, an innovation that promises to eliminate costly diseases that...

Perdue Foods Launches Chicken Plus Products 

Plant-based food may be one of the hottest trends in grocery today, but for parents trying to get their kids to eat their vegetables the struggle is still real. To help flexitarian families who are hungry for new ways to fill the vegetable void without sacrificing flavor or nutrition, Perdue is introducing first-of-its-kind nationally distributed new PERDUE® CHICKEN PLUS™ Nuggets, Tenders and Patties blended with vegetables.

Perdue’s latest innovation PERDUE® CHICKEN PLUS™ blends cauliflower, chickpeas and plant protein to create the next generation of frozen chicken nuggets, tenders and patties, and each serving is complete with one-quarter cup (half a serving of vegetables) and is made with 100 percent all-natural ingredients and no antibiotics ever white meat chicken...

U.S. Pork Producers Seek Main Course, Not Crumbs

Expanding U.S. export markets is vital to the success of American pork producers, but trade disputes with some of our top markets, most notably China, are hampering growth and have caused severe financial harm to U.S. hog farmers, National Pork Producers Council Vice President and Counsel of Global Government Affairs Nick Giordano said today at a Global Business Dialogue event in Washington, D.C.

“Mostly because of free trade agreements, the United States is the leading global exporter of pork. As a result, U.S. pork is an attractive candidate for trade retaliation. America’s hog farmers – and many other sectors of U.S. agriculture...

Smithfield Foods Marches Forward with Renewable Energy Projects

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce the construction of new biogas gathering systems in Missouri and Utah, which bring the company steps closer to delivering renewable natural gas (RNG) to communities in multiple states using manure from its hog farms. Detailed in its recently released Sustainability Report, Smithfield’s “manure-to-energy” projects are part of Smithfield Renewables, the company’s platform that unifies and accelerates its renewable energy efforts to help meet its goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25% by 2025.

“By finding innovative ways to reduce GHG emissions and use existing resources to power our planet, we are playing a critical role in providing consumers with nutritious food, as well as...

NAMI Joins More than 950 Groups to Call for Swift Congressional Ratification of the USMCA

The North American Meat Institute today joined more than 950 organizations representing the U.S. food and agriculture industries to urge Members of Congress to swiftly ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

In a letter sent to Congress, more than 950 groups representing the U.S. food and agriculture value chain at the national, state and local levels called on Congress to support the ratification of USMCA. The letter reiterates that USMCA will benefit the U.S. agriculture and food industry while providing consumers a more abundant supply of high-quality, safe food at affordable prices...

Chili's Partners Exclusively with DoorDash

Chili's® Grill & Bar, a leader in the casual dining industry, is also leading the category in off-premise innovation. To build on that momentum, starting today, Brinker International, Inc., the parent company of Chili's and Maggiano's Little Italy®, has entered into an exclusive agreement with DoorDash, the nation's largest on-demand destination for door-to-door delivery, that brings delivery of Chili's favorites to Guests from more than 1,000 participating restaurants nationwide.

"We chose DoorDash as an exclusive partner because they have a leading market share in areas where Chili's restaurants are located and have a fast growing delivery platform," said Wyman Roberts, chief executive officer of Brinker and president of Chili's. "While we tested delivery with several partners, DoorDash integrated seamlessly into our operations, demonstrated the ability to drive incremental sales and provided...

African Swine Fever Affects China's Pork Consumption

China’s pork consumption has dropped by 10% to 15%, year-to-date, by our estimates, driven by food safety concerns. The level of consumption change varies greatly between the different distribution channels. Looking forward, and reflecting on the current situation and trends, it is quite possible we have seen the ‘peak’ of pork consumption.

Pork Consumption in China has Dropped by 10% to 15%

The losses in China’s pig herd are very difficult to estimate – estimated losses range from 20% to 70%. Data from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) has the sow herd down by 22% in the year to April – this is one of the most optimistic estimates we have seen. However, hog and pork prices struggled in April and May, after a brief surge in March, raising significant questions...