Jennie-O Turkey Store Shares 2021 Thanksgiving Trends And Predictions

Jennie-O Turkey Store, one of the most beloved turkey brands in the world, today announced its Thanksgiving survey results. The surprising answers revealed how people across the country feel about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, how they plan to celebrate, the dishes they find most intimidating and even how many pounds of food a single person plans to eat during the meal. The survey of 2,000 consumers was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Jennie-O.

CELEBRATION: To Be or Not To Be (In Person)
- The majority of those polled...

U.S. Restaurant Industry Continues Gradual Recovery in August While Dine-in Visits Remain Low

Despite bad weather and the delta variant spread, consumer online and physical restaurant visits in August continued to recover from last year’s steep declines, reports The NPD Group. U.S. restaurant traffic increased by +5% over the -10% decline in August 2020 and declined by -5% compared to the pre-pandemic level in August 2019. Larger average check sizes drove a +13% increase in dollars compared to a year ago and a +3% gain in dollars over the same month two years ago, according...

Better-for-You Snacks Market Rises to $39 Billion

The U.S. food and beverage industry has been impacted heavily by COVID-19. In 2020 especially, more people looked to improve their health to prevent or lessen the severity of illness. Consumers are buying more better-for-you snacks that have health claims or label claims perceived to be healthier to improve health and hopefully ward off illness. Snacks with claims that are better-for-you feature good taste, indulgence, and convenience while being healthier than standard snacks by virtue of nutrition or portion sizes.

In 2020, sales reached $39 billion on the strength of pandemic trends as reported by Packaged Facts' new report Better-for-You Snacks: Market Trends and Opportunities. Snack products in the scope of this report include...

August Retail Sales Rise Despite 'Trifecta of Macroeconomic Headwinds'

Retail sales increased during August as consumer demand outweighed the pandemic, supply chain disruptions and other factors affecting spending, the National Retail Federation said today.

“The increase in August retail sales reflects the continued strength of the American consumer and the resilience of our nation’s retailers,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “In spite of the ongoing challenges of the global pandemic, concerns about the delta variant, and supply chain and workforce constraints, the retail industry continues to do what it does best – serve customers and support communities..."

The Pandemic Lifted Average Retail Spending Per Shopping Occasion, Reports NPD

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the average amount U.S. consumers spend on each shopping occasion, whether it is a trip to a physical store or a visit to an online shopping site. Since reaching $34 in March of 2020, average shopping occasion spending has remained elevated at or above that amount through July 2021, according to The NPD Group. This increase is partially due to a general shift toward online purchasing, where average selling prices (ASPs) and the amount spent on each transaction...

The Factors Propelling Retail Food Sales Forward

Sales spiked significantly in 2020 (+14% from 2019 levels) due to the impact of the coronavirus, according to the update of Packaged Facts' benchmark coverage of retail food sales in Food Market Outlook 2021: Grocery Shopping, Home Cooking, & Food Preferences in the Waning Pandemic Period.

Consumers sharply curtailed dining out or using school cafeterias and instead did more grocery shopping to prepare and eat most meals and snacks at home. Going forward, retail grocery sales are projected to increase at a significantly lower rate in 2021 from this high base as...

North American Meat Institute Statement on Consumer Prices for Meat and Poultry Products

The North American Meat Institute today issued the following statement about inflammatory statements regarding the meat and poultry industry and the price of consumer goods during a labor shortage and a global pandemic:

“As with almost every industry, meat and poultry packers and processors of all sizes have been, and continue to be, affected by the global pandemic and the inflationary trends that challenge the U.S. economy,” said Mark Dopp, Chief Operating Officer for the North American Meat Institute. “American consumers of most goods and services are..."

NPPC Asks Congress to Address Agricultural Labor Shortage Through Reconciliation Bill 

With a scheduled vote in the U.S. House set for Monday, the National Pork Producers Council today called on Congress to include in a budget reconciliation bill language to expand the existing H-2A visa to year-round agricultural workers.

Like many sectors of the economy, the U.S. pork industry is faced with a severe labor shortage. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry was having trouble filling jobs, a situation generally attributable to urbanization and an aging rural population. The tight labor market prompted the pork...

