Retailers Welcome Phase One Trade Deal with China but Say Remaining Tariffs Must End

The National Retail Federation welcomed the signing of a “phase one” trade agreement between the United States and China but said work remains to be done to end the trade war between the two countries.

“NRF strongly supports the administration’s efforts to address China’s unfair trading practices but we hope this is the first step toward eliminating all of the tariffs imposed over the past two years,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “The trade war won’t be over until all of these tariffs are gone. We are glad to see...

NPD Group: Holiday Cheer Spurred Transaction Gains for Quick Service Restaurants in December

Quick service restaurant (QSR) chains, which represent the bulk of industry transactions, had four consecutive weeks of transaction increases in the retail month of December (December 2 through January 5) and were the primary contributor to the total industry gains in the month, reports The NPD Group. Casual dining chains, on the other hand, began the month stable but saw transaction declines in the last three weeks of the month. Midscale/family dining chains, despite a drop in the last week, finished the month flat, according to NPD’s CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and...

Joint Statement of the Trilateral Meeting of the Trade Ministers of Japan, the US, and the EU

Mr. Kajiyama Hiroshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer, United States Trade Representative, and Mr. Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Trade, met in Washington, D.C. on 14 January 2020.

On industrial subsidies, the Ministers discussed ways to strengthen existing WTO rules on industrial subsidies and agreed upon the following:

1. The current list of prohibited subsidies provided for in Article 3.1 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM) is insufficient to tackle market and trade distorting subsidization existing in certain jurisdictions. Therefore, new types of unconditionally prohibited subsidies need to be added to the ASCM. These are...

National Retail Federation: Growing Emphasis on Convenience for Today’s Consumers

Today’s consumers increasingly prioritize convenience when it comes to purchases, and expect retailers to continue to offer innovative ways to save them time and effort, according to the latest issue of the Consumer View report released today by the National Retail Federation.

“Time is a precious commodity for today’s consumers,” NRF Vice President for Research Development and Industry Analysis Mark Mathews said. “Shoppers are busier with commuting to work, dealing with family obligations or catching up on schoolwork, among other things. Naturally, convenience factors are playing a larger role in their shopping experience.”

According to the report, 83 percent of consumers say convenience while shopping is more important to them now compared with five years ago. While consumers overwhelmingly opt for...

Rabobank: Opportunities Remain Wide Open for African Poultry 

Since the 2016 report ‘Time for Africa,’ we’ve seen ongoing investments in the USD 25 billion African poultry and egg industries, driven by strong long-term fundamentals. This has recently accelerated again after a slowdown in 2016/17 resulting from economic volatility in some African countries, especially those with a high dependence on oil and mining. “The middle class in Africa is expected to continue growing, as the population doubles and more people move to big cities. These core fundamentals, together with the untapped potential of local feed grain production, offer an attractive investment opportunity,” according to Nan-Dirk Mulder, senior animal protein analyst.

“This will all lead to ongoing market growth and modernization at all stages of the value chain, creating an increasingly interesting platform for international investors. The growing demand and modernization of...

Giant Food Stores Unveils $114 Million Strategic Growth Plan

GIANT Food Stores plans to invest $114 million over the next 18 months – building on last year’s success of its two new brands GIANT Heirloom Market and GIANT DIRECT. Investments include an innovative GIANT DIRECT ecommerce fulfillment center, two new stores and remodeling for 35 existing stores.

The omni-channel fulfillment center will be GIANT’s largest and support its ecommerce brand GIANT DIRECT, which has experienced double-digit growth since its launch last year.

The center will provide more capacity, better distribution and room to grow home delivery and...

PODCAST: This Is Not a Yolk - Egg Inventories at All Time Highs

This week Egg Market Reporter Brian Moscogiuri talks about production levels, proposition 12 and how it affects the Urner Barry quote, exports of egg products and much more! Be sure to listen in on Soundcloud, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Did you know? Urner Barry's Market Digest Podcast is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, and SoundCloud! More ways to listen to top industry news and analysis.

Sysco Announces Senior Leadership Changes to Accelerate Next Phase of Development

Sysco Corporation announced today that Tom Bené will be stepping down from his roles as president and chief executive officer effective January 31, 2020. Tom will stay on with Sysco as an executive advisor until March 1, 2020, to be available to assist with a smooth and orderly transition of leadership for the Company. The board of directors has unanimously elected Kevin Hourican as the Company’s new president and chief executive officer, starting on February 1, 2020. Kevin most recently served as executive vice president of CVS Health and president of CVS Pharmacy and is a proven business leader with...

Gen Z and Millennial Consumers Naturally Favor Organic Foods and Beverages

The prevailing demographic of organic consumers skews in two directions. Most obvious are consumers who are upscale (including higher educational attainment and household income). Less obvious are younger adult consumers of the Gen Z (ages 18-24) and Millennial (ages 25-39) generations, reveals Packaged Facts in the new market research study Eating Trends: Generational Food, the final report in a five-part Eating Trends anthology.

