Latin American Buyers Study US Processing and Product Innovations

USMEF led a team of Latin American importers, distributors and processors to Colorado for a symposium about U.S. meat industry innovations in food safety, processing, packaging and value-added production. The team included 19 buyers from 10 countries ‒ current customers of U.S. red meat ‒ and was accompanied by USMEF representatives from those markets. USMEF’s Denver office coordinated with Colorado State University (CSU) professors on the design and implementation of the Global Innovation Symposium.

“We brought commercial partners to CSU to learn from the technical expertise available...

JBS Invests $100 Million in New RTE Bacon and Sausage Facility 

JBS USA has announced plans to expand its operations in Ankeny, Iowa, by opening the largest ready-to-eat bacon and sausage facility in its portfolio.

The company has agreed to purchase a 186,000-square-foot production facility formerly owned by Hy-Vee. JBS intends to convert the space into a fully cooked bacon and sausage production plant and is looking to hire former Hy-Vee staff for the new operation.

"Today’s announcement aligns with our long-term strategy of...

Maple Leaf Foods Sees Major Turnaround with $58M Profit in Q2 2025

Maple leaf, a Canadian food processing company, have delivered findings from its quarterly results. 

The company reported a strong second quarter, with adjusted EBITDA increasing 28.9% to $182 million compared to the same period last year. Total sales reached $1.36 billion, representing an 8.5% year-over-year increase, driven by consistent growth across all major operating segments.

Prepared Foods saw a 7.5% increase in sales, Poultry rose by 8.5%, and Pork climbed 10.7%, reflecting solid market demand...

Standard Meat Company Names Bill Chandler Director of Supply Chain

Standard Meat Company (SMC), a protein processing and packaging innovator headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, has announced the appointment of Bill Chandler as Director of Supply Chain. This newly created leadership position signals the firm’s continued investment in scalable infrastructure and strategic talent to support long-term, sustainable growth.

“Bill brings the right mix of experience, love of the industry, and respect for the people,” said SMC Co-President and CEO Ben Rosenthal. “His first move hasn’t been to overhaul — but to listen. He knows real strategy...

Baldor Specialty Foods Acquires Golden Packing, Launches Golden Meat Co.

Baldor Specialty Foods announced today the acquisition of Golden Packing, a premium meat company based in the Hunts Point Cooperative Market. As part of the acquisition, the business will operate under a new name: Golden Meat Co.

This strategic move aims to vertically integrate Baldor’s meat processing operations by combining its high-end sourcing capabilities with Golden’s expert butchering—all while preserving the brand’s established reputation for quality.

With this acquisition, Baldor expands its portfolio of premium, portioned meats, offering chef customers enhanced labor savings and...

Yike Food Partners with Shandong Guangming Bio on Broiler Breeding Projects 

Yike Food, a Chinese poultry processor, has signed an agreement with Shandong Guangming Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a Chinese broiler breeder, to collaborate on industry development initiatives. The two companies will jointly build and share external resources, co-apply for, and undertake national and provincial-level boiler breeding projects. 

Additionally, the partners plan to invest in new broiler breeding bases in Shandong and other regions of China. As part of the agreement, Shandong Guangming Bio will prioritize supplying high-quality breeding stock to Yike Food to support...

Introducing Canada Packers Inc.

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (Maple Leaf Foods or the Company) today unveiled that Canada Packers Inc. (Canada Packers) will be the future name of the new pork company once it completes the previously announced separation of its pork business as a new independent, public company.

“We are thrilled to launch Canada Packers as the new name for our future independent pork company,” said Dennis Organ, President of Maple Leaf Foods’ Pork Complex and incoming CEO of Canada Packers. “This choice reflects our deep respect for the history and legacy of this iconic...