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...

Tyson Introduces Instant Pot Kits

Tyson Brand and Instant Brands, creator of the multicooker, Instant Pot, have teamed up to create the brand-new Tyson Instant Pot Kits. Designed to cook in 20 minutes, these fully prepped kits have everything you need for a meal, including Tyson chicken, as well as premium long-grain rice and bold sauces.

The kits were designed to help Instant Pot users who want new ways to use their multicooker to make their favorite protein, and fast. The Tyson Instant Pot Kits come in three culinary-inspired and on-trend varieties that are sure to satisfy all palates...

Cargill Predicts Food Trends for 2020

Consumers connection to their foods is driving change across supply chains throughout the food system. When considering the protein industry, innovation, convenience, nutrition, transparency, and sustainability are leading to new practices and products. Cargill has provided 10 trends influencing what, how, and the way consumers are expected to eat in the year 2020.

1. Growing appeal of protein 

U.S. consumers have a growing appetite for protein, with 55% of U.S. households saying high protein is an important attribute to consider when buying food. In fact, 65% of consumers often or always think about protein in their diets and...

Butterball Launches New Premium Snacking Line

Over the past two years, Butterball emphasized a renewed focus on innovation in the turkey space with a newly created Innovation team to focus solely on new product development and identifying unmet consumer needs in the turkey space.

“There has been a significant demographic shift in recent years and the buying power of younger consumers means companies have to be constantly innovating to adapt to the changing demands and desires,” said Jeff Mundt, Butterball vice president of research & development and innovation. “It’s an exciting time to be innovating for a storied brand like...

Industry Applauds Senate Ratification of the USMCA 

The Senate passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, by a bipartisan vote of 89-10. The USMCA will advance United States agricultural interests in two of the most important markets for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness. The agreement builds upon existing markets to expand U.S. food and agricultural exports while supporting food processing and rural jobs. Canada and Mexico are the first and second largest export markets for U.S. food and agricultural products, totaling more than $39.7 billion food and agricultural exports in 2018, supporting 325,000 American jobs. Now, the USMCA will be heading to President Trump's desk for his signature.

Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, said, "We’ve long waited for this day and now USMCA will finally head to the President’s desk. The passage of USMCA is great news for America’s farmers and ranchers. With Congressional consideration now complete...

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...

Cranswick Releases Financial Results 

Cranswick plc released an unscheduled trading update.

Current trading

The Group’s Adjusted Profit Before Tax (under IFRS16, pre-exceptionals) for the year ending 31 March 2020 is now expected to be higher than current market forecasts.

The interim results announcement dated 26 November 2019 stated the Group had delivered a robust performance, in a competitive UK market. That performance, and market backdrop, in the UK continued...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Weights – Onward and Upward

It almost goes without saying that when it comes to commodity valuation, there is no shortage of variables which have the potential to influence the supply and demand sides of the equation...

ANALYSIS: An Off-Season Breast Meat Assessment

Turkey breast meat is no stranger to seasonal fluctuations in value. From an historical perspective, spot prices tend to reach their annual peak in late Q3 and...

What the Trade Agreement with China Means for the Meat and Poultry Industry

The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and China on January 15, 2020, will provide U.S. exporters of beef, pork, and poultry, as well as live breeding cattle with expanded access to China’s rapidly growing market.

Market Overview: As incomes rise in China, demand for protein in diets increases as well. Chinese demand for imported beef, pork, and poultry is growing at a rapid rate, made more acute due to domestic pork supply constraints in China as a result of the ongoing outbreak of African swine fever. When China partially re-opened its market to U.S. beef and beef products in 2017, following a 13-year ban, many unscientific restrictions remained, including...

Industry Reacts to Phase One Trade Agreement with China 

President Donald Trump signed a Phase One trade agreement with China today. The agreement says that China will increase purchases of U.S. manufacturing, energy, and agricultural goods and services by at least $200 billion over two years. As part of the deal, the Trump Administration scrapped tariffs initially set to take effect in December, and agreed to cut tariffs on $120 billion in products to 7.5%. However, tariffs on another $250 billion in Chinese goods will remain in place for now. Steven Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary, stated a second phase could include more tariff relief.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association applauded the signing of the deal with China, saying the agreement will lay the groundwork for American-produced beef to be highly competitive in the world's most populous market. “The Phase One Agreement with China will be a game changer for the U.S. beef industry. For many years, Chinese consumers have been...

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...

TGI Fridays Kicks Off 2020 with Dinners for Two Starting at $20

TGI Fridays has announced it's kicking off 2020 by giving people the opportunity to get together more often, starting with its launch of Fridays Feast. Beginning January 13, guests can visit their favorite local Fridays and enjoy a complete three-course meal for two (two apps + two entrees + two desserts) starting at just $20. This menu offering is a delicious and affordable solution for guests who resolved to have more affordable together time with friends and family.

