Hormel Expects Better Earnings Next Year
Hormel Foods logged higher sales in its fiscal fourth quarter, but the company swung to a loss as profitability remains under pressure due in part to ongoing cost inflation.
Interim Chief Executive Jeff Ettinger on Thursday said the food company behind brands including Planters, Skippy and Spam has taken steps that aim to improve profitability, such as targeted price increases, reductions in administrative expenses and continued modernization investments.
"These efforts are laying a solid foundation for improved earnings performance in fiscal 2026," he said...
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EU Updates Agricultural Import Procedures for Fruits and Vegetables
The European Commission has adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/2185. The measure amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892. It simplifies procedures for fruit and vegetable imports. It also adjusts the calculation of standard import values. And it updates additional import duties. It was signed by President Ursula von der Leyen on September 10, 2025.
Under the new rules, standard import values are fixed weekly. Every Tuesday the Commission will set values for each product and origin. The figure equals the weighted average price notified by member states....
ANALYSIS: US Shell Egg Prices Retreat as Post-Holiday Inventories Build
Shell egg prices have begun to ease in the post-Thanksgiving period, with Midwest large slipping 3cts to $2.58/dozen on Tuesday—the first downward move since late September. While the holiday performed in line with expectations and, in some cases, exceeded them, early December often brings a natural cooling in demand. Many consumers enter the month well-stocked after the long holiday weekend, leaving retailers to pull lighter volumes as they assess sell-through before committing to fresh rounds of replenishment.
These softer retail pulls, combined with...
ANALYSIS: US Government Shutdown Effects at the Retail Level for Coarse Grinds
Coarse grinds are an item that people in the SNAP program tend to favor due to their affordability within the beef complex. During the government shutdown, when SNAP went unfunded and then eventually received partial funding, market participants began to wonder what effect this would have on coarse grinds at the retail level.
When comparing the shutdown period to the same time last year, distribution for 70-77% lean and 78-84% lean both experienced decreases. Many in the market anticipated this because the lower lean percentages are the more popular blends within the grinds...
The Retail Rundown: Holiday Shopping Lifts Foodservice and Grocery Demand
December is when most consumers fully embrace the holiday spirit—and start spending accordingly.
This year's holiday spending is off to a strong start, with record shopper turnout and a surge in online activity. Adobe Analytics reports that total online sales from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday amounted to $44.2 billion, up nearly 8% from last year.
Meanwhile, the National Retail Federation reports that a record 202.9 million people shopped over the Thanksgiving weekend, up from 197 million last year. Supermarkets were the most popular destination at 47%, followed closely by online shopping at 45%...
ANALYSIS: Turkey Supply Constraints Drive Market Fundamentals
As the industry enters the final stretch of the year, market participants are watching production metrics closely to assess how 2025 ultimately unfolded. Year-to-date (YTD) data continues to affirm a structurally constrained supply environment, defined by persistent headcount erosion only partially offset by elevated live weights. These dynamics remain central to the challenges confronting both buyers and sellers, with implications that increasingly appear poised to carry into the new year.
Cumulative turkey headcount has fallen 11.3% from 2020 levels and 2.4% from a year ago, with 2025 totals landing at 170.2 million, a new historical low. The accelerating year-over-year (YOY) decline...
UNFI Reports Solid Start to Fiscal 2026
United Natural Foods (UNFI) has reported the results of its financial performance for the first quarter of its 2026 fiscal year.
"We started fiscal 2026 with another quarter of solid execution and continued progress in delivering more value to our customers and suppliers as we strengthen effectiveness and efficiency. Our network optimization is proceeding ahead of schedule, and the benefits of recent supply chain investments, coupled with process improvements, is enabling us to strengthen service levels and increase throughput. This helped us deliver Adjusted EBITDA growth of nearly 25%...
ANALYSIS: Argentina’s Fresh Beef Exports Fall 7.9% MOM to 66,571 mt in October 2025
The latest data released by Argentina’s National Institute of Statistics and Census indicated that fresh beef exports (chilled and frozen) fell for the second consecutive month in October, further offsetting the gains accumulated during the steady upward trend observed from April to August. Shipments totaled 66,571 mt in October, down 7.9% compared to the previous month and 4.5% lower than...
ANALYSIS: Winter Buying Spurs Japan’s Oct 2025 Beef Imports to Six-Month Highs
Japan’s beef imports in October 2025 rebounded sharply to a six-month high at 49,185 metric tons (mt), according to the latest data released by Japan’s Trade Statistics.
Driven by seasonal winter restocking, inbound volumes vaulted 28.3% MOM (+10,841 mt) from September’s six-month low, climbing across major suppliers to a level not seen since April 2025. Japan also received its first shipment of beef from Sweden in over three decades, totaling just 2.25 mt...
ANALYSIS: EU Pork Exports Ticked Up During September 2025
EU pork exports increased marginally during September, as decreased EU price levels supported EU exporters' competitiveness on the global market. In September, exports of fresh and frozen pork meat, along with total pork exports, including by-products and processed pork, increased compared to August.
Exports of fresh and frozen pork meat grew strongly by 6.6% month-over-month (MOM) to 152,539 mt, while the overall volume of pork exports increased by 1.0% m-o-m in September to a total of 334,338 mt. Additionally, elevated price levels for alternative proteins such as beef and poultry supported the demand for pork meat on the global markets...
ANALYSIS: Retail Demand Drives EU Shell Egg Market into Year-End
Retail demand for shell eggs across the EU remains solid as the year draws to a close, supported by households replenishing supplies ahead of holiday gatherings and an increase in home cooking during colder weather.
Supermarkets continue to move product at a steady pace, and prices remain high relative to long-term norms. However, there is a growing sense of hesitation in the trade, with many buyers questioning whether the current strength can extend much beyond the New Year. Ordering patterns have shifted toward short-term planning, with retailers focusing on...
Vietnam’s THACO, U.S. Fresh Del Monte Sign 10-year Banana Supply Deal
U.S. food group Fresh Del Monte has signed a 10-year banana supply deal with the Vietnamese firm Truong Hai Group Corporation (THACO), the companies announced.
Fresh Del Monte has agreed to buy 71,500 tons of bananas in 2026, or around 15% of THACO’s expected output, the company said. Under the agreement, the traded volume would rise over the 10-year term.
Fresh Del Monte plans to export THACO Bananas to Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and later the Middle East, it said...
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