“Millennials and younger members of Generation X tend to be the biggest users of organic foods, and much more likely than average to agree that they especially look for...

Wingstop Appoints Mahesh Sadarangani as Chief Operating Officer 

Wingstop Inc. announced the appointment of Mahesh Sadarangani as Chief Operating Officer, previously Wingstop’s Senior Vice President of Channel Strategy, effective immediately. In his new role, Mahesh will be responsible for domestic operations and will continue reporting to Charlie Morrison, Chairman and CEO. Mahesh is replacing Larry Kruguer, who resigned on December 26, 2019.

With more than 20 years of operational leadership experience, Mahesh joined Wingstop in July 2019 from CEC Entertainment, the parent company for Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza. Most recently, Mahesh served as Chief Administrative Officer of CEC Entertainment and President of the Peter Piper Pizza brand leading strategy, revenue management, supply chain, and operations. Previous executive roles include...

Culinary International Recalls Chicken Burrito Products

Culinary International, LLC, a Vernon, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 626 pounds of egg burrito products labeled as chicken burrito products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain eggs, a known allergen, which was not declared on the product label.

The frozen, not ready-to-eat (NRTE) chicken burrito items were produced on Sept. 10, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

Despite Gradual Slowing of Job Growth, Labor Market will Still Feel Tight in 2020

The US economy added 145,000 jobs in December, and previous months were revised down slightly. The unemployment rate remained at 3.5 percent. This month's job growth was in line with The Conference Board's view that the labor market appears to be in a healthy state.

Job creation was mainly concentrated in the services sector as well as in construction, while the decline of 12,000 jobs in manufacturing shows that this part of the economy is still weak. However, easing trade tensions between China and the US may help to further improve business confidence in 2020, as The Conference Board reported earlier this week.

With this month's increase in employment, the labor market ended 2019 on solid footing. In 2019, the unemployment rate reached its lowest point since the late 1960s and job growth was...

Retail Imports Settling Down After Year of Tariff Surges

After a year of fluctuations driven by the uncertainty of the trade war with China, volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to return to its usual seasonal patterns during the first few months of 2020, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“We’ll be more confident after we see the Phase One agreement signed, but right now 2020 looks like it should be back to what used to be normal,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “We’ve been through a cycle of imports surging ahead of expected tariff increases – some of which got delayed, reduced or canceled – and falling off again afterward. That’s not good for retailers trying to manage...

World Food Prices Continue Rising in December

World food prices rose for the third consecutive month in December, as a strong rally in vegetable oil prices drove the FAO Food Price Index to its highest level in five years.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 181.7 points during the month, a 2.5 percent increase from November and the highest level since December 2014.

For 2019 as a whole, the index - which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities - averaged 171.5 points, some 1.8 percent higher than in 2018 but...

Egg Market Prices Unchanged So Far on Current Flu Outbreak in Poland

The H5N8 flu outbreak has not had any impact on industry shell egg prices thus far, but participants are monitoring the situation very closely, according to various sources.

Industry shell egg market prices are still under some downward pressure despite the spread of a highly pathogenic bird flu (HPAI) in Poland. Poland, the western region in particular, has become an increasing important supplier of industrial cage eggs for egg processors in Western Europe. 

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Dutch Association of Egg Traders and Egg Product Manufacturers (ANEVEI) and the Polish poultry organization (KIDPIP) said that seven outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu (HPAI) of the H5N8 serotype had been....

NPD Group: Most U.S. Consumers Read the Nutrition Facts Label

Food companies with annual sales of at least $10 million began following the federal government’s updated nutrition facts labeling rules on January 1. Since the majority of consumers, nearly 90%, do read the labels, it’s an important information source for them, reports The NPD Group.

The top two items consumers look for on the labels are sugars and calories, both of which had an update with the new labeling rules. Fifty-seven percent of consumers who read nutrition facts labels look for sugars, and 45% of adults say they look at the nutrition facts label to find information on calories, according to NPD’s Health Aspirations and Behavioral Tracking Service. On the new label, calories are...

H-E-B Dethrones Trader Joe’s as Top U.S. Grocery Retailer in the 2020 Retailer Preference Index

Dunnhumby today released the third annual dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index (RPI), a comprehensive, nationwide study that examines the $700 billion U.S. Grocery market. For the first time, H-E-B was rated the top U.S. grocery retailer bumping Trader Joe’s from the top spot which...

Walmart’s Alphabot is Helping to Revolutionize Online Grocery Pickup and Delivery

In Salem, New Hampshire, a Walmart supercenter is rolling into the future. Alphabot, a first-of-its-kind piece of tech, is now fully operational and working with associates. Its goal? To revolutionize the online grocery pickup and delivery process for associates and customers.

