Premium Brands Reports Record Q3 Revenue of $2.0 Billion, Raises Full-Year Sales Guidance

Premium Brands, a leading specialty food manufacturer and distributor in the US and Canada, announced its third-quarter fiscal results, highlighting significant achievements.

The company reported a record third-quarter revenue of $2.0 billion, a 19.1% increase from the same period last year, driven by a 10.3% organic volume growth rate.

Strong performance was seen in its core US growth initiatives, with protein, sandwiches, and artisan baked goods posting a combined 24.3% organic volume growth rate. Including...

ANALYSIS: Brazil’s Oct Beef Exports Up 1.9% MOM to 320,558 MT, Setting Second Consecutive Record

The latest data released by Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services indicated that October’s fresh beef (chilled and frozen) exports totaled 320,558 mt, surpassing September’s previous record of 314,690 mt by 1.9% and setting a new all-time high. On a year-over-year (YOY) basis, this represents an 18.6% growth from October last...

ANALYSIS: US Pork Ham Relative to Thanksgiving Turkey and Beef

US domestic bone-in ham values were above last year’s levels from late July through late October but have recently moved below 2024 levels in early November as more product became available on the spot market.

Bone-in hams continue to present a clear value story heading into Thanksgiving, with 23/27 lb trimmed selected hams at $0.89/lb running about 50% under 16 lb tom turkeys at $1.79/lb and far below beef items such as the 109E rib...

ANALYSIS: Narrowing Price Spread Fuels Competition for Cage-Free Eggs

After two weeks of rapid gains, the cage-free market slowed as distributor participation faded and retail competition took center stage. Distributor demand—which had been strong through early November—has eased as many buyers front-loaded purchases to get ahead of rising wholesale costs and potential bird flu disruptions ahead of Thanksgiving.

With distributors stepping back, market focus has shifted to retail buyers, particularly on the conventional side. Some of the lowest everyday shelf prices and widespread feature activity have...

ANALYSIS: Navigation Rising Beef Prices and Evolving Blend Trends

When analyzing the majority of October in 2024 and the same period in 2025, the average grinds distribution was lower in 2025 except for 85-89%, 90-94%, and ground sirloin. Despite these few areas of growth, total average distribution fell 11.5% year-over-year. At the same time, non-discounted prices were about 9% higher, and discounted prices were up roughly 8%.

RBI and CPE Announce $350 Million Joint Venture to Expand Burger King in China

Restaurant Brands International (RBI) and CPE, a leading Chinese alternative asset manager, have announced a joint venture to drive the next phase of Burger King’s growth in China.

The partnership aims to expand Burger King’s presence in the Chinese market to 4,000 restaurants by 2035, up from the 1,250 locations currently operating.

Upon completion of the agreement, CPE will invest $350 million in new primary capital to support restaurant expansion, marketing, menu innovation, and...

Expana Publication Schedule For the Veteran’s Day Holiday

Expana will be observing the Veteran’s Day holiday on Tuesday, November 11, which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices. All US offices will be closed on the day; daily reports (red meat, poultry, eggs) will not be published, and the following weekly and biweekly reports will be impacted:

Veal, US, will be published on Monday, November 10

Grains and Oilseeds, US, will be published on Monday, November 10

Seafood, US and EU Markets, will be published on Wednesday, November 12...

NCBA Supports Legislation to Expand Local Beef Sales

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced continued support for the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act. This legislation introduced by Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) would increase marketing opportunities for smaller meat processors and give consumers more options to buy local beef.

“The cattle business benefits greatly from expanding marketing opportunities, and the DIRECT Act opens the door to the growing number of cattle producers who seek to grow their market across state lines,” said NCBA President and Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein. “The increased market exposure...

Kroger Relaunches Freshgiving Meal Bundle Ahead of the Holiday Season

With the holidays just around the corner, Kroger is relaunching its Freshgiving Meal Bundle — an assortment of mostly Kroger-brand Thanksgiving staples.

"At Kroger, we believe families deserve a Thanksgiving meal that is affordable and delicious," said Mary Ellen Adcock, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchant and Marketing Officer. "Especially this year, we are giving our customers the quality they expect and the value they love, ensuring everyone has a memorable holiday."

Kroger has done the hard part by compiling a list of key...

Tanzania Cashew Auction Postponed Again to Saturday, Nov. 8, Due to Internet Problems

The Cashew Board of Tanzania opened auctions on Friday, Nov. 7, but connection issues made trading impossible. The auctions were postponed again to Saturday, Nov. 8, the Cashew Board of Tanzania announced Friday evening.

“The postponement is due to TMX network connection problem. Network administrators are working hard to resolve the matter,” the Cashew Board of Tanzania said.

The board issued a new schedule for the following week, but noted that “the auction schedule will revert to normal from Friday on 14th November 2025 onwards...

Wendy's Sees Strong International Growth Amid US Market Challenges in Q3

Hot off the grill, Wendy's released financial results from its third quarter of its fiscal year, showcasing a strong international performance despite challenges in the US market.

Interim CEO Ken Cook highlighted an 8.6% growth in systemwide sales internationally, bolstered by the addition of 54 new restaurants globally and improved adjusted EBITDA.

"Third quarter results were in line with our expectations, reflecting continued strength in our international business," Cook stated. In the U.S., operational initiatives led to a 4% outperformance in comparable sales at Company-operated...

