ANALYSIS: Digging into 2019’s YTD Production Stats

With 2020 just around the corner, chicken market participants take some time to reflect on how this year has played out, so far...

KFC Canada Introduces Plant-Based Chicken 

KFC Canada announced its latest innovation, KFC Plant-Based Fried Chicken. With the desire to share the Colonel's legendary finger lickin' good taste with every Canadian, KFC Canada partnered with Lightlife, a leading plant-based protein brand, to create a signature Plant-Based Fried Chicken Sandwich and Popcorn Chicken.

KFC Canada's Plant-Based Fried Chicken will make its debut during a limited, one-restaurant, one-day test on Wednesday, November 27 in Mississauga, Ontario. KFC fans looking to try the new plant-based options are invited to visit KFC at 6055 Creditview Road in Mississauga, Ontario between the hours of 10:30am to 11:00pm, or while supplies last.

"We believe the Colonel's famous finger lickin' good taste should have no boundaries," said Sam Redman, Chief Marketing Officer, KFC Canada. "So we've created...

FSIS Releases List of 172 Poultry Plants Approved to Export to China 

Since China has announced it will lift its ban on imports of all U.S. poultry products, 172 U.S. poultry processing plants have been approved to export to China. The list of processing plants has been published on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service portal. United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer stated that China is an important export market for America's poultry farmers, and estimates indicate that more than $1 billion worth of poultry and poultry products will be exported to China each year.

Find the complete list from the FSIS here...

Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. Recalls Chicken Fried Rice Products

Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc., an Oakland, Miss. establishment, is recalling approximately 172,692 pounds of chicken fried rice products 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 not-ready-to-eat, frozen chicken fried rice items were produced from July 9, 2019 to July 11, 2019 with various packaging and best by dates. The following products are subject to recall...

Missa Bay, LLC Recalls Salad Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Missa Bay, LLC, a Swedesboro, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 97,272 pounds of salad products that contain meat or poultry because the lettuce ingredient may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The salad products items were produced from October 14, 2019 through October 16, 2019. The products subject to the recall can be found on the following spreadsheet. FSIS will likely update the poundage as more information becomes available. FSIS will also post product labels on its website once they become available.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 18502B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distribution locations in...

BrucePac Recalls Ready-to-Eat Chicken Sausage Products

BrucePac, a Silverton, Ore. establishment, is recalling approximately 55,550 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken sausage products due to misbranding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain a pork casing, which is not declared on the label.

The frozen, RTE chicken sausage items were produced on various dates from November 15, 2018 to June 24, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

ANALYSIS: Deciphering Chicken Dark Meat

News of China lifting its five-year ban on U.S poultry and therefore granting access to more than a billion dollars’ worth of potential export business for chicken and chicken products is making the rounds...

American Poultry Farmers Regain Access to China 

Today, China has announced it will lift its ban on imports of all U.S. poultry products. China has banned all U.S. poultry since January 2015 due to an avian influenza outbreak in December 2014, even though the United States has been free of the disease since August 2017. The United States is the world's second largest poultry exporter, with global exports of poultry meat and products of $4.3 billion last year.

According to an Urner Barry chicken analysis, China was the number two trade partner with the U.S. poultry industry before the ban. Prior to the ban, China was pulling in about 195.7 thousand metric tons of U.S. chicken annually. Of that tonnage, approximately 77.7 thousand metric tons were...

Creative Food Processing Recalls Poultry Products

Creative Food Processing, a Santa Clara, Calif. establishment is recalling approximately 1,941 pounds of raw chicken products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains wheat, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

The raw chicken skewer items were produced from April 16, 2019 to Nov. 6, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

Tyson Foods Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2019 Results

Tyson Foods, Inc., one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein with leading brands including Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright, Aidells, ibp and State Fair, today reported the following results:

Fiscal 2019 Highlights

• GAAP EPS of $5.52, down 33% from record prior year (prior year included a one-time tax benefit of $2.71)
• Adjusted EPS of $5.46, down 11% from record prior year
• GAAP operating income of $2,827 million; Adjusted operating income of $2,977 million
• GAAP operating margin of 6.7%; Adjusted operating margin of...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Price Check: Feeling the Pressure

With just two months to go before 2020 is upon us the year’s macro trends are revealing themselves...

Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc. Recalls Poultry Products

Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc., a Gentry, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,071,397 pounds of poultry products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The poultry items were produced from Oct. 21, 2019 through Nov. 4, 2019. This spreadsheet contains a list of the products subject to the recall.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-1949,” “P- 486” or “P-5837” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to institutions in...

Cay Thi Queentrees Food USA Recalls Poultry Products

Cay Thi Queentrees Food USA, the importer of record, a Garden Grove, Calif. firm, is recalling approximately 43,848 pounds of poultry products that were imported and distributed in the United States without the benefit of FSIS import re-inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Additionally, the products were imported from Vietnam, a country ineligible to export poultry products to the U.S.