Developed exclusively for Walmart by startup Alert Innovation, Alphabot helps to enable quicker, more efficient order picking. The system operates inside a 20,000-square-foot warehouse-style space, using autonomous carts to retrieve ambient, refrigerated and frozen items ordered for online grocery. After it retrieves them, Alphabot delivers the products to...

Albertsons Companies Reports Third Quarter Results

Albertsons Companies, Inc. reported results for the third quarter of fiscal 2019, which ended November 30, 2019.

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2019 Highlights

• Identical sales growth of 2.7%; marked the eighth consecutive quarter of identical sales growth
• Net income of $55 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of $634 million, slightly ahead of our expectations
• Own Brands sales penetration reached a new high of 25.6%
• Online home delivery and Drive Up and Go sales growth of...

ANALYSIS: US Shell-Egg Inventories Climb to Record-High Levels

Total shell-egg stocks on hand soared 6.6% to a record-high 2.051 million cases this week, according to the USDA’s latest inventory report, released yesterday afternoon. Shell eggs alone increased...

REPORTER: UK Egg Production Reaches All-time High

The UK’s egg packing station throughput reached another all-time record during Q3 reaching 7,998 thousand cases of eggs, up 3.6% year-on-year, according to...

Burger King Tests the Impossible Croissan’wich

Burger King restaurants announces today it is testing the new Impossible Croissan’wich sandwich. Starting late January in select test markets across the U.S. market, BK guests can now get the same breakfast Croissan’wich sandwich they know and love with a plant-based patty. The all-new, limited-time-only Impossible Croissan’wich features a toasted croissant, egg, cheese and a seasoned plant-based sausage from Impossible Foods. This test makes Burger King the first restaurant to test Impossible Sausage made from plants on a breakfast sandwich.

Participating Burger King restaurants in Savannah, GA, Albuquerque, NM, Montgomery, AL, Lansing, MI and Springfield, IL will be testing the Impossible Croissan’wich. The Impossible Croissan’wich is made with...

GrubMarket Completes Two New Acquisitions to Kick-Off Their Rapid Expansion Plans in 2020

GrubMarket today announced it has completed the acquisitions of Eating with the Seasons Inc and EJ Food Distributor Inc, two highly-reputable food companies with established customer bases across Northern California. Eating with the Seasons was founded in 2000 by Pat Herbert, a fourth generation farmer. His business originally consisted of offering weekly boxes of his farm's fresh and seasonal bounty. Two years later, Pat's daughter Becky Herbert, left her job in publishing to help market and promote the farm's produce, and through her innovative thinking and operational excellence, she created one of the nation's first customizable produce boxes for Eating with the Seasons. Since then, Becky has developed...

REPORTER: Brexit Uncertainty: A Shadow Over Agri-trade

A tug of war between those in favor of an exit and those who wish to remain within the single market regime has showed little sign of easing. More than three years since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union the “divorce” process remains in limbo.

WHAT NEXT?

Despite Boris Johnson’s exit attempts, the UK’s membership was yet again extended until January 31, 2020.

Much of what happens next will be determined by a snap election set for December 12, 2019. Provided there are nomore delays, the UK exits...

REPORTER: Sustainability: The Deciding Factors For Consumers

The ways in which foodservice is delivering on brand promises to consumers are widening as sustainability is becoming increasingly important. While Nielsen expects shoppers to spend up to $150 billion on sustainable products by 2021, sustainability is starting to drive gains in categories from resource management to product packaging. On a global scale, 81% of consumers feel that it is “extremely” or “very” important that companies implement programs to improve the environment. Meanwhile, 70% of shoppers would “definitely” or “probably” change their consumption habits to reduce their personal impact on the environment... 

Little Caesars Partners with DoorDash for Delivery

Customers can now get the value and convenience, and Crazy Bread they appreciate from Little Caesars in a whole new way: delivery. Further differentiating the company from its pizza chain peers, Little Caesars offers the same every day menu price whether pick-up or delivery and regardless of quantity -- bringing much needed affordability to delivered pizza. So, whether you want a single pizza or enough to feed a game-day crowd, Little Caesars is now geared up to deliver extreme value from thousands of stores throughout the United States. Delivery service is available for the full menu and during all store operating hours.

"We've seen such expensive and complex pricings throughout the pizza industry, and we think it's crazy!" said David Scrivano, President & CEO for Little Caesars. "Some chains require a minimum purchase to get their deals, or...

Cal-Maine Foods Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. today reported results for the second quarter (thirteen weeks) ended November 30, 2019.

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 were $311.5 million, a 12.5 percent decrease, compared to $356.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. The Company reported net loss of $10.1 million, or $0.21 per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2020, compared to net income of $21.8 million, or $0.45 per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

For the twenty-six weeks ended November 30, 2019, net sales were $552.7 million compared to $696.6 million for the prior-year period. The Company reported net loss of $55.8 million, or $1.15 per basic and diluted share, for...

