ANALYSIS: France's Record-Breaking High Temperatures Decimate Poultry Sector

France's record-breaking heatwave is taking a severe toll on the country's poultry sector, with industry organizations reporting the deaths of hundreds of thousands of birds. The scale of losses has overwhelmed existing animal collection and disposal infrastructure, prompting authorities to consider emergency on-farm burials across the country's largest poultry-producing regions.

The prolonged period of extreme temperatures is placing the French agricultural sector under considerable strain. According to industry reports, officials are assessing the feasibility of burying dead birds directly on farms after collection services proved unable to cope...

Private Label Reaches New Milestone Across Europe’s Biggest Grocery Markets

Circana reports private label has reached a new milestone in Europe, hitting a 50% unit share across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK for the first time. The gain reflects sustained pressure from higher living costs, with store brands steadily expanding share since 2021 by more than three percentage points.

Circana’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth Insights, Ananda Roy, said, "Supermarket private label brands have spent the last decade becoming powerful brands in their own right. Given that a normal shopping...

European Investment Bank Backs French Dairy Cooperative Sodiaal’s €70 Mln Investment

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €70 million loan to Sodiaal, France’s largest dairy cooperative. The loan, guaranteed by the InvestEU programme, will go to research and development, the EIB said.

“The French and European agri-food industry is facing strong international competition – an issue that can be addressed by accelerating research and innovation,” EIB vice-president Ambroise Fayolle said.

Sodiaal represents around 14,500 member farmers, and owns the Yoplait, Candia and Entremont brands.

“The agricultural industry and the dairy...

Dave's Hot Chicken Accelerates International Expansion with Exclusive European Agreement

Dave's Hot Chicken, the fastest-growing Nashville-style hot chicken sensation from Los Angeles, has finalized a landmark agreement with UK-based Azzurri Group, granting the hospitality powerhouse exclusive development rights across Europe. Under the new agreement, Azzurri Group will develop 180 Dave's Hot Chicken restaurants across 10 European countries, leveraging a joint venture partnership model to team up with experienced local operators in each market. These countries are France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Italy, and Turkey...