The poultry products entered the U.S. on Jan. 2, 2019 and Jan. 25, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

ANALYSIS: China Trade Talks Suggest a Light is at the End of the Tunnel

Current trade discussions between the US and China stand to benefit the US poultry industry which has been unable to export to China since 2015...

Pilgrim's Pride Reports Third Quarter Results

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation reports third quarter 2019 financial results.

Third Quarter Highlights

• Net Sales of $2.78 billion.
• Net Income of $109.8 million.
• Operating Income margins of 6.5% in U.S., 11.5% in Mexico and 4.9% in Europe operations, respectively.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $258.4 million (or a 9.3% margin), and Adjusted EPS of $0.45.
• U.S portfolio generated an improved performance due to our differentiated strategy. Demand in less commoditized segment remained strong while pure commodity was significantly better year on year but...

Emergy Foods Unveils Whole Steak & Chicken Cuts Under New Plant-Based Meat Brand, Meati Foods

Emergy Foods today introduced its new alternative meat brand, Meati Foods, the first in market to produce whole cuts of plant-based meat in the form of steak and chicken breasts. The main ingredient, fermented fungi, or mycelium naturally delivers the taste, texture, and protein profile of meat. The nutrient-dense plant-based meats from Meati Foods are rich in fiber and vitamins found in vegetables and are made with five functional ingredients, without the use of soy, wheat, or pea protein. Meati Foods highly efficient and proprietary process, which is all done in-house, combines traditional methods of fermentation with modern-day knowledge to improve resource use by 1000-fold over conventional methods.

Tyler Huggins, Co-founder and CEO announced, “We are excited by the growth in the plant-based meat category, but are concerned with issues around...

Tyson Introduces Air Fried Chicken

Tyson Brand has announced the new Tyson Air Fried Chicken, featuring perfectly crispy, simply seasoned, golden breading and juicy all-white meat chicken with no antibiotics ever.

With 75% less fat, Tyson Air Fried Chicken is all pleasure and no guilt. This tasty option for fried chicken lovers can satisfy those familiar cravings; no air fryer necessary. Now available nationwide, Tyson Air Fried Chicken is available in three varieties...

ANALYSIS: Cold Storage and Pullet Placements Paint Mixed Picture

With September’s YoY chicken inventories dropping by about 4.5%, the most recent release of the USDA’s Cold Storage Report has caught the attention of market participants...

T & R Enterprise USA Inc. Recalls Meat and Poultry Products 

T & R Enterprise USA Inc., a St. Louis, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 118,000 pounds of meat and poultry egg roll products that were produced and packed under insanitary conditions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The meat and poultry egg roll items were produced on various dates from Aug. 1, 2019 to Sept. 26, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

MawMaw's Chicken Pies Recalls Chicken and Meat Products

MawMaw’s Chicken Pies, a Kernersville, N.C. establishment, is recalling an undetermined amount of chicken pie and meatloaf 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 milk and soy, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.

The not-ready-to-eat chicken pie and meatloaf items were produced between Sept. 17, 2019 to Oct. 16, 2019. The products have a one-year shelf life. The following products are subject to recall...

ANALYSIS: Weighing In On Chicken Wings

In light of the attention that chicken wings have received recently, we thought it would be a great opportunity to check in on the various factors currently impacting the market...

Bell & Evans Introduces Line of Premium Chicken Meatballs

Family owned, premium chicken producer Bell & Evans just launched a line of uncooked, frozen chicken meatballs this fall that are unlike any you’ve ever tried. Flavors include Parmesan Breaded with Mozzarella, Buffalo Seasoned and a traditional, savory Chicken Meatball.

All three varieties are made from a blend of dark meat chicken and skin for full flavor and are uncooked and nitrogen frozen to lock in freshness and natural juices. How many quick meal options deliver the flavor, quality and nutrition that Bell & Evans offers in their prepared products? There’s finally a line of...

ANALYSIS: All Eyes on Chicken Production

As chicken market participants navigate through the final quarter of 2019, they turn to the stats in an effort to better assess the various market influences that they face within the current trade environment...

KFC Introduces Fried Wings 

Kentucky Fried Chicken is delivering a touchdown this football season with the introduction of its new Kentucky Fried Wings™. The chicken expert's new, always hot and fresh wings are available in participating KFC U.S. restaurants today as part of the permanent menu. Making this even hotter, fans can try them out from the comfort of their own home with free delivery* on kfc.com, the fried chicken chain's new online delivery platform, Grubhub and Seamless.