Aramark Names Thomas Ondrof as Chief Financial Officer

Aramark, a $16 billion global leader in food, facilities management and uniforms, announced today that Thomas Ondrof will join the Company as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, effective January 7, 2020, succeeding Steve Bramlage who will remain with the Company until April 3, 2020 in the role of Executive Advisor to assist in this transition.

Ondrof previously served as Chief Financial Officer with Performance Food Group, a $23 billion foodservice distributor. Prior to PFG, Ondrof spent 24 years at Compass Group North America, where he served in a variety of financial and...

Yum! Brands to Acquire The Habit Restaurants

Yum! Brands, Inc. and The Habit Restaurants, Inc. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Yum! Brands will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of The Habit Burger Grill for $14 per share in cash or a total of approximately $375 million. The board of directors of The Habit Burger Grill, acting on the recommendation of a special committee composed of non-executive independent directors, has unanimously approved the transaction.

The acquisition of The Habit Burger Grill will add an award-winning fast-casual concept with a loyal fan-base to Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of units and parent of the KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell global brands. Founded in California in 1969, The Habit Burger Grill offers...

Packaged Facts: Affluent Consumers Favor Fresh, Local, and Simple Food Brands

The 42 million affluent food shoppers with household incomes of $150,000 or more exercise an outsize influence on the U.S. food industry, reports Affluent Food Shoppers, a market research report by Packaged Facts. Where affluent consumers grocery shop, how they grocery shop, and which food and beverage products and brands they purchase cause them to have a disproportionate impact on the bottom line of brick-and-mortar supermarkets and grocery stores.

When it comes to brand preference, many brands that are popular among affluent food shoppers share certain specific characteristics. Natural and organic brands garner much of the attention, but...

Kettle Cuisine Midco, LLC, Recalls Ready-To-Eat Soup Products

Kettle Cuisine Midco, LLC, a Lynn, Mass. establishment, is recalling approximately 200 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) lentil and beef soup products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain egg and wheat, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.

The RTE lentil and beef soup items were produced on Dec. 12, 2019. The following product is subject to recall...

REPORTER: A 2020 Vision of Food Trends

As we bring in the new year, food trends from the previous decade are expected to expand while fresh concepts will emerge. Shifting demands for flavor innovation and health are steering menus to reflect sustainable ingredients, proving the prioritization of social responsibility is influencing the industry to respond creatively. Workforce trends are also underway, as global economic factors and labor concerns gain steam, and consumer behaviors are impacted. As these developments connect, they are predicted to create a lasting impression on the foodservice industry in the new year and going forward...

New Year Brings Minimum Wage Increase to More Than 20 States

In July the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by October 2025. But the New Year is also bringing a minimum wage increase. Beginning January 1, minimum wage will increase in 21 states, as well as 26 cities and counties.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the minimum wage increase will affect 6.8 million workers across the country. A breakdown per state can be found below:

Alaska – Increase from $9.89 to $10.19
Arizona – Increase from $11 to...

Reporter: Egg Prices Jump More Than 60% Ahead of the Holidays

Consumer Confidence Index Dipped in December

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index decreased marginally in December, following a slight increase in November. The Index now stands at 126.5 (1985=100), down from 126.8 (an upward revision) in November. The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – increased from 166.6 to 170.0. The Expectations Index – based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions – decreased from 100.3 last month to 97.4 this month.

“Consumer confidence declined marginally in December, following a slight improvement in November,” said Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “While consumers’ assessment of current conditions improved, their expectations declined, driven primarily by...

Performance Food Group Company Completes the Acquisition of Reinhart Foodservice

Performance Food Group Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Reinhart Foodservice, L.L.C. (Reinhart). With the close of the transaction, PFG is now positioned as one of the largest distributors in the U.S., with approximately $30 billion in annual net revenue and nearly 25,000 talented associates. PFG continues to expect to generate approximately $50 million of annual run-rate cost synergies in the third full fiscal year following today’s close. This is anticipated to result in low single-digit Adjusted Diluted EPS accretion in the first full fiscal year and low double-digit accretion expected in the third full fiscal year.

“We are excited to close the acquisition and welcome Reinhart’s many talented associates to the PFG family of companies,” said George Holm, PFG Chairman, President & CEO. “The Reyes family has built a strong business and...

Research and Markets: Global Meal Kit Market Report 

According to Research and Markets, the global meal kit market is expected to surpass $15.5 billion by the end of 2025. In the United States and Europe, the demand for meal kits is observed. The global food processing meal kit market is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period. The main factors driving the global market for meal kits are the world's rising working professional, a growing urban population, an increasing tendency to reduce food waste, and the availability of fresh food items.

The United States holds the major share in the global meal kit market, with a digital boom creating positive impacts. Subscription models and ordering meals online is growing tremendously due to...

URNER BARRY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

URNER BARRY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Urner Barry will be closed on Wednesday, January 1, 2020 in observance of New Year's Day. From all of us here at UB, we wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday! 

