EU Good Food Officially Launches in Korea

European culinary excellence arrives in Korea, embracing modern lifestyles and sustainable values

The “EU Good Food – Good Life” campaign, funded by the European Union, was officially launched in South Korea, marking the start of its public communication activities in the country. This three-year initiative (2024–2027), co-funded by the EU, aims to introduce and promote premium European agricultural and food products to Korean consumers and professionals across the food, hospitality, and retail sectors.

As modern consumers place increasing emphasis on health, food safety, sustainability, and transparent sourcing...

Father’s Day Spending to Reach Record $24 Billion

Father’s Day spending is expected to reach a record $24 billion this year, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The figure is up from last year’s $22.4 billion and exceeds the previous record of $22.9 billion in 2023.

“Americans are embracing meaningful traditions and holidays, and this Father’s Day, spending on gifts and other holiday items is expected to reach record levels,” NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine...

ALDI Announces Promotion of Atty McGrath to ALDI US CEO

ALDI U.S. is excited to announce that Jason Hart, ALDI U.S. Chief Executive Officer, has been promoted to join the Executive Board of ALDI South as Group Chief Operating Officer. Hart will help oversee the company's global operations in Salzburg, Austria, effective September 1. Atty McGrath, currently Chief Operating Officer, will assume the ALDI U.S. Chief Executive role.

During his decade-long leadership as ALDI U.S. CEO, Hart has led the rapid expansion and development of the...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

ANALYSIS: April Pork Cold Storage Remains Tight Despite Seasonal Increase in Volume

April’s USDA Cold Storage report showed total pork inventories at 455.8 million pounds, up 11.3% from March but still 8.7% below the same time last year. This marks the third-lowest April total since the series began in 1999, sitting just above April 2001 and 2004, and suggests that while volumes increased month-over-month, they remain historically low.

Hams contributed significantly to the overall build, with bone-in hams rising 26.9% and boneless hams up 53.2% from March. Total ham stocks reached 87.9 million pounds...

Hormel Recalls Over 256,000 Pounds of Canned Beef Stew

Hormel Foods Corporation has recalled approximately 256,185 pounds of its canned beef stew.

According to an announcement from the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the product may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, following several consumer complaints.

The affected products are 20-ounce metal cans labeled “Dinty Moore BEEF STEW” with a best-by date of FEB 2028.

These items were produced on February 4, 2025, and bear the establishment number “EST. 199G” and lot number...

Signing the EU-Mercosur Agreement by December Is Possible, Says European Council President

The EU and Mercosur countries expect to sign the agreement in a December ceremony. “It is a short timeframe, but we are going to try to make it happen,” Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, said during a visit to Brazil on Thursday.

Costa added that the European Commission is in the process of translating the agreement into the 24 EU official languages and plans to finish it by July.

While farming sectors in some EU countries such as France or Spain have expressed concern...

ANALYSIS: US 2025 Prime Grading Surges to Record Highs

As we head into peak grilling season, it's an ideal time to look at Prime grading trends in the beef market. This year, Prime grading percentages have surged well above 2024 levels, reaching unprecedented highs. In early May, 13.2% of cattle graded Prime, marking a 15% increase over the same time last year and even surpassing the Select grade share, which sat at 12%.

This shift is being driven by several key factors. Improved genetics, especially through the use of high-marbling breeds like Angus, combined with longer feeding...

ANALYSIS: April Chicken Cold Storage, Inventory Rebalancing Continues Amid Demand Shifts

Chicken cold storage inventories in April rose 2.1 percent year-over-year, even as total volumes declined 2.3 percent month-over-month. This monthly drawdown was more significant than the typical five-year April average decline of 1.7 percent, reflecting an active reduction in certain categories as seasonal demand shifts into focus.

Breasts and breast meat, which account for the largest portion of total chicken in cold storage, declined 5.8 percent from March. Inventories remain 7.5 percent above year-ago levels and are consistent with historical averages...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Inventories Remain at Multi-Year Low

The latest cold storage report continues to reflect the strain on the US turkey supply chain. Total turkey inventories fell to 318.8 million pounds in April, marking a new seasonal low and an 18.4% year-over-year (YoY) decline from April 2024. This represents the seventh consecutive month of YoY reductions.

A combination of reduced hatchery figures when compared to last year, along with ongoing disease issues, continues to limit overall production output. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections year-to-date (YTD) are...

71% of Canadian and 43% of Mexican Consumers Intend to Buy Fewer US Grocery Products, Study Reveals

Seventy-one percent of Canadian and 43% of Mexican consumers report they will buy fewer U.S. grocery products in 2025 according to the tenth wave of the dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker (CTT) released today. Canada and Mexico are the two largest agricultural trading partners of the U.S. According to the USDA, in 2024 the U.S. exported 33% of its agricultural products to Canada and Mexico, totaling over $58 billion out of $176 billion of total U.S. agricultural...

Firehouse Subs Accelerates Global Growth with Entry into Mexico

Firehouse Subs has signed a significant development agreement with Foodplay to open 100 restaurants across Mexico over the next five years, marking its latest strategic move in international expansion. This initiative is expected to generate hundreds of jobs locally while strengthening brand presence across Latin America.