Sure to be the MVP of this season's tailgate parties and more, Kentucky Fried Wings are available classic (unsauced) or tossed in your choice of three sauces: Nashville Hot, Buffalo or Honey BBQ – all so finger lickin' good, you won't even need a Wet-Nap.

Thanks to Kentucky Fried Wings, gone are the days of waiting for hot and fresh wings, or needing to call ahead with an order. Kentucky Fried Wings are...

Natural Grocers Expands Meat and Seafood Department

Natural Grocers recently refreshed its Meat and Seafood Department selections in all its grocery stores across 19 states. The new and improved Meat and Seafood Department features high-quality and exotic varieties of grass-fed meat, pork, poultry, fish and seafood. Customers can expect a wide variety of offerings including, bison, beef, yak, wild boar, elk, venison, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, ostrich, cod, mahi mahi, salmon, scallops, shrimp, tuna, pollock, rockfish and sole.

"Our standards ensure that all of our meat is naturally and humanely raised and our seafood is sustainably sourced, which we believe is the best for...

Chipotle Enhances Animal Welfare Standards in Canada and Europe 

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it's signing the European Chicken Commitment, a venture that will apply even higher animal welfare standards to its entire European supply chain by 2026. Priding itself on serving food with integrity, Chipotle was an early participant in the U.S., supporting the Better Chicken Commitment since 2017 and has now extended this U.S. Broiler commitment to its operations in Canada as well.

Chipotle is committed to cultivating a better world, which means sourcing responsibly raised ingredients. For over 25 years, Chipotle has been an industry leader in exceptional animal welfare standards in the fast-casual space. As a brand started by a classically trained chef with a passion for real food, Chipotle has pioneered...

Sysco’s Cutting Edge Solutions Announces Additional Product Offerings

Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, announced the availability of nine new products exclusively for customers through its Cutting Edge Solutions platform.

Designed to enable customers to succeed by differentiating themselves in an evolving and competitive business environment, Cutting Edge Solutions products are sourced from leading and up-and-coming suppliers and assists customers with refreshing their menus, driving increased traffic and streamlining back-of-house operations. Since its inception in October 2015, Cutting Edge Solutions has delivered...

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews Unveils Latest Fall Menu Items 

At Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews beginning today through January 26, guests can satisfy their burger cravings with the all-new French Onion Ringer, a flavor-packed burger with Swiss cheese, crispy onion straws, French Onion spread and tomatoes on a melted provolone-capped onion bun, topped off with three golden-fried onion rings. The Gourmet Burger Authority is also bringing back a fan favorite, the El Ranchero Burger, which is topped with American cheese, candied bacon, crispy onion straws, house-made jalapeño ranch, barbecue ketchup, tomatoes and shredded romaine.

"At Red Robin, we are excited to introduce these new, unique burgers with ingredients that guests can only experience at...

Mintel: Affluent Brits Flock to Chicken Shops and Restaurants as Sales Increase

Well-heeled Brits are joining the nation’s chicken shop obsession, according to latest research from Mintel. Over the last year alone, the number of affluent Brits visiting chicken outlets and restaurants has shot up from 40% in 2018 to 45% in 2019.

Meanwhile, those who have stable household finances are also now more likely to be enjoying the nation’s chicken shops and restaurants. Almost half (47%) of those describing their financial situation as ‘OK’ visited a chicken shop in 2019, compared to 41% a year earlier. This comes as the chicken segment has seen some worse-off consumers exiting the market. The number of Brits with a challenging financial situation visiting chicken shops dropped from...

ANALYSIS: Keeping Tabs on Key Market Factors

In light of an underwhelming level of spot buying and selling activity within the chicken complex, we thought it would be a great opportunity to check in on some of the major influencers to see what impact they are having on the market...

National Chicken Council Unveils New Sustainability Resources

With the help of technology, modern breeding, nutrient management, feed conversion and improved animal husbandry practices, chicken producers in the U.S. have significantly reduced the use of water, farmland, electricity, greenhouse gas emissions, and other valuable natural resources.

In fact, producing the same amount of chicken today as 1965 has 50% less impact on the environment. Many factors have contributed to the reduced environmental impact of producing chicken, including...

Mighty Spark Continues Rapid Growth with Launch of All-Natural Poultry at Walmart and CVS

Mighty Spark, an independent company that donates a meal with each purchase consumers make of their all-natural premium poultry, is expanding its assortment and presence at retailers nationwide with the launch of patties and ground blends at select Walmart stores, and chicken snack sticks at 2,500 CVS locations.

"In addition to launching at Walmart and CVS stores, Mighty Spark's rapid expansion includes recent launches at Giant Landover, United Supermarkets, Save Mart, Lucky, Rouses and more, expanding our nationwide presence to thousands of additional stores to bring more consumers healthy, delicious protein," said Nick Beste, CEO and Founder, Mighty Spark. "With our expanded distribution comes...