Axel Schwan Joins Global Leadership Team at Restaurant Brands International

Restaurant Brands International CEO Jose Cil announced that Axel Schwan will join the global leadership team of the company. Mr. Schwan was appointed the Regional President of Tim Hortons for Canada and the US in October.

"I am very proud to welcome Axel to the leadership team. I have worked closely with him in Europe, the U.S. and now in Canada and he has proven himself to be a valuable leader of our Tim Hortons business, as well as a strong leader of people and teams," said Mr. Cil.

Axel Schwan will add the Latin America region to his accountabilities. Other international Tim Hortons locations and...

Virulent Newcastle Disease Cases on the Rise in California

According to a report from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, six new cases of virulent Newcastle disease were reported in California during the week beginning December 13th and ending December 19th. As of December 27th, the USDA has confirmed 470 premises in California as infected with the disease, including 262 in Riverside County, 158 in San Bernardino County, 46 in Los Angeles County, 1 in Ventura County, 1 in Alameda County, and 1 in San Diego County. The USDA has also confirmed 1 infected premises in Utah County, and 1 infected premises in Coconino County, Arizona.

APHIS added that it is essential for all poultry owners to follow biosecurity practices to help protect their birds from infectious diseases. These steps include washing hands and scrubbing boots before and after entering a poultry area, cleaning and disinfecting tires and...

Winsight's Digital Maturity Benchmark Study Ranks Grocery's Top Retailers 

Digital is sparking change in every market segment, and grocery is no exception. Evolving customer demand—coupled with continued increases in competition—is driving the business forward, forcing grocers to upgrade their digital capabilities if they are to thrive in a highly challenging business environment.

That's the overarching takeaway from the inaugural Grocery Digital Maturity Benchmark study, which was conducted by Incisiv and Winsight Grocery Business. The report provides the industry's first global assessment of grocery retailers' digital performance and identifies...

Performance Food Group Company Receives FTC Approval for Acquisition of Reinhart Foodservice

Performance Food Group Company announced that it has received approval from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to acquire Reinhart Foodservice, L.L.C. (Reinhart). PFG now expects to close the transaction on or about December 30, 2019, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining closing conditions.

“We are pleased to receive FTC approval to move forward with our acquisition of Reinhart Foodservice,” said George Holm, PFG Chairman, President & CEO. “This transaction builds upon our strong distribution platform and will provide us with greater overall scale and a diverse customer base, including independent customers. We expect this transaction to enhance our ability to help...

Ahold Delhaize Announces the Nomination of a New Member to Its Supervisory Board

Ahold Delhaize today announces the nomination of Frank van Zanten for appointment to Ahold Delhaize’s Supervisory Board, effective April 8, 2020.

Frank van Zanten, a Dutch national, is Chief Executive Officer of Bunzl plc, the FTSE100 specialist international distribution and services group. Additionally, he serves as a non-executive director of Grafton Group plc.

Ahold Delhaize is also announcing that Jacques de Vaucleroy will retire at the end of his current mandate after 4 years at Ahold Delhaize and...

Nielsen: Top 5 Factors that Impacted Online Grocery Businesses in 2019 

As we close the book on 2019, brick-and-mortar drove the vast majority of grocery sales—particularly for fresh food—yet e-commerce maintained its meteoric rise.

This push-and-pull between the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry’s brick-and-mortar foundation and e-commerce growth engine didn’t lure shoppers completely out of stores but encouraged them to dabble. Considering three-fourths of American adults buy both online and offline, grocers can better activate the levers to meet consumers where they are and encourage grocery shopping on their e-commerce platforms.

Understanding the factors that drove shoppers online purchase decisions in 2019 will help...

Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Hard-Boiled Eggs

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert that bulk, fresh hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia, are contaminated with Listeria and have made people sick. These products were packaged in plastic pails for use nationwide by foodservice operators. The products have not been recalled. However, the CDC is warning against selling, serving, or using these eggs to make other food products because Listeria can cause severe infections. The CDC added that retailers and foodservice operators should confirm who supplies their bulk hard-boiled eggs, as consumers will not be able to tell if products purchased contain these eggs.

The CDC is advising retail and foodservice operators not to use bulk hard-boiled eggs produced at the Almark Foods Gainesville, Georgia facility, regardless of use-by date. Food processors and manufacturers should not...

Ambassador Lighthizer Issues Statement on House Passage of the USMCA

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer issued the following statement after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a vote of 385-41:

“House passage of the USMCA with such huge bipartisan support is a major milestone and shows just how much President Trump is successfully changing U.S. trade policy so it works for the benefit of American workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses. The USMCA is expected to create between 176,000 and 589,000 new American jobs and substantially increase economic growth. The International Trade Commission’s analysis shows that...