Record Value for July Beef Exports; Pork Value also Strong

U.S. beef exports set another new value record in July, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). July export value climbed 45% from a year ago to $939.1 million, while volume was the third largest of the post-BSE era at 122,743 metric tons (mt), up 14% year-over-year.

For January through July, beef exports increased 18% from a year ago to 822,830 mt, with value up 30% to $5.58 billion. Compared to the pace established in 2018, the record year for...

USDA Invests $700 Million in Grants to Provide Relief to Farm and Food Workers Impacted by COVID-19

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that $700 million in competitive grant funding will be available through the new Farm and Food Workers Relief (FFWR) grant program to help farmworkers and meatpacking workers with pandemic-related health and safety costs. The announcement was made in press call with United Farm Workers Foundation Executive Director Diana Tellefson Torres and United Food and Commercial Workers International President Marc Perrone. Additionally, to recognize the essential role and costs borne by front-line grocery workers, $20 million of this amount has been set aside for at least one pilot program to support grocery workers and test options for reaching them in the future. The new program is funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and is part of USDA’s Build Back Better efforts to respond and recover from the pandemic.

The program will provide relief to farmworkers, meatpacking workers, and front-line grocery workers for expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This relief is intended to defray costs for reasonable and necessary personal, family, or living expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as...

The Majority of Meals Will be Consumed at Home For the Foreseeable Future

Most analyses during the pandemic have focused on discerning its impact on consumer behavior and forecasting how this might change going forward. However, before the pandemic structural changes in the workforce and the aging population already contributed to a home-centric lifestyle, and COVID accelerated it, reports The NPD Group. These long-term trends will continue to influence consumer eating patterns and how they use their homes well into the future, according to NPD’s recently released 36th edition of Eating Patterns in America.

“Our life stage and workplace behavior has a lot to do with how, where, and when we consume foods and beverages, and what we buy to help us...

NCBA Secures Extension of Critical Exemption for Livestock Haulers

Today, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced an extension of the exemption from hours-of-service (HOS) requirements for livestock haulers. Livestock haulers continue to need this flexibility for the well-being of livestock during hauls, and to keep grocery stores stocked with beef during the continued disruption of COVID-19. This extension comes after consistent advocacy by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA).

Thanks in part to NCBA's continued push on this issue, livestock haulers have been operating under an HOS exemption since the beginning of the...

Consumer Confidence Fell in August to Lowest Level since February

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® declined in August, following a decrease in July (a downward revision). The Index now stands at 113.8 (1985=100), down from 125.1 in July. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—fell to 147.3 from 157.2 last month. The Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—fell to 91.4 from 103.8.

“Consumer confidence retreated in August to its lowest level since February 2021 (95.2),” said...

APHIS: Confirmation of COVID-19 in Deer in Ohio

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) announced confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in wild white-tailed deer in Ohio. These are the first deer confirmed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide, although earlier studies have shown both that deer can be experimentally infected with the virus and that some wild deer had antibodies to the virus.

Samples from the deer were collected between January and March 2021 by The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine as part of ongoing deer damage management activities. There were no reports of...

Foodservice Industry 1.1% Larger in July 2021 than July 2019

Technomic’s TIndex, the index on total foodservice industry reported monthly, was down slightly in July from June. However, this number still represents strong industry results versus 2019. The foodservice industry was 1.1% larger in July 2021 compared to 2019 and 31% larger compared to 2020.

“Softening in some noncommercial segments is the reason for the drop in the TIndex, but restaurant sales remain strong,” explains Joe Pawlak, managing principal at Technomic. “As of the end of July, there has been...

ANALYSIS: Pondering the Potential of Chicken Wings and Boneless Breasts

Chicken market participants and football fans alike are on the edge of their seats as we inch closer towards the first kickoff of the year...

ANALYSIS: The Impact of Labor Issues on Hams

Ever since the first COVID-19 shutdowns, labor-related conversion issues have plagued the US ham market. As more and more bone-in hams couldn’t be...