Tip Top Poultry, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Poultry Products

Tip Top Poultry, Inc, a Rockmart, Ga., establishment, is recalling an undetermined amount of ready-to-eat (RTE) poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen cooked, diced or shredded, RTE chicken products were produced between January 21, 2019 and September 24, 2019. The products subject to recall can be found in this spreadsheet.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “Est. P-17453” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to...

NCC Applauds Signing of US-Japan Trade Deal

The United States and Japan outlined initial details of a trade deal as the countries work on details of a broader agreement in the coming months.

Under the agreement, frozen U.S. poultry will be among the agricultural products that will benefit from staged tariff elimination.

“Under the U.S.- Japan Trade Agreement, frozen chicken products will receive favorable tariff reductions enabling our products to compete more effectively with those countries in...

ANALYSIS: Checking in on Chicken in Cold Storage

Monday’s release of the USDA’s Cold Storage Report helps to reinforce many of the key market observations which we reported on throughout the month of August...

Astrochef LLC Recalls Chicken Pub Style Entrees

Astrochef LLC., a Rockwall, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 11,475 pounds of frozen chicken pub style entrees labeled as beef pub style entrees due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

The frozen pub style entrees were produced on June 18, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

ANALYSIS: Examining 2019’s Production Expectations

In light of this week’s relatively subdued level of spot trade activity within the chicken marketplace, we thought it would be a good opportunity to step away from the day-to-day in favor of a mile-high glimpse of 2019’s protein production outlook...

PODCAST: Navigating the Chicken Market - Football Season, GPS, and more!

This week Laura interviews the Director of Editorial Jamie Chadwick, and Senior Vice President Russ Whitman. They discuss the chicken market, Urner Barry's Global Protein Summit and much more. See you in Chicago, October 6-8th!

Cultured Meat Market Forecast to Grow by 2032

According to MarketsandMarkets, the cultured meat market size is estimated to be valued at $214 million by 2025, and projected to reach $593 million by 2032. This projection will lead to a compound annual growth rate of 15.7% from 2025 to 2032. The rising consumption of meat along with increasing demand for nutritional meat are a few of the key factors driving the growth of the industry. When considering the categories of poultry, beef, seafood, pork, and duck, the poultry segment is projected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast. This is due to the availability of poultry when compared to other meat sources such as beef, and also the consumer preference for poultry and poultry products.

The increasing popularity of poultry products in many quick service restaurants has encouraged manufacturers to develop innovative alternative products to meet consumer demand. Additionally, the rising demand for chicken, due to...

Panera Bread Launches New Category of Warm Grain Bowls

Just in time for fall, Panera is launching hearty, warm Grain Bowls featuring a medley of whole grains, crisp greens, vibrant vegetables and lean protein infused with bold, internationally-inspired flavors and sauces. The new Baja warm Grain Bowl and Mediterranean warm Grain Bowl--both available with or without chicken--mark Panera's entry into the grain bowl category. The introduction of grain bowls is the next step in Panera's evolving mission to offer more grains, plants and proteins on its menu, with a focus on delivering craveable food that makes you feel not just full, but fulfilled. This "Full of Good" philosophy leans into the notion that consumers shouldn't have to compromise between...

Perdue Foods Recalls Simply Smart Organics Frozen Chicken Ready-to-Eat Products

Perdue Foods, LLC, a Perry, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 495 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat chicken products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains wheat, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

The frozen ready-to-eat chicken products are labeled as gluten free chicken breast tenders but contain chicken nugget products. The items were produced on August 30, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Exports: A Strong Start to Q3

July’s export figures bring some much-needed clarity to a market which has been riddled with political trade tension and cross-protein competition, mostly in the form of increased outbound shipments of chicken...

Chick-fil-A Now Serving "No Antibiotics Ever" Chicken at All Restaurants in the U.S.

Chick-fil-A announced today it has reached its goal to serve No Antibiotics Ever (also known as "NAE") chicken in its 2,400+ Chick-fil-A restaurants in the United States. In 2014, Chick-fil-A announced it was pursuing a bold commitment to serve only chicken raised with No Antibiotics Ever nationwide by the end of 2019. Along with supply partners, Chick-fil-A met the milestone early, serving only No Antibiotics Ever chicken at every Chick-fil-A restaurant in the United States since May 2019. Beginning in October, packaging in restaurants will reflect this achievement.

The No Antibiotics Ever commitment made by Chick-fil-A allows no antibiotics of any kind to be administered to the chicken within its supply, starting from the egg. The United States Department of Agriculture audits and verifies that suppliers are...

