ANALYSIS: Pondering the Potential of Frozen Hens

Now that August is in the rearview mirror, and with very little standing in the way between now and Thanksgiving, turkey market participants can’t help but speculate over the future price potential of whole-body birds...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Holdings Continue Year-over-Year Thaw

The latest release of July’s Cold Storage Report underscores what many players in the turkey industry already know: That supplies are tight...

ANALYSIS: July Pork in Cold Storage Breakdown

July’s USDA Cold Storage report, released on August 23^rd, showed that while progress was made in restocking the freezers for a couple of categories of cuts, there are still...

ANALYSIS: Depleted Inventories Contribute to Boneless Breast Rally

Although the chicken market environment has been anything but consistent lately, that’s not to say that there aren’t some familiar tenets still shining through...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage: Hard to Sell from an Empty Wagon

After a great deal of anticipation, the latest release of USDA’s Cold Storage Report lends credence to what many participants have been suspecting, especially those who have been following Urner Barry’s Weekly Cold Storage Estimate...

ANALYSIS: Frozen Turkeys Steal The Seasonal Show

It’s no secret that the majority of turkey lines are continuing to enjoy a strong showing here in early Q3. While recent market dialogue and trade activity has unquestionably gravitated towards...

ANALYSIS: Fresh and Frozen Turkey Drum Quotations at a Mid-Year Crossroads

As we round the corner to Q3, turkey marketers have a pep in their step and a glimmer in their eye thanks to the admirable trade environment that they’ve enjoyed throughout...

US Foods Solves Operators’ Steak Challenges with Tender by Design Process

US Foods Holding Corp. announced the national launch of Tender by Design™, a revolutionary process by which frozen beef can now be just as high quality and tender as fresh. The proprietary Tender by Design™ process gives operators access to high-quality steaks year-round at a competitive price and allows for easier inventory and portion control to respond to the ebb and flow of restaurant traffic. Tender by Design™ is being introduced under the company’s well-known Stock Yards® brand. The launch includes 6-, 8- and 10-ounce half-faced center cut choice top sirloin steaks and an 8-ounce baseball cut choice top sirloin steak.

“Unpredictability is a major challenge in the beef industry, and this is especially true in today’s market. Variance in the quality of beef driven by the time of year and pricing fluctuations hurt the bottom line and create unwanted pressures as operators aim to deliver consistent, high-quality steak offerings that attract...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Reductions Coincide with Stout Market Performance

Over the past several weeks, we've covered a number of factors which are playing an influential role in constricting the supply of just about every line within the turkey complex...

NRF Calls on White House to Address Port Congestion Challenges

The National Retail Federation delivered a letter to the White House asking to meet with President Biden and other top administration officials regarding the challenges retailers are facing from continued supply chain disruptions that are leading to congestion at U.S. ports.

The letter from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay states, “The supply chain disruption issues, especially the congestion affecting our key maritime ports, are causing significant challenges for America’s retailers. The congestion issues have not only added days and weeks to our supply chains but have led to inventory shortages impacting...

ANALYSIS: April Chicken Cold Storage Holdings: A Continuation of a Familiar Trend

Several months ago, we assessed the near universal downturn in cold storage holdings exhibited by key lines within the chicken complex, and by the looks of the USDA’s most recent report...

ANALYSIS: Strong Demand Keeps Frozen Pork and Beef Inventories Tight 

According to the latest USDA monthly cold storage report, released Monday afternoon, frozen beef and pork stocks at the end of April remain...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Lends Credence to Seasonally Strong Market Environment

The most recent cold storage figures for the month of April generally fall in line with the seasonally strong undertone exhibited by just about every line within the turkey complex...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Production and Cold Storage-As Goes One

In recent months, the turkey complex has experienced a surprising level of price volatility, most of which has pointed towards the upside...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage: Lending Credence to the Strong Market Climate

The latest release of February’s Cold Storage Report further validates the strong seasonal performance that most key lines within the turkey complex have exhibited...

ANALYSIS: Egg Prices Surge to 11-Month High on Strong Retail, Foodservice, Export Demand

A combination of retail, foodservice and export demand sent shell-egg prices soaring to an 11-month high this week. After holding steady for more than...

ANALYSIS: Pork Cold Storage Lingers at Low Levels

Total pork cold storage continues to linger around decade lows, creating a tight supply condition and a base layer of price support for a number of...

APHIS Reflects on 2015 HPAI Outbreak and Addresses the Importance of Biosecurity

In a recent webinar hosted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Dr. Dale Lauer, Dr. Rocio Crespo, and Dr. Denise Heard reflected on the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak of 2015, and steps that can be taken to protect poultry flocks going forward.

HPAI can be spread from bird to bird through direct or indirect contact with infected birds including feathers, bodily discharge, or from the equipment, hands, shoes, and clothes of caretakers. Signs of the disease include depression, decreased feed and water intake, runny eyes and nose, and swollen head. The disease can affect an entire flock and has a death rate up to...

ANALYSIS: January Chicken Cold Storage Holdings: Talk About a Clean Sweep

Several months ago, we spoke about the near universal downturn exhibited in chicken cold storage figures and by the looks of the USDA’s most recent report, that same undertone...

ANALYSIS: An Early-Year Check-up on Turkey Cold Storage Holdings

As we turn the corner into late Q1, turkey market participants are peering into the freezer to evaluate how the supply side of the equation is fending so far this year...

Americans to Eat Record 1.42 Billion Chicken Wings for Super Bowl LV

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many ways. One thing that hasn’t changed: America’s love for chicken wings. This is no more apparent than on Super Bowl weekend, when Americans will devour a record 1.42 billion wings while watching the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers battle for the Lombardi Trophy.

This figure is up 2% from last year, according to the National Chicken Council’s annual Wing Report.

There are several reasons for the uptick, says National Chicken Council spokesman Tom Super. “If you think about it, restaurants like wing joints and pizza places were built around takeout and delivery, so they didn’t have to...

ANALYSIS: The Q4 Chill: Assessing Chicken Cold Storage Inventories

The most recent release of the Cold Storage Report generally coincides with the day-to-day happenings of the chicken market, while at the same time...