New Acosta Report Details the Evolving Impact of COVID-19 on Consumer Behavior

Acosta, a global integrated sales and marketing services provider in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, today released its latest COVID-19 Shopper Insights report, COVID-19 Shopper Insights: Which Habits Are Sticking? The report examines pandemic-related shopping behaviors that are continuing to impact the CPG industry as COVID-19 evolves. According to Acosta's research, about 45% of consumers have increased their online grocery shopping and reduced trips to traditional CPG channels since pre-pandemic, indicating convenience and safety remain important considerations for consumers.

"COVID-19 has significantly impacted consumer behavior and accelerated trends we were seeing prior to March 2020," said Colin Stewart, Executive Vice President, Business Intelligence at Acosta. "While many believe we're headed towards normalcy, it is highly likely that...

Beef Quarterly Q3 2021: Déjà Vu Argentina

In May this year, the Argentine government imposed a 30-day suspension on beef exports. After those 30 days, new limitations were placed on the volume and type of beef that could be exported. In our feature article, we look at what impact this will have on the Argentine beef industry and the global market.

Covid-19

Global confirmed case numbers began rising again in mid-June, after falling from a peak in late April. Numbers in Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean region, Africa, and the Western Pacific region have seen large rises. Food retail figures remain strong, and foodservice sales were still...

USDA Updates Pandemic Assistance for Livestock, Poultry Contract Producers and Crop Growers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19, is part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has set an Oct. 12 deadline for all eligible producers to apply for or modify applications for CFAP 2...

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...

Surging Delta Variant Continues to Impact the Way Consumers Shop

Just as normalcy appeared to be on the horizon, surges of COVID-19 cases brought by the Delta variant are once again leaving many Americans in fear of what’s to come. Thirty percent of shoppers are more worried about COVID as Delta cases continue to rise, and 40 percent report feeling the same level of discomfort as they did one month ago. Of those concerned Americans, 43 percent report that the Delta variant is impacting the way they shop, and nearly half (47 percent) are more worried about shopping...

Statement from Michael McCain, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods on Vaccinations

Keeping our people safe is Maple Leaf Foods’ priority. Public health experts in Canada and the U.S. have affirmed the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and their importance in protecting people as they return to their offices.

This virus has taken millions of lives in North America and globally, devastating families and communities. It is our moral obligation to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of our Team Members, and in turn our communities. That is why we will be requiring Maple Leaf Team...

Consumers Are Accessorizing Amplified Grilling and Outdoor Cooking Needs in 2021

After taking grilling to new levels last year, consumers now seem to be adapting to the growing needs of accessorizing their outdoor cooking activities. Between January and June 2021, consumer spending on grilling accessories consistently outperformed last year’s numbers, delivering a 28% increase in sales revenue, according to The NPD Group.

“The pandemic compelled consumers to spend on grilling and outdoor cooking, as a way to gather safely, create new experiences with family, and even learn new skills, during...

July Retail Sales Slow Amid Tight Supply Chain but Demand Continues

Retail sales slowed during July as retailers continued to face supply chain disruptions and increased COVID-19 vaccinations allowed consumers to shift some spending from goods to activities like going out to dinner and traveling despite the delta variant, the National Retail Federation said today.

“July retail sales showed slight deceleration in spending, but nothing to derail our outlook for a record year,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Though the delta variant is presenting health challenges while supply chain disruptions along with unfilled job openings are presenting..."

Canada’s Foodservice Industry Shows Promising Recovery in the Second Quarter Compared to Last Year

Through lockdowns, COVID-19 restrictions, and eventual reopening, Canadians released their pent-up demand and ordered from or visited restaurants and other foodservice outlets in the April-May-June quarter reports The NPD Group. Consumer spending at restaurants and other foodservice outlets increased by +43% in the second quarter of the year compared to the same quarter last year when spending declined by -41% from the year before. Visits, dining in and off-premises orders, improved by +31% compared to the second quarter year ago when traffic declined by -36%, according to NPD’s continual tracking of the foodservice industry.

Each area of the commercial foodservice market is recovering at a different pace. Quick service restaurants (QSR), many of which had well-developed off-premises services like carry-out and...