"We are excited to invite guests to come together over Fridays Feast," said Cindy Syracuse, TGI Fridays vice president of marketing. "Fridays knows a delicious meal at a great price offers a valuable opportunity for...

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...

Chlorine-Washed Chicken and Hormone-Treated Beef Ban to Remain After Brexit

Chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef will not be allowed into the UK under any trade deal with the US, the Environment Secretary has told the BBC’s Countryfile program.

In an exclusive interview, Theresa Villiers told presenter Tom Heap that the current EU ban on such imports will be carried over into UK legislation following Brexit.

Ms Villiers said: “We will not be importing chlorinated-chicken. We will not be importing hormone-treated beef. Both of those are...

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...

Impossible Foods CEO Criticizes Meat Industry; Intends to Replace Animals for Food Production

Pat Brown, CEO of Impossible Foods, criticized the meat industry in a recent interview, calling it "the most destructive technology on Earth by far." Brown added that the company's ultimate goal is to completely replace animals as a form of food with plant-based products by the year 2035. Impossible Foods currently offers a plant-based beef burger, and a new sausage product will be offered at various Burger King locations across the United States for testing this month. The company also announced that it will introduce ground pork and sausage, but there is no word on availability at this time. With beef and pork alternatives becoming readily available to consumers, Brown stated that poultry options are on the way as well.

Brown claims that Impossible Foods is so important because of the impact the meat industry has on the environment. However, testifying on behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association at a U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on climate change in May, Kansas cattle producer Debbie Lyons-Blythe delivered a clear message...

North American Meat Institute Issues Statement on USDA’s Proposed Rule for Meat and Poultry Markets

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) made the following statement regarding the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service proposed rule on meat and poultry markets:

“We will review the proposed rule and work to ensure livestock producers have a variety of tools available to market their animals and to ensure meat and poultry markets remain competitive,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “Any rule must protect marketing agreements between packer/processors and livestock producers, which provide stability to the industry and benefits consumers with lower prices and...

U.S. Per Capita Availability of Red Meat, Poultry, and Seafood on the Rise

After falling from 148.6 pounds in 2004 to 133.5 pounds in 2014, the per capita supply of red meat, poultry, and fish/shellfish available for Americans to eat after adjusting for losses rose to 143.9 pounds in 2017. Red meat (beef, pork, veal, and lamb) accounted for 51 percent of 2017’s 143.9-pound total, compared with 42 percent for poultry (chicken and turkey) and 7 percent for fish and shellfish.

ERS calculates per capita loss-adjusted food availability in a given year by taking per capita supplies of food available for human consumption and adjusting for some of the spoilage, plate waste, and other losses in grocery stores, restaurants, and homes to more closely approximate consumption. Over 2015-17, beef had the...

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...

Popeyes Announces New Partnership with DoorDash

Popeyes today announced a new, nationwide partnership with DoorDash, bringing the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich and other fan-favorite menu items directly to customers’ doorsteps around the country. To celebrate the new partnership, Popeyes is thanking its loyal customers by giving away free Chicken Sandwiches exclusively through DoorDash for the next week only.

From January 13 through 19, customers who order $20 or more of Popeyes through DoorDash can receive a free Chicken Sandwich combo meal and a $0 delivery fee with code...

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...

ANALYSIS: Weighing in on WOGs

As chicken market participants get their first glimpse of the 2020 trade environment, we thought it would be a great opportunity to check in on what has, so far, proven to be...

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...

ANALYSIS: A Turkey White Meat Comparison

From an historical standpoint, fresh breeder meat is currently enjoying a price relationship with fresh tom breast meat that is closer than it has been for most of the past decade...

REPORTER: From Fast Food to Halal, Mennella’s Poultry Does it All

Entering its 75th year in business, Mennella’s Poultry is a third-generation meat distributor in Paterson, New Jersey. Back when all one could ever need was located on a single street, consumers would visit Mennella’s to purchase a dozen eggs or poultry from their live chicken market. In 1964 the World’s Fair came to New York, and Mennella’s Poultry was hired by Chicken Delight to deliver products to the fair. The business was working around the clock, driving to Delaware and Pennsylvania daily, picking up chickens and preparing them...

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...

U.S. Embassy in China Issues Warning to Travelers Over Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak

The U.S. Embassy in China is urging travelers to Wuhan to be cautious.

As SeafoodNews reported earlier this week, Wuhan, the capital of Central China's Hubei province, is dealing with a mysterious outbreak of pneumonia linked to a seafood market. The first case of pneumonia was reported around December 12, 2019, and to date there have been 59 cases.

Since the outbreak, the seafood market in question, South China Seafood City, has been closed for environmental sanitation and disinfection. But while the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission has...