Conagra Brands Reports Solid Second Quarter Results

Today Conagra Brands, Inc. reported results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, which ended on November 24, 2019. All comparisons are against the prior-year fiscal period, unless otherwise noted. Certain terms used in this release, including "Organic net sales," "EBITDA," "Free cash flow," and certain "adjusted" results, are defined under the section entitled "Definitions." See page 6 for more information.

Highlights

• Second quarter net sales increased 18.3%; organic net sales increased 1.6%, with positive organic net sales growth in each reporting segment.
• Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (EPS) was $0.53 in the quarter; adjusted EPS was $0.63, with...

Technomic: Retail Foodservice Purchases on the Rise Compared to 2017 

Technomic found that 66% of consumers purchase prepared foods from retail at least three times a month, compared to 55% in 2017. Technomic’s 2019 Retail Foodservice Consumer Trend Report takes a look at what’s driving this growth, including recent retailer investments in foodservice menu variety and quality.

“Regularly scheduled grocery trips drive many prepared foods purchases as consumers appreciate being able to take care of grocery shopping while also having access to a freshly prepared meal or snack,” explains Bret Yonke, manager of consumer insights at Technomic. “Moving forward, full-service restaurant and food hall experiences will begin to...

Taco Bell's 21 $1 Menu Offerings Lead the Way for Value in 2020

While the competition shrinks their dollar menus as small as the menu items on them, Taco Bell is bucking the trend by kicking off 2020 with 21 flavorful $1 offerings. Leading the way, the brand is reintroducing one of its most successful $1 menu items, the $1 Double Stacked Tacos in three craveable flavors. The Nacho Crunch, Chipotle Cheddar and Reaper Ranch Double Stacked Tacos will be available a la carte and in a $5 Cravings Box nationwide and for a limited time starting on December 26.

"It's more important than ever before that we give fans the craveable food they not only want, but can afford, and we've built our menu with some of our most innovative items from $1 to $5 to ensure there is...

USTR On Reports of Tariff Cuts in Exchange for Certain Purchases--"Utterly False"

Bob Davis and Lingling Wei at the Wall Street Journal, based on anonymous sources, have reported at least three times this week that the United States negotiators offered to cut by as much as one half the tariff rates on approximately $360 billion of Chinese imports in exchange for certain purchases.

While we do not comment on the content of negotiations, we have said publicly and on the record that this is totally false, untrue and baseless. It did not happen.

In addition and to be completely clear, we have personally, and on the record, told Mr. Davis and another Wall Street Journal reporter repeatedly that this is...

Nielsen: Bridging the Gap to Better Eating in America 

Americans want to eat healthfully. And it’s this intention to eat better that should serve as a guide for food and beverage companies into 2020 and beyond.

We’re all human, and that means we don’t always do as we say. But there are reasons for that. Some are logical, others are emotional…but the gap is real. And the smartest companies are dialed into the nature of human behavior. They’re evolving and maneuvering to bridge the gap between what people want and what stands in the way of following through on those wants. If consumers have an intent to change, even at a subconscious or subliminal level, marketers need to do everything they can to...

Retailers Call China Trade Announcement 'Right Direction' but Say a Final Deal is Needed

The National Retail Federation today welcomed news that the United States and China have agreed on a “phase one” trade deal.

“For the first time in months, the United States and China are moving in the right direction on tariffs, and we congratulate negotiators from both sides for the progress they have made,” NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French said. “Tariffs create uncertainty and costs for American retail supply chains, and the trade war won’t be over until they are eliminated completely. We agree that we need to realign our relationship with China, but tariffs that harm...

Kroger Elects Karen M. Hoguet to Board of Directors

The Kroger Co. today announced that Karen M. Hoguet has been elected to the company's board of directors.

Ms. Hoguet served as the chief financial officer of Macy's, Inc. from October 1997 until July 2018. She then served as a strategic advisor to the CEO until her retirement earlier this year. Ms. Hoguet currently serves on the Nielsen Holdings plc board and previously served on the boards of Chubb and Cincinnati Bell.

"We are pleased to welcome Karen to Kroger," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "She brings more than 35 years of retail and commercial experience to our board. Karen's long tenure as a senior executive of a publicly-traded retail company provides...

Dunkin’ Brands Names Scott Murphy President, Dunkin’ Americas

Dunkin’ Brands, the parent company of Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins, today announced that Scott Murphy, formerly Dunkin’ U.S. Chief Operating Officer, has been promoted to President, Dunkin’ Americas. He assumes the role from Dave Hoffmann, who continues to serve as Dunkin’ Brands CEO. Additionally, Dana Reid has been promoted to Vice President, Field Marketing, Dunkin’ U.S.

Murphy, a 15-year veteran with the company, will have responsibility in his new role for all aspects of operations, restaurant development, franchising, field marketing, supply chain, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) for the approximately 10,000 Dunkin’ restaurants in North and South America.

“Scott is a rare leader who is both strategic and impactful. He inspires all who work with him through his vision, attention to detail, and ability to...