The U.S. Restaurant Industry Recovery Through Second Quarter has Been Slow and Steady

The second quarter of this year reflects a period during which state and local governments lifted pandemic restrictions, restaurants reopened, people got vaccinated, and consumers used restaurants more than they did throughout the pandemic, reports The NPD Group. Consumer spending at restaurants was up +32% in the April-May-June 2021 quarter compared to the same quarter last year, and for a pre-pandemic view, flat compared to the same quarter in 2019. Restaurant visits, dining in or off-premises, increased by +22% in the quarter compared to the same quarter last year and were down -7% compared to the second quarter of 2019, according to NPD’s daily tracking of the U.S. foodservice industry.

Quick service restaurants (QSRs), representing 81% of restaurant visits in the U.S., realized a gain of +15% in visits in the second quarter compared to a year ago and a -5% decline compared to the second quarter of 2019. Throughout the pandemic, QSR restaurants, particularly...

U.S. Beef and Pork Exports on Record Pace through June

U.S. red meat exports closed the first half of the year on a strong note, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Although volume and value eased from the enormous totals posted in April and May, export value was still the highest on record for the month of June and first-half shipments established a record pace for both beef and pork exports.

“USMEF had expected a continued strong performance in June for both beef and pork exports, despite significant headwinds,” said...

OpenTable Launches New Safety Tools for Diners and Restaurants

In this next chapter of the pandemic, restaurants and diners are facing new hurdles as they look to navigate changing restrictions, masking and vaccination requirements and more. While in NYC the rules are clear - as of August 16 you must show proof of vaccination to dine indoors - in other cities the rules vary. To help, OpenTable, the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of Booking Holdings Inc., rolled out updated safety precautions, which now include details on COVID-19 vaccine requirements, and Direct Messaging to streamline communication between restaurants and diners.

"Dining demand in the U.S. is down 13% compared to just one month earlier with cities like Minneapolis, Seattle and New York showing significant declines. Just as restaurants were starting to rebound from...

ANALYSIS: Jumbo Chicken Wings: A Countdown to the Coin Toss

With the first kickoff of college football season practically at our doorstep, the topic of chicken wings has begun to weave its way into market related conversations.

Beyond Meat Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Beyond Meat, a leader in plant-based meat, reported financial results for its second quarter ended July 3, 2021.

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights

- Net revenues were $149.4 million, an increase of 31.8% year-over-year.

- Gross profit was $47.4 million, or gross margin of 31.7% of net revenues.

- Net loss was $19.7 million or $0.31 per common share. Net loss as a percentage of net revenues was...

Warner & Kaine Urge Senate Leadership to Replenish Restaurant Revitalization Fund

U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine sent a letter to Senate Leadership urging them to provide critical relief to restaurants, bars, and other small businesses in the food and beverage industries severely impacted by the pandemic. In their letter, the Senators point to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), established by the American Rescue Plan, and the help it provided to tens of thousands of establishments across the nation before funding ran out. The Senators call on Senate Leadership to bring up legislation that provides the RRF with additional funding to meet the outstanding demand for the program. In July, the Small Business Administration announced the RRF program received over 278,000 eligible applications requesting over $72 billion in funds – exceeding the $28.6 billion included in the American Rescue Plan.

“We write to you regarding the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which was established by the American Rescue Plan to provide critical relief to restaurants, bars, and other small businesses in...

Online Grocery Start-ups Could be One Of the Enduring Legacies Of the COVID-19 Era 

Alongside the trends too much greater digitalisation, reduced contact through more self-checkouts, automation and a more cashless society, the ultra-fast start-ups could be one of the enduring legacies of the Covid-19 era impacting retail in a future post-pandemic.

The sector will develop strongly on the back of the Covid push and all these players will benefit from a rising tide lifting all boats.

Rather this report deals with the ultra-fast delivery startups, attracting record levels of investment, shoppers and interest. The pandemic has boosted a new dynamic in online grocery, reflected in the rise of GoPuff and its various clones. These players are first and foremost about...