Hy-Vee Fresh Commissary Recalls Ready-To-Eat Beef and Chicken Products

Hy-Vee Fresh Commissary, an Ankeny, Iowa establishment, is recalling approximately 6,233 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) beef and chicken 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 milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

The RTE beef and chicken products were produced on Sept. 7-8, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

ANALYSIS: Another Day, Another Chicken

Keeping in line with what has, so far, been an historic year for production, the pullet placement figures suggest that even more broilers will be in the cards moving forward...

BCI Foods Inc. Recalls Meat and Poultry Soup Products 

BCI Foods, Inc., a Quebec, Canada firm and importer of record, is recalling approximately 3,304 pounds of meat and poultry soup products that were not presented for import re-inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The meat and poultry soup items were imported on July 17, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON: Just One Month Until the Global Protein Summit!

That’s right, we are only ONE MONTH AWAY from Urner Barry’s Global Protein Summit in Chicago!

On October 6th, top industry professionals will descend on the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile to hear from the world’s foremost experts on impacts surrounding the beef, pork and poultry trades.

The Global Protein Summit is a must-attend event for analytic insight into market trends and potential disruptors to businesses operating in this increasingly complex landscape. The world is changing and, in order to be successful, we must adapt and learn quickly.

Over the course of the three-day event, attendees will hear from a spectacular lineup of presenters...

McDonald’s to Spice Up Menus with New Spicy BBQ Glazed Tenders and Spicy BBQ Chicken Sandwich

September just got a whole lot saucier at McDonald’s.

Introducing McDonald’s new Spicy BBQ Glazed Tenders and Spicy BBQ Chicken Sandwich, two new chicken menu items coming to participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time beginning on September 11. Perfectly sauced with just the right amount of spice, the new offerings are set to be an unexpected, feel-good boost to any occasion, from backyard parties to tailgates.

• Spicy BBQ Glazed Tenders: Picture our classic Buttermilk Crispy Tenders, battered and breaded to perfection, hand-tossed and perfectly sauced to order in our new, mouthwatering Spicy BBQ glaze that contains just a hint of jalapeno.
• Spicy BBQ Chicken Sandwich: This BBQ staple features...

Tyson Foods Experiencing Short-Term Challenges in Fiscal Fourth Quarter

Tyson Foods, Inc. today said it is experiencing short-term challenges that are negatively affecting fourth quarter earnings. These challenges include margin compression related to a reversal of a gain on mark to market grain derivatives recognized in our third quarter, commodity market volatility, implementation of enhanced food safety initiatives, a beef processing plant fire, and slower than expected operational improvements in the Chicken segment. As a result, the company is revising its fiscal 2019 adjusted earnings guidance to a range of $5.30 to $5.70 per share and we continue to monitor potentially adverse mark-to-market movements and other volatilities.

“The discrete challenges we’ve encountered this quarter now lead us to believe we will fall short of our previously stated guidance,” said Noel White, Tyson Foods’ president and CEO, “but our outlook for fiscal 2020 remains...

ANALYSIS: A Clear Trend Toward More Efficient Chicken Weights

With YTD ready-to-cook production continuing to trend upward by about 2% when compared to 2018, and in the absence of any major deviations in what has been a fairly lackluster set of demand patterns for chicken recently, we thought it would be a good time to turn our attention to the supply side of the equation...

This Week in Retail: That’s Right, It’s Labor Day Weekend

Seriously. Where did August go?

Somehow, in the blink of an eye, summer has come and gone and Labor Day weekend is here. The final big grilling weekend of the season (fear not, much grilling to be done for football and other fall activities) has the meat case fully stocked and consumers taking advantage of prime deals on protein.

This week, beef and seafood are neck and neck, each claiming just over 24 percent of total protein feature volume (beef technically wins by 0.2 percentage points). Claiming the third spot is pork with 22 percent of ad space, followed by chicken just shy of 21 percent.

Average feature prices for ground beef are actually above year ago levels this week at $3.44 per pound—that’s up nearly 9 percent over Labor Day weekend 2018. Features run as low as $2.04 on average in some regions and as high as...

Sanderson Farms Reports Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal 2019

Sanderson Farms, Inc., today reported results for the third fiscal quarter and nine months ended July 31, 2019.

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 were $945.2 million compared with $852.4 million for the same period a year ago. For the quarter, the Company reported net income of $53.4 million, or $2.41 per share, compared with net income of $11.5 million, or $0.50 per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2018.

Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2019 were $2,533.8 million compared with $2,437.9 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2018. Net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2019 totaled $76.2 million, or $3.44 per share, compared with net income of $104.6 million, or $4.58 per share, for the first nine months of fiscal 2018. Net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2018 reflects a one-time non-cash benefit of $37.5 million, or...