Del Taco Brings Back Ground Turkey For a Limited Time

Del Taco Restaurants invites guests to eat (and spend) well with Del in the new year with the return of fan-favorite seasoned ground turkey, available for a limited time. Beginning today, guests can get two Turkey Del Tacos for just $3 at the company’s more than 580 locations nationwide.

Loaded with seasoned ground turkey, freshly grated cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce and fresh chopped tomatoes, all stuffed in a crunchy corn shell, the Turkey Del Taco offers the same craveable Del Taco flavor as the original. In fact, Del Taco’s lean turkey has all the flavor with 40 percent less fat than our seasoned beef.

“At Del Taco, we’re committed to offering menu options that allow guests to reduce the fat, without reducing the flavor – something that we know our guests are seeking...

REPORTER: Artificial Intelligence: Paving the Way Towards More Efficient Poultry Production

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) can best be defined as a computer or system of computers used to replicate human intelligence. This includes visual perception, vocabulary, analytical decisionmaking processes, and translation between languages. A.I. technology is far-reaching. It is currently utilized in a variety of forms and functions around the world, which range from spam email filters up to commercial aircraft autopilot systems. The enhanced capabilities of machine vision, neural networks, and deep learning, however, have begun to carry us into a new realm in which computer technology can...

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...

Perdue Farms Launches New Direct-to-Consumer E-Commerce Website in Centennial Year

With nearly half or more of all shoppers buying perishables such as meat, produce and dairy items online*, Perdue Farms has launched a new e-commerce website that will offer a selection of its family of brands for sale directly to consumers at PerdueFarms.com.

The site will initially offer an assortment of frozen items across some of Perdue Farms' most popular brands including PERDUE, Niman Ranch, Coleman Natural, Sonoma Red and Skagit Red, with plans to add additional offerings over time as demand increases.

"As both online shopping and the demand for convenience show no signs of slowing down, we felt it was important to be in this space," said David Zucker, Perdue Farms senior vice president of e-commerce and new ventures. "We're excited that this is the first time we've been able to offer...

Cargill Reports Fiscal 2020 Second-Quarter Results

Cargill today reported results for the fiscal 2020 second quarter ended Nov. 30, 2019. Key measures include:

• Adjusted operating earnings were $1.02 billion, up 19% from $853 million last year. For the first half of the year, this brought adjusted earnings to $1.93 billion.
• Net earnings on a U.S. GAAP basis for the quarter were $1.19 billion, up 61% from a year ago. The increase included gains from divesting Cargill’s malt business and financial subsidiary, CarVal Investors. Net earnings for the first half climbed 20% to $2.11 billion.
• Second-quarter revenues rose 4% to $29.2 billion. Six-month revenues totaled $58.2 billion, a 3% rise.

“We saw very good execution from our global teams throughout the quarter, as they focused on delivering...

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...

Hooters Launches Meatless Wings Nationwide 

Meatless tacos, meatless burgers, now it's time for meatless wings! For the first time on the casual-dining stage, 318 Hooters restaurants across the U.S. are introducing meatless wings in a national launch – the Unreal Wings made with Quorn.

Hooters Unreal wings are made with Quorn's Meatless Wings, which are fried and then tossed in Hooters' classic sauces and dry rubs. From Original BBQ to Honey Thai Chili Pepper to Classic Buffalo, the Unreal Wings are vegetarian, non-GMO, soy-free and...

Church's Chicken Adds New Items to Menu for a Limited Time

Church's Chicken is kicking off the new year with double the deliciousness, featuring a duo of limited-time offerings sure to appeal to the flavor seeker in all of us - without breaking the bank.

First is the all-new Handheld Chicken Pot Pie – a perfectly portable version of classic chicken pot pie, featuring all-white-meat chicken and mixed vegetables in a buttery and creamy sauce wrapped in a hot, flaky and golden fried pie crust. In addition, fans will celebrate the return of one of Church's most popular Down Home taste sensations – Buttermilk Ranch MegaBites – dippable, portable and juicy, all-white-meat chicken bites hand battered and...

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...

REPORTER: Beyond the Surface: Interview with Chuck Muth of Beyond Meat

It doesn’t seem likely that a phone call could pull a person straight out of retirement. But in the case of Chuck Muth, that’s exactly what happened. When the opportunity to spearhead the growth of publicly traded Beyond Meat came knocking—he answered. Chuck recently gave an interview for Urner Barry’s Market Digest Podcast, and he had a lot to say about the whirlwind that he’s experienced as the Chief Growth Officer of Beyond Meat and the brand’s explosive expansion...

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...

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...