NRF Chief Economist Says Vaccination is ‘Key to Further Economic Recovery’

The economy is growing quickly but its future still depends on slowing the coronavirus pandemic as consumers worry about new variants of the virus, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said today. Meanwhile, a labor shortage and supply chain disruptions are setting the stage for increased inflation.

“We are now in the second half of 2021 and the economy has heated up along with the summer temperatures,” Kleinhenz said. “Gross domestic product surpassed its pre-crisis peak during the second quarter and...

House of Representatives Delegation Pushes USDA to Support Small Meat, Poultry Processors

A delegation of 30 members of the House of Representatives issued a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pushing for increased support for small meat and poultry processors across the nation.

The House Members put together a letter addressed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), commending them on their announcement of a $500 million investment for small and regional processors, but also...

Tyson Foods to Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for Its U.S. Workforce

To protect team members, their families and their communities, Tyson Foods, is requiring its team members at U.S. office locations to be fully vaccinated by October 1, 2021. All other team members are required to be fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021, subject to ongoing discussions with locations represented by unions.

This action makes Tyson Foods the largest U.S. food company to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its entire workforce. Almost half of Tyson Foods’ U.S. workforce has been vaccinated and coronavirus infection rates among team members...

ANALYSIS: Cash Hog Prices Decline from Summer Peak But Remain Well Above Year Ago Levels

The summer peak for negotiated cash hog prices on a national basis was achieved on June 22 at $128.04/cwt. Since peaking, spot prices have since declined by around...

Nathan's Famous Doubles the Number of Ghost Kitchens Worldwide Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Nathan’s Famous doubled the number of ghost kitchens worldwide since June 2020. The brand opened its 223th ghost kitchen, bringing the brand’s presence to over 18 countries across the globe. This rapid growth of ghost kitchens comes from the development of a new brand, Wings of New York, as well the revival of the Arthur Treacher’s brand.

"We are proud to announce that we have doubled our ghost kitchens across the globe,” states James Walker, Senior Vice President, Restaurants. “We could not have done this without...

Tyson Fresh Meats Leader Testifies About Beef Industry at Senate Hearing

Shane Miller, group president of Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork unit of Tyson Foods, testified about the beef industry during a hearing held today by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Below is Miller’s written testimony:

Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Grassley, members of the Judiciary Committee, thank you for inviting me here today.

I proudly represent Tyson Foods, a company based in Springdale, Arkansas, and founded nearly a century ago by John W. Tyson, who started this business trucking chickens to markets across the Midwest...

Proof of Vaccination to Dine? Some Restaurants Introduce New Requirements To Stop Spread of COVID-19

On your way out to dinner you check your pockets for your keys, phone and wallet. Now add your vaccination card or negative COVID test into the mix. 

While that may not be a reality across the United States just yet, a growing number of restaurants are requiring proof of vaccination before allowing a customer to dine indoors. 

Like the mask mandates, requiring proof of vaccination is up to each business. And a growing number of restaurants in big cities are attempting to...

Chicken Marketers Urged to Meet Needs Emerging from the Pandemic

With an estimated 20% of the workforce working at home beyond 2021, there will be 30 million meal occasions daily that used to be lunches consumed away from home. According to research presented today at the 2021 Chicken Marketing Summit, this presents an unprecedented opportunity for innovation for the poultry industry.

The National Chicken Council (NCC) and WATT Global Media presented the results of a study that focused on anticipated US consumer behavior post-pandemic to identify opportunities for chicken to gain market share in home food preparation and the upcoming...

PODCAST: UK Beef Chats Episode 26

This week on UK Beef Chats, market expert Mike Nesbitt discusses labor shortages, pandemic pressure on the supply chain, and elevated prices.

Technomic Reveals How the Global Chicken Menu Category is Poised for Growth

Technomic released a deep dive into the chicken menu category uncovering global foodservice sales, COVID-19’s impact on the category, consumer consumption insights and preferences, menu trends, and the top global and leading local chains, with the 2021 Chicken Global Menu Category Report. This report is a deliverable of the Global Foodservice Navigator program, which offers the tools and guidance to remain ahead of consumer, menu and operator trends across 25 countries.