Bakkavor Foods USA, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Chicken Salad Products 

Bakkavor Foods USA, Inc., a San Antonio, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 1,913 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken salad products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains pecans (tree nut), a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

The RTE chicken salad products are labeled as “Curry Chicken Salad” products but contain Tarragon Chicken Salad products. The items were produced on August 20, 2019.

The following products are subject to recall...

Church's Chicken Welcomes Back Fall with New and Improved Menu Item 

Just in time for the on-the-go, full schedule, back-to-school season, Church's Chicken's has brought back a new version of one of its most popular hand-held boneless chicken innovations – chicken MegaBites. Church's restaurants nationwide have debuted a brand-new, sweet n' spicy flavor twist with Church's NEW Flamin' Honey MegaBites, starting at just $3.

The secret behind the crave-worthy new flavor is all in the hand-crafted preparation that takes place in every Church's restaurant, every single day. Flamin' Honey MegaBites are all white meat chicken bites, hand battered and breaded, cooked to a golden crisp, and tossed in a proprietary sweet 'n spicy seasoning, made with Church's signature honey. The innovative technique creates...

KFC Sold Out of Its Beyond Fried Chicken Nuggets and Wings 

Yesterday, Kentucky Fried Chicken became the first national U.S. quick service restaurant to introduce plant-based chicken, through a partnership with Beyond Meat. The new plant-based Beyond Fried Chicken offers the fried chicken flavor KFC delivers as an option for those searching for alternative protein options on-the-go. Consumers in Atlanta, Georgia were the first to have the opportunity to try KFC's Beyond Fried Chicken as part of an exclusive one restaurant test. Those that wanted to be among the first to try the new plant-based chicken were invited to stop by the Cobb Parkway restaurant for a complimentary sample with the purchase of any KFC menu item.

Beyond Fried Chicken was available in nuggets with a choice of dipping sauce, or boneless wings. KFC tweeted that the plant-based chicken had sold out, with some reports indicating that the restaurant ran out of the product in...

Pilgrim’s to Acquire Tulip Limited, Creating Integrated Prepared Foods Leader in Europe

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation today announced that it has signed a contract to acquire Tulip Limited, a leading, integrated prepared foods supplier with 12 fresh and value-added operations in the United Kingdom, from Danish Crown. The transaction solidifies Pilgrim’s as a leading European food company, creating one of the largest integrated prepared foods businesses in the UK with a portfolio of brands and retail private label solutions.

The transaction, unanimously approved by Pilgrim’s Board of Directors and funded with cash on hand, values Tulip Limited at £290 million (or approximately $354 million based on a 1.22 exchange rate as of August 27, 2019). The purchase amount represents 5.4x implied expected EBITDA.

“We are pleased to strengthen our European foods platform with the acquisition of Tulip Limited, which positions Pilgrim’s as a leading global prepared foods player,” said Jayson Penn, Pilgrim’s global chief executive officer. “The transaction represents...

Mrs. Ressler's Food Products Acquires Emils Organics 

U.S. Poultry, Egg Industries Welcome Announcement of Japan Trade Agreement

U.S. poultry and egg organizations welcome the announcement of a trade agreement between the United States and Japan, an achievement that stands to benefit our industry.

“Frozen chicken, turkey, and processed egg products will receive favorable tariff reductions enabling our products to compete more effectively with those of countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF) and United Egg Producers (UEP) said in a joint statement issued Monday.

“While this is just the first stage of a bilateral agreement, it is welcome news and we would like to thank President Trump, Secretary Perdue and Secretary Lighthizer for...

KFC Leads as First National U.S. QSR to Test Plant-Based Chicken

Kentucky Fried Chicken® becomes the first national U.S. QSR (quick service restaurant) to introduce a plant-based chicken, in partnership with Beyond Meat®. Beyond Fried Chicken™ will make its debut August 27 in a limited test.

The new plant-based Beyond Fried Chicken offers the finger lickin' good fried chicken flavor only KFC can deliver as a perfect choice for those searching for plant-based meat options on-the-go.

Atlantans will be the first to get a taste of KFC's new Beyond Fried Chicken as part of an exclusive, one restaurant test on August 27 at the...

Analyzing Genomes to Improve Disease Control in Poultry

Marek's disease—a highly contagious viral disease caused by a herpesvirus—is a constant threat to poultry worldwide. It is also one of the most preventable diseases with vaccination. However, while vaccines prevent poultry from becoming sick with symptoms of the virus, they do not prevent virus spread and mutation—considered the main reason for increased virus virulence, or severity, in field strains in U.S. commercial flocks.

To help improve the control of Marek's disease, veterinary medical officer John Dunn and his team at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory in East Lansing, Michigan, analyzed Marek's disease genomes to find out which genes are mostly associated with virulence. They sequenced DNA from 70 virus strains, collected over the years from across the United States, and identified significant genetic variants...