"We believe Firehouse Subs has tremendous potential in Mexico's growing sandwich market," said Duncan Montero, LAC President of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), parent company of Firehouse Subs. "We're excited to bring Firehouse premium subs, heartfelt service...

Teamsters at Kroger Authorize Strike

Drivers at Kroger's Forest Park fulfillment center have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in response to the company's repeated refusal to negotiate a fair agreement. The workers, represented by Teamsters Local 528, are demanding a first Teamsters contract with strong wages, good benefits, and enforceable workplace protections.

"Kroger needs to stop dragging its feet and deliver a real offer that respects the work we do," said Marion Jackson, a Kroger driver and Local 528 shop steward. "This company can more than afford what we're asking for. We are ready...

ANALYSIS: US Boneless Beef Cold Storage Declines Despite Increasing Shipments Overseas 

Boneless beef cold storage stocks stood at 376.9M lbs in April, according to the latest USDA cold storage report. This figure represents a decline of 10.3M lbs from March and 9.9M lbs from the previous April.

Seasonally, cold storage levels tend to drop heading into the summer as grilling season begins and consumer demand for beef rises. This year, April recorded the lowest boneless beef cold storage figure for the month in the past decade.

Meanwhile, US imports of boneless beef surged in April...

USDA and Mexico Invest in Joint Effort to Eradicate New World Screwworm

On a recent call, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook L. Rollins and Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Julio Berdegué Sacristán, discussed ongoing efforts to contain the threat of New World Screwworm (NWS) south of the US-Mexico border. The USDA shared an update on the partnership via its website.

As part of this effort, the USDA announced a $21 million investment to renovate an existing fruit fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico. The goal is to produce an additional...

The Retail Rundown: Father’s Day Fires Up Demand for Premium Cuts

Meat sales over Memorial Day weekend appeared to underperform in some regions this year, as cool weather across the Midwest curbed outdoor grilling activity.

Retailers are now setting their sights on the next major grilling event, Father’s Day, paired with hopes for improved weather. Falling on June 15th this year, the event presents another opportunity to drive protein consumption. 

This week’s retail buying opportunities are led by seafood, which accounts for 28.2% of protein ads. Beef has 26.4%, trailed by pork at 23.2%, chicken at 18%, and turkey with...

Sugar On the Chopping Block for SNAP Program Following MAHA Commission

On May 22, US President Donald Trump spoke alongside Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and others during a MAHA [Make America Healthy Again] Commission Event. 

“We’re on track to sign multiples of SNAP waivers to get junk food and sugary drinks out of our food stamp system,” said the USDA’s Rollins. Rollins signed the first waivers to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) in Nebraska, Indiana, and Iowa, she said during her speech...

The Bird Flu “Outbreak in Montenegro Is Completely Contained,” Brazil Says

“We are on the fifth working day after the farm was completely disinfected, and 15 days have passed since the outbreak was identified. I can safely assure you that the outbreak in Montenegro is completely contained,” Carlos Fávaro, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, said on Tuesday in a public hearing at the Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Committee (CRA).

The hearing was to discuss the “zoosanitary emergency” resulting from bird flu, which has resulted in over 60 countries limiting some or all Brazilian poultry products after...

Layne's Chicken Fingers Celebrates Multiple Six-Figure Opening Weeks

Layne's Chicken Fingers, the Soon to be FamousTM chicken finger franchise, continues to see remarkable results at the restaurant level as it expands nationwide. With growing brand awareness, unbeatable brand loyalty and streamlined operations to ensure a smooth opening period, Layne's restaurants are far exceeding expectations.

"We continue to be blown away by the numbers our franchisees are reaching in their first days and weeks of operations," said Samir Wattar, chief operating officer. "We used to be ecstatic when a franchisee had a six-figure opening...

ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Price Erosion Accelerates as Buying Interest Fades

Cage-free values continue to decline sharply, dropping 68cts over the past week. While cage-free transactional values had recently been under pressure, the conventional market had provided some support to the broader category through down-packing flexibility. That dynamic has now shifted, as seasonal trends take hold and the entire egg market faces widespread downward pressure. 

The primary driver behind cage-free weakness is soft retail demand. Retailers—especially in California and other states with mandatory cage-free laws—have shown reluctance to put eggs on feature...

ANALYSIS: Slight Dip in Total Red Meat Output Despite Steady Pork Gains in April

The USDA’s latest Monthly Livestock Slaughter report reveals that US commercial red meat production in April 2025 totaled 4.60 billion pounds, reflecting a modest 1% decline from the 4.64 billion pounds reported in April 2024.

Cumulative red meat production from January through April reached 18.1 billion pounds, also down 1% year-over-year. Within the broader protein mix, beef production slipped 1%, veal saw a sharp 40% decrease, and pork edged 1% lower. However, lamb and mutton production bucked the trend...

BioMar Enters Icelandic Aqua Feed Market with Fóðurblandan Partnership

BioMar has entered a partnership with Fóðurblandan to manufacture and distribute aqua feed through the latter’s production facility in Reykjavik, Iceland. According to BioMar, this move marks positions BioMar as the only global aqua feed manufacturer with local production operations in Iceland.

As part of the collaboration, Fóðurblandan’s facilities will undergo upgrades, and a distribution centre will be established to ensure consistent year-round availability of BioMar’s product portfolio throughout the country.

"This partnership gives us a unique opportunity to deliver locally produced