Hunter Releases Annual Food News Study 

or the first time in the history of the HUNTER Annual Food News Study, a social media-led story broke through as the most memorable story of the year, with news of the Fast Food Chicken Sandwich Throwdown On Twitter ranking as 2019's No. 1 food news story. What's not new is the presence of fast food in the number one spot. From 2010 to 2019, nearly half of the top food news stories were related to fast food. Throughout the past decade, food safety, social policy and menu evolutions consistently made for memorable headlines, underscoring the impact fast food establishments have in food and contemporary culture.

"Americans are hungry for food news. Nearly half believe that food and nutrition stories are more important than other types of news stories," said Heddy DeMaria, Chief Insights Officer of HUNTER. "Our annual study not only helps to identify which stories are capturing the most attention but also measures...

Mintel Announces Global Food and Drink Trends for 2030 

Mintel has announced three key trends that will shape the global food, drink, and foodservice industries over the next 10 years:

• Change, Incorporated: Successful companies will be those that improve the health of the planet and its population.
• Smart Diets: Technology will enable consumers to construct hyper-individualised approaches to physical and mental health.
• High-tech Harvests: Consumer trust in food science and technology will strengthen as these become vital tools to save the food supply.

Expect to see consumers further prioritise plants in their diets, with the planet’s health in mind as much as their own. From beer made from...

Survey Finds that Dining Experience Beats Convenience when U.S. Consumers Make Restaurant Choices

While Americans are addicted to the convenience that mobile devices offer, new research suggests that more consumers prefer to slow down and enjoy the in-restaurant dining experience over online ordering and delivery services. The research also found that food quality and consistency are what sway consumers' choices the most, when selecting a restaurant for either dining in or takeout.

A nationwide survey of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers by facilities management leader Vixxo found that two in three Americans still prefer dining in restaurants (62%) over takeout or delivery (34%). The findings – which were surprisingly consistent across all demographic groups – suggest that people prefer their meals to be...

Technomic Releases 2020 Global Restaurant Trends 

The end of another decade offers a great opportunity to reflect on just how dynamic and fast-moving the restaurant industry truly is. Plant-based “meats,” third-party delivery apps, social media-friendly dining spaces—these were not much more than blips on the radar in 2010. But in 2020, they are essential and vital to the industry.

Looking ahead, expect to see many of last year’s macro trends evolve and mature, while quick-moving fads burn bright and fade. We can also expect the unexpected—a viral video that sparks the end of plastic straws, restaurant brands that mushroom from one to 1,000 locations seemingly overnight—all seems...

Universities Across the Country to Offer Applegate Products to Students 

As thousands of college students head back to campus, some may be happy to return to the dining halls. Long gone are the days of mystery meat and overcooked vegetables on steam tables. In just the last two years, Applegate, the nation’s leading natural and organic meat brand, has appeared in the dining halls (they’re not called cafeterias any more) of more than 25 colleges and universities – from the Ivy League to the Big Ten – as students demand more sustainably-sourced foods.

Applegate brings familiar offerings – deli meat, fresh pork and hot dogs – with the added benefit of clean, non-GMO ingredients, no antibiotics ever and third-party animal welfare certification. And earlier this year, Applegate launched The Great Organic Blend Burger products to offer an option for burger lovers who don’t want to eliminate meat from their diet, but rather reduce their meat consumption for reasons varying from...

NPD Group: Thanksgiving Week is Synonymous with Food but Not with Restaurant Transactions

Restaurant transactions for Thanksgiving week, the week ending December 1, were down 7% compared to same week last year (Thanksgiving was a week earlier in 2018), reports The NPD Group. Restaurant transactions declined by 8% for both the casual dining and quick service restaurant segments during Thanksgiving week, according to CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 73 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains.

Midscale/family dining restaurants, which offer sit down breakfasts, pies, and other desserts, realized an 18% increase in transactions during Thanksgiving week compared to same period year ago. Restaurant transactions for...

Nielsen Releases Report on American Consumers' Eating Habits 

There’s room to grow for companies trying to win with healthy foods in America. The billions in sales growth from fresh foods (+$4.6 billion), organics (+$925 million) and foods that support plant-based diets (+982 million) can often be mistaken as signs of health-food saturation. But the reality is, consumers aren’t eating as well as they’d like to. And that’s an opportunity for growth in consumer packaged goods (CPG).

The gap between intention to eat better and action isn’t from lack of trying. Nearly all (99% of) Americans have purchased a low-fat food or beverage item this year, but households only do so about twice a month. Similarly, U.S. homes are only buying...

United Natural Foods Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results

United Natural Foods reported financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 (13 weeks) ended November 2, 2019.

First Quarter Fiscal 2020 Highlights

• Net Sales Increased to $6.0 billion, including an incremental $3.1 billion from SUPERVALU
• Re-affirms guidance for full year net sales, Adjusted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA
• Balance sheet reflects addition of approximately $1 billion in operating lease assets and liabilities as UNFI adopts...