ANALYSIS: Record Low Medium Breast Meat Values: What's Happening at Retail?

When it comes to the former, the USDA Fresh Chicken Retail Feature Activity shows that current total chicken featuring resides well below the seven-year average, including 2018, a year which was certainly one to forget for those marketing fresh chicken parts...

Tip Top Poultry Recalls Fully Cooked Poultry Products

Tip Top Poultry, Inc., a Rockmart, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 135,810 pounds of fully cooked poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen, diced, and mechanically separated ready to eat chicken was produced on January 21, 2019 and display “PACK DATE 01/21/19” on the labels. The products subject to recall can be found in this spreadsheet.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-17453” inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the case. These items were shipped to...

FAT Brands Continues Expansion in Pakistan With 5-Unit Development Deal

FAT(Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc, parent company of Fatburger, The Last Great Hamburger Stand, announces today the development of five co-branded Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express concepts in Pakistan. In partnership with Crescent Star Foods (Pvt), the co-branded restaurants will increase the brand’s presence in Pakistan to six restaurants.

Hollywood's iconic Fatburger is best known for its mouthwatering, juicy burgers made famous by founder Lovie Yancey in Los Angeles more than 70 years ago. Each Fatburger is made-to-order with traditional fixings and delicious add-on items such as bacon, onion rings, cheese and egg. Buffalo’s Express further complements Fatburger’s menu offerings with...

This Week in Retail: Prepare for Pre-Season Protein Demand

We’re halfway through August, but protein demand doesn’t expire with the summer season. In fact, consumers may even be stepping up their purchases at the meat case as the NFL preseason is officially underway! And the regular season is just around the corner.

It’s been six long months since fans were treated to their favorite teams facing off on the gridiron. Now, everyone is getting in on the action. Retailers across the board are running promotions to capitalize on the return of football frenzied spending.

Grocers are changing up end caps from summer smore displays to game day essentials. Grilling ads are shifting from summer barbecues in the backyard to...

Tyson Foods Recalls Weaver Brand Ready-To-Eat Chicken Patty Products

Tyson Foods Inc., a Pine Bluff, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 39,078 pounds of Weaver brand frozen chicken patty product that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen, fully cooked chicken items were produced on January 31, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

ANALYSIS: Cold Storage Holdings: A Prognosticator of Wing Performance?

As preseason football season gets underway, fans are beginning to flock to their local drinking hole to watch the game and enjoy America’s favorite finger food: chicken wings. Taking a look at inventory levels and price reaction in the period leading up to...

House of Raeford Farms Recognized for Outstanding Safety Performance

The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council has awarded six House of Raeford Farms locations with safety awards for outstanding performance through the implementation of innovative and effective employee safety and health programs.

Two House of Raeford processing plants—Arcadia, LA and Rose Hill, NC – were each recognized for their commitment to safety with Awards of Distinction during the 2019 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Destin, FL.

Awards of Distinction are the highest level of recognition a company can receive from the Joint Industry Safety and Health Council. Injury statistics over three years and...

Ruby Tuesday to Roll Out Two New Meals for a Limited Time

To reach both current and new guests capitalizing on the Ruby Tuesday commitment to flavor and freshness, Ruby Tuesday is rolling out the flavor-filled Cheesy Crunch Burger and Honey Crunch Chicken Sandwich across 460 participating locations for a limited time only, Aug. 19 through Sept. 23. Combining highly appealing ingredients that are both crunchy and spicy, the new items focus on big flavor at an everyday value price of $7.99.

“We want to create meals that highlight the brand’s belief that fresh is best, flavor is key and comfort is a must,” said Jenifer Boyd Harmon, chief marketing officer for Ruby Tuesday. “In addition, we wanted to remind consumers that Ruby Tuesday offers value you can count on without compromising...

Pilgrim’s Releases 2018 Sustainability Report

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (Nasdaq: PPC) today announced the release of its 2018 Sustainability Report. The interactive digital report provides a comprehensive overview of the company’s recent achievements and progress toward 2020 sustainability goals.

“Our 2018 Pilgrim’s Sustainability Report shares the ways our 55,000 team members and more than 5,400 family farm partners are contributing to environmental, social and economic progress in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico and Europe,” said Pilgrim’s Global President and CEO Jayson Penn. “We are committed to improving the lives of families around the world through high-quality, sustainable food solutions and are focused on long-term success for our business and our stakeholders.”

The 2018 report transparently details Pilgrim’s achievements related to team members, customers and...