Chipotle Innovates Lifestyle Bowls

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced today that it's rolling out a Supergreens salad mix nationally this week. Made of hand-cut romaine, antioxidant-rich baby kale and crisp baby spinach, Supergreens will replace the existing romaine-only salad base. This is Chipotle's second new menu item added in the last four months, following the successful launch of Carne Asada in September 2019. Chipotle has also made its grilled, Adobo chicken Whole30 compliant by switching the oil in its marinade, keeping the same great taste, but providing guests with specific dietary goals more options.

Chipotle was the first in the fast-casual industry to offer preconfigured, diet driven Lifestyle Bowls last year, which aided its digital sales growth to hit a $1B milestone recently. Statistics have shown that less than 25% of people stay committed to their new year's resolutions after 30 days, and...

REPORTER: Chicken Sandwich Wars

Whether you’re a loyal foodie hungry for a new twist on an old favorite, or a chicken industry veteran who has weathered more than a few conflicts, almost everyone has heard of or were quite possibly impacted by the great chicken war of 2019. This past summer one certainly couldn’t tweet, turn on the TV, listen to the radio, or pop in your favorite fast food establishment without seeing or hearing some reference to the month-long marketing campaign turned social...

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...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Storage on a Predictable Path

Other than the dialogue related to China and the impact it has already had on trade sentiment and market values, the backdrop of chatter is still...

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...

JBS' Seara Alimentos Completes Acquisition of Cold Cuts Business Frigorífico Marba

JBS S.A., communicates to its shareholders and the market in general, in accordance with the terms of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission Instruction no. 358, dated January 3, 2002, that its subsidiary Seara Alimentos Ltda. ("Seara") concluded on December 20, 2019 the purchase of Frigorífico Marba Ltda. ("Marba"), under the terms of the Agreement to Purchase and Sell Quotas and Other Covenants signed on November 6, 2019.

The transaction had previously been approved by the Brazilian anti-trust authority, among other conditions that are...

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...

Chipotle Debuts New Restaurant Design to Support its $1 Billion Digital Business

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced today that it's testing a new restaurant design to better support its billion-dollar digital business. The evolved design will be trialed in four new restaurants of the following types: an urban store front, a standalone restaurant with a Chipotlane and an endcap unit with a Chipotlane, in Chicago, Cincinnati, and two locations in Phoenix.

Additionally, the new restaurant design will be trialed in two retrofits in Newport Beach and San Diego. As part of its stage gate process, Chipotle will assess the performance of each restaurant for transactions, guest feedback, and ability to incorporate future menu innovations, among other metrics, before...

ANALYSIS: A Chicken Production Assessment

With just under two weeks to go before the new year is upon us, it’s safe to say that 2019 has proven to be an historic period for chicken production...

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...

Sanderson Farms, Inc. Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2019

Sanderson Farms, Inc. today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 were $906.5 million compared with $798.1 million for the same period a year ago. For the quarter, the Company reported a net loss of $22.9 million, or $1.05 per share, compared with a net loss of $ 43.2 million, or $1.95 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018.

Net sales for fiscal 2019 were $3.440 billion compared with $3.236 billion for fiscal 2018. Net income for the fiscal year totaled $53.3 million, or $2.41 per share, compared with...

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...

ANALYSIS: Whole Body Turkeys: Testing the Seasonal Floor

Although the focus of consumers has shifted away from whole body toms and hens and back toward competing proteins, turkey industry participants remain...

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...

Daring Foods Launches Nationwide with Rastelli Foods Group

Daring Foods, the first plant-based chicken made from only five non-GMO ingredients, announced today its arrival in the US through a strategic partnership with family-run butcher and industry leading food service supplier, Rastelli Foods Group.

Through the multi-million USD deal partnership, Rastelli Foods Group will be the exclusive national distributor of Daring Foods; bringing its plant-based chicken to restaurants and retailers throughout the country. In addition, Rastelli's will support Daring's push into direct-to-consumer product delivery in February 2020 through daringfoods.com.

This marks a new chapter in plant-based alternatives – created from simple ingredients that customers will have no trouble recognizing, yet mimics chicken in...

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...

Rabobank: Poultry Quarterly Q1 2020

The outlook for global poultry in 2020 is slightly more positive than it was in 2019, when markets suffered from relative oversupply. A key driver of the gradual recovery will be ongoing strength in trade flows to Asia in order to supply African swine fever-affected markets such as China, Vietnam, South Korea, and the Philippines. These trade flows will be positive for dark-meat prices, though they will be subject to increasing volatility. Improved beef prices (the main substitute for fresh poultry), stable global average feed prices, and more balanced supply will also all support the gradual recovery. The downside is that global whole-bird and breast-meat markets will remain pressured and have limited price upside.

African swine fever (ASF) will increasingly push chicken expansion in Asia in 2020. This will help fill the gap in local protein markets affected by ASF, but it also...