Ruiz Food Products, Inc. Recalls Frozen Sausage Breakfast Burrito Products

Ruiz Food Products Inc., a Florence, S.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 55,013 pounds of frozen, not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breakfast burrito products containing eggs, sausage, and cheese that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen, NRTE breakfast burrito products were produced on October 15, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

Industry Reacts to Agreement on USMCA 

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced agreement on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Mexico approved U.S. changes to the USMCA, paving the way for a congressional ratification. The Trump Administration worked closely with Congressional Democrats to address their concerns in the revisions to the trade agreement.

The USMCA will advance U.S. agricultural interests in two of the most important markets for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness. This high-standard agreement builds upon the country's existing markets to expand United States food and agricultural exports while supporting food processing and rural jobs. According to the USDA, Canada and Mexico are the first and...

McDonald’s Names Ian Borden as President, International

McDonald's Corporation today announced that Ian Borden, most recently President, International Developmental Licensed (IDL) Markets, has been appointed to President, International, effective immediately. Borden will continue reporting to Chris Kempczinski, McDonald’s President and Chief Executive Officer. This announcement follows the appointment of Joe Erlinger to President, McDonald's USA.

In his new role, Borden will assume oversight for all international markets, including International Operated Markets (IOM) which include all wholly-owned markets outside of the U.S., in addition to the more than 80 markets in the IDL segment that he oversees in his current role.

“Ian has a proven record of focusing on the customer to deliver profitable business growth while strengthening collaboration with our global franchisee community,” said Chris Kempczinski, McDonald’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “His deep experiences leading...

Secretary Perdue Statement on USMCA Agreement

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced agreement on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): 

“USMCA is a big win for American workers and the economy, especially for our farmers and ranchers. The agreement improves virtually every component of the old NAFTA, and the agriculture industry stands to gain significantly,” said Secretary Perdue. “President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer are laying the foundation for a stronger farm economy through USMCA and I thank them for all their hard work and perseverance to get the agreement across the finish line. While I am very encouraged by today’s breakthrough...

Walmart to Test-Drive Autonomous Grocery Deliveries with Nuro

Today, Walmart is announcing a new pilot with autonomous vehicle company, Nuro. Nuro’s vision of using robotics to improve lives runs parallel with Walmart’s mission of helping customers live better. Through the Houston-based pilot, Walmart aims to develop, refine and continue learning how to offer the best end-to-end customer experience.

Walmart is committed to delivering groceries – with a side of time-saving convenience – through an ever-expanding Grocery Pickup and Delivery service. As we near the end of 2019, Walmart has grown our online grocery footprint to nearly 3,100 pickup locations with deliveries coming from more than...

Cargill Survey Reveals Consumers Believe Technology Will Feed the World More Sustainably

Technology in agriculture (ag-tech) is how we’ll feed a growing population, make farming more sustainable and improve the lives of farm animals, say 85% of the 3,000 participants in Cargill’s new three-continent consumer survey. At the same time, only about half of those surveyed want their food to come from a technologically advanced (versus traditional) farm. Industries like medicine and education are where respondents most want to see technology used. Farming ranks third—above defense, manufacturing, retail and food.

“We know that new technologies are allowing farmers to make better, faster, more informed decisions to feed a hungry world while protecting the planet,” said Sri Raj Kantamneni, managing director of Cargill’s digital business. “We also know that agriculture is still the least digitalized industry sector in the world. That means...

Retail Imports Surged in November Ahead of December Tariffs

Volume at the nation’s major container ports bumped up significantly in November as retailers imported merchandise ahead of new tariffs set to take effect this month, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“At this point, holiday merchandise is already in the country, so the direct impact of new tariffs won’t be seen until the season is over,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Nonetheless, tariffs are bad for both consumer and business confidence, and we hope that the December tariffs will be canceled or postponed as a sign of good faith. We need a deal with China as soon as possible so we can...

With Record Low Unemployment, USDA Finalizes Rule to Promote Work

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement regarding the latest jobs report released today by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The jobs report shows the economy added 266,000 new jobs in November with an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which remains at a record 50 year low. Earlier this week, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a rule to help move more able-bodied recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) towards self-sufficiency and into employment. The rule restores the system to what Congress intended: assistance through difficult times, not a way of life.

“Today’s jobs report is further proof that now in the midst of the strongest economy in a generation, we need everyone who can work, to work. To that end, USDA is...

Costco Reports November and First Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Sales Results 

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $13.62 billion for the retail month of November, the four weeks ended December 1, 2019, an increase of 6.7 percent from $12.77 billion last year.

For the twelve-week first quarter ended November 24, 2019, the Company reported net sales of $36.24 billion, an increase of 5.6 percent from $34.31 billion last year.

For the thirteen weeks ended December 1, 2019, the Company reported net sales of $39.95 billion, an increase of 6.3 percent from...