Oregon Passes Cage-Free Egg Law 

Senate Bill 1019 has been signed into law in Oregon, requiring all eggs sold within the state border to come from cage-free facilities. Through passing this legislation in Oregon, all states on the west coast now have laws in place requiring eggs to come from cage-free hens. Similar to laws passed in California and Washington, the new law in Oregon requires that eggs produced and sold in the state come from cage-free barns that have scratching areas, perches, nest boxes, dust bathing areas, and other enrichments that allow the hens to exhibit natural behavior. These standards are based off of the United Egg Producer's Animal Husbandry Guidelines for U.S. Egg-Laying Flocks, and will go into effect by the end of 2023.

The term "egg-laying hen," addressed in the bill, applies to any female domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, goose, guinea fowl, or other species of fowl that is kept for the purpose of egg production. Egg products are included in this new law, but does include products such as...

USPOULTRY Releases Report of Antimicrobial Use Across U.S. Broiler Chickens and Turkeys

U.S. Poultry & Egg Association announced last week the release of the U.S. poultry industry’s first-ever report quantifying antimicrobial use on broiler chicken and turkey farms. The new report shows dramatic reductions of turkey and broiler chicken antimicrobial use over a five-year timeframe. As part of its commitment to the transparency and sustainability of a safe food supply, the poultry industry aims to strike a balance between keeping poultry flocks healthy and the responsible use of antimicrobials, especially those medically important to human health.

Under the research direction of Dr. Randall Singer, DVM, PhD, of Mindwalk Consulting Group, LLC, this report represents a five-year set of data collected from 2013 to 2017 regarding the use of antimicrobials in U.S. broiler chickens and turkeys throughout their lifetime, from hatchery to day of harvest. It was prepared through a systematic collection of on-farm antimicrobial use data to capture the...

NCC Reaches Out to President Trump Regarding Recent ICE Actions in Mississippi

As a result of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arresting approximately 680 people in sweeping raids at seven sites in six different cities in Mississippi on Wednesday, August 7, the National Chicken Council sent the following letter on August 8 to President Trump.

Dear President Trump,

The National Chicken Council (NCC) writes to you regarding the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Mississippi on August 7, 2019. As these recent events have shown, the U.S. chicken industry is heavily affected by our nation’s immigration policy. We are not in a position to comment on any specific incident and do not presume to do so, but we do wish to...

Taylor Farms Illinois Inc Recalls Chicken Products

Taylor Farms Inc., a Chicago, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 342 pounds of breaded chicken products due to a processing defect that may have led to undercooking of products, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The ready-to-eat breaded chicken items were produced August 3, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

Immigration Agents Raid Mississippi Meat Processing Plants

Yesterday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided multiple Mississippi poultry processing facilities to execute federal criminal warrants. Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney, said, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents are executing federal search warrants today at multiple locations across the state of Mississippi as part of a coordinated operation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi pursuant to ongoing HSI administrative and criminal investigations."
 
During a press conference, Mike Hurst first gave credit to Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security for enforcing the law through arrests that were part of a year long investigation process. Hurst added that as a result of hard work, the largest single state immigration enforcement operation in the nation's history took place...

Wayne Farms Introduces All Natural Ladybird Premium Chicken Brand 

After a successful market entry and a round of market tests Wayne Farms LLC is launching its new brand LADYBIRD Premium Chicken in select Northeast locations and planning wider distribution by the end of the year.

LADYBIRD Premium Chicken was developed for foodservice and cash and carry customers looking to capitalize on trending preferences in the consumer marketplace while sourcing a more tender chicken product. Humanely raised on family farms, the all natural line of fresh products are made from smaller, all-female chickens providing more consistent sizing and portion control. LADYBIRD chicken is aged on the bone before processing, optimizing...

Top Taste Food Warehouse Recalls Meat and Poultry Products 

Top Taste Food Warehouse, a Brooklyn, N.Y. establishment, is recalling an undetermined amount of pork and chicken dumpling product because they were produced, packed, and distributed without the benefit of USDA inspection and used the mark of inspection without authorization, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen pork with vegetable dumpling and the chicken with vegetable dumpling items were produced July 30, 2018 through July 31, 2019. The following products are subject to recall...

QDOBA Mexican Eats Launches New Keto, Vegan, and Double Protein Bowls

QDOBA Mexican Eats, a leading Mexican fast-casual chain, is adding three new chef-inspired bowls to its restaurants systemwide. Following the successful introduction of Impossible™ – a plant-based protein – to its menu, the brand continues to expand its lifestyle options to fit guests’ varying lifestyles. QDOBA’s latest creations include:

• Smoked Brisket Keto Bowl: Smoked brisket and hand-smashed guacamole sit on a bed of crisp lettuce, topped with made in-house pico de gallo, salsa verde and shredded cheese.
• Grilled Fajita Vegan Bowl: Sautéed fajita vegetables, hand-smashed guacamole, corn salsa, made in-house pico de gallo and salsa verde piled high on seasoned...