ANALYSIS: Uruguay’s October Beef Exports Fall 3.2% MOM to 30,506 MT, Up 8.1% YOY

The latest data released by Uruguay’s National Customs Directorate indicates that fresh beef (chilled and frozen) exports fell for the third consecutive month, down another 3.2% month-over-month (MOM) to 30,506 metric tons (MT) in October 2025. This represents an 8.1% increase from the same period last year.
China remained the main destination, but its share of total shipments shrank MOM from 45.6% last month to 42.2%, now totaling 12,887 mt. This figure is 10.3% lower in comparison to September but still reflects a 15.5% growth year-over-year (YOY)...

ANALYSIS: HPAI and Trade Volatility Fuel Price Spread Between Export and Domestic Chicken Drumsticks

Based on the 5-year average difference in quotations, frozen chicken drumsticks going to export generally trade approximately one cent above fresh domestic drumsticks packed as 4/10s during the months of January, February, November, and December. This isn’t surprising as these are the months when domestic buyers are least likely to purchase drums which are commonly used for grilling. Meanwhile, purchasing in the export sector generally remains fairly robust, at least through October and November, for shipment into international countries for the holidays. 

ANALYSIS: From Decline to Stabilization; US Pork Cutout and Primal Trends Through Late October

Between September 8, 2025 and October 20, 2025 the Expana US pork carcass cutout fell 11.9% and has flatlined since, moving only around 0.1% over the last several weeks, with very small week‑to‑week swings. 

The belly primal led the earlier weakness, plunging roughly 26.6% into Oct 20 before staging a modest recovery of about 7.8% through the most recent close. Bellies remain 14.3% below the comparable week in 2024 but about 7.2% above the three‑year...

NRF Expects Holiday Sales to Surpass $1 Trillion for the First Time in 2025

The National Retail Federation today released its annual holiday forecast, predicting retail sales in November and December will grow between 3.7% and 4.2% over 2024. That translates to total spending between $1.01 trillion and $1.02 trillion. By comparison, last year’s holiday sales rose 4.3% over 2023 to reach $976.1 billion.

“American consumers may be cautious in sentiment, yet remain fundamentally strong and continue to drive U.S. economic activity,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “We remain bullish about the holiday shopping season and expect that consumers will continue...

US Foods Serves Up Strong Financial Results; Sales Soar, Profits Rise

US Foods released its financial results for the third quarter, showcasing continued growth and strong business momentum.

During the quarter, total case volume increased 1.1% year over year (YOY), contributing to a 4.8% rise in net sales to $10.2 billion. This growth underscores the company’s solid market presence and steady demand for its products and services.

Gross profit rose 5.2% to $1.8 billion, representing 17.2% of net sales. Net income increased 3.4% to $153 million, while adjusted...

Ranchers Support Steve Pearce's Nomination to Lead BLM

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) announced support for President Trump’s nomination of former Congressman Steve Pearce to serve as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

“Having represented New Mexico in Congress and the State House for decades, former Rep. Steve Pearce understands the important role that public lands play across the West. Pearce’s experience makes him thoroughly qualified to lead the BLM and tackle the issues federal lands ranchers are facing,” said NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover...

ANALYSIS: Australia’s Oct 2025 Beef Exports Flat MOM as Korea Pulls Back

Australia’s beef exports in October 2025 held largely steady month-on-month (MOM) to 139,0285 metric tons (MT), data from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) showed.

Edging up just 0.2% or 274 mt from September, monthly growth was curbed mainly by lower outbound shipments to Korea as the impact of its safeguard activation took hold. Shipments to the United States (US), China, and Southeast Asia also eased, while Japan logged a solid monthly rebound underpinned by replenishment demand.

On a yearly basis, exports were ...

Hormel Foods Announces Corporate Restructuring to Support Strategic Priorities and Long-Term Growth

Hormel Foods Corporation, a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced a corporate restructuring designed to thoughtfully align resources with the organization's strategic priorities, support future growth and strengthen the overall business.

To ensure the company remains efficient and well-positioned for long-term success, Hormel Foods has implemented a voluntary early retirement program for a portion of its non-plant workforce, is closing many open roles and will reduce certain positions across its office-based workforce. These actions are expected to...

QDOBA Honors Franchisee Excellence at Annual Brand Conference

QDOBA, America's rapidly growing #2 restaurant brand in the Mexican fast-casual category, presented awards in 50 categories and recognized three standout franchise partners at its annual Brand Conference:

• Winters Group — Franchise Partner of the Year
• Carmen Reyes-Ibarra, General Manager of Roaring Fork — General Manager of the Year
• Froccaro Group — Operator of the Year

With more than 825 restaurants across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, and nearly 600 new restaurants in development, these awards underscore how the brand's tremendous growth is underpinned by a franchise-first...

The Retail Rundown: Turkey Promotions Climb as Holiday Demand Takes Hold

Turkey ads now make up nearly 4% of protein features this week and are on pace to capture a larger share next week as seasonal demand gathers momentum. Beef holds 23.8% of ad space, pork accounts for 22.8%, and chicken eased to 19%—down one point from last week. Eggs have 3% of this week’s buying opportunities, up one point compared to the week prior.

Within the turkey category, ads for frozen whole birds and fresh or frozen parts are evenly split, each accounting for 28% of turkey features...

USMEF Statement on Progress in Trade Negotiations with China

The White House provided more details Nov. 1 on the measures agreed to in last week’s meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, including progress on agricultural trade barriers imposed by China and suspension of port service fees that raise costs for U.S. exporters. 

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement: 

USMEF is encouraged by the progress being made in trade negotiations with China, and we appreciate the Trump administration’s emphasis on restoring market access for U.S. agricultural exports. If China follows through on its commitment to...