“Chicken chains have been resilient amid the pandemic and the menu category remains primed for future growth,” explains Aaron Jourden, senior research manager of global at Technomic. “With accelerating competition among...

Packaged Facts: The Future of Grocery 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of consumer behavior and daily life. In 2020, many consumers were suddenly faced with more time at home.

• Office workers and those with jobs that can be done from home began to work from home full-time.
• Many schools and daycares closed, meaning that students and children were now spending their days at home.
• Restaurants, cafeterias, and other foodservice operations closed to dine-in service in many areas.
• With these changes, families across the U.S. were eating at home more often, cooking more, and sometimes feeding more people than usual throughout the day. As a result...

The Online Grocery Market Nearly Tripled in 2020

The U.S. food and beverage industry has been impacted heavily by COVID-19. In 2020, more consumers than ever before were deciding to order food and beverage items online to avoid grocery shopping in crowded stores, where they might be exposed to the COVID-19 virus. As reported by Packaged Facts' new report The Future of Grocery: Online Grocery, Meal Kits, & Direct-to-Consumer Food, the online grocery market nearly tripled in 2020.

Packaged Facts projects that online sales of food and beverages will...

NPD: Addressing Safety, Changes in Workplace, and Digital are Key to Recovery for Europe Foodservice

According to the latest report from The NPD Group, COVID-19 Foodservice Sentiment Study: Europe, a large part of the European^* population expects to return to dine-in restaurants as soon as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, with 93% stating they have either already returned to restaurants or expect to be returning to restaurants before the end of the year. But while many consumers expect to go back to dining occasions comparable to what they were doing before the pandemic, one-quarter of them expect...

Restaurant Sales Grew in June as Industry Recovery Continues

Restaurant sales continued to grow in June as consumers looked for a much-needed night out, according to the National Restaurant Association.

For the month, eating and drinking places netted $70.6 billion in total sales on a seasonally adjusted basis, per preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That total was a 2.3% rise from May’s volume and is the fifth increase in the first half of the year.

The Association said that sales in June were $4.4 billion (6.6%) above pre-pandemic levels in 2020...

USDA Announces Livestock, Poultry Producer Assistance for COVID-19 Related Losses

Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the COVID-19 pandemic due to lack of access to processing can apply for assistance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) in remarks at the National Pork Industry Conference in Wisconsin Dells, WI.

PLIP is part of the USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Producers can apply for assistance on losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) starting on July 20...

U.S. Restaurant Industry Recovery Will Depend on Strength of Key Dayparts

The U.S. restaurant industry has shown remarkable resiliency, having lost as much as 35% of visits at the beginning of the pandemic, but still has a ways to go to get back to pre-pandemic levels, reports The NPD Group. Total restaurant visits were down -6 percent in May 2021 compared to May 2019 but were up +23% from a year ago, recovering from a -23% decline in May 2020. The key to the industry’s recovery will be the strength of each daypart. Each daypart — morning meal, lunch, dinner, and P.M. Snack — will recover differently depending on the new rhythms of home, school, and work-life, according to NPD’s continual tracking of the U.S. foodservice industry.

Visits, online or physical, at morning meal, which includes the breakfast and A.M. Snack periods, were down -5% in May 2021 compared to May 2020, and for a pre-pandemic view, down...

Retail Cargo Continues to See Double-Digit Increases Over 2020 as Supply Chain Disruptions Continue

Imports at the nation’s largest retail container ports are continuing to show double-digit growth over last year as strong consumer demand keeps up its momentum, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“The year-over-year growth we saw this spring was off the charts because the comparisons were against a time when most stores were shut down due to the pandemic,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “But we’re continuing to see strong growth even as we enter a point when stores had begun to reopen last year. That’s a sign of the...

US Food Retail: Where Did Consumers Go During Covid-19? 

While the fact that food retailers have benefited enormously from stay-at-home orders and restaurant closures is hardly news, a deeper look into credit/debit card transactions reveals their different impacts across food retail categories in both brick-and-mortar and online environments. We translated these data points into six learnings from the most eventful year in the food industry in generations, as well as into insights as to how players can sustain the momentum in a post-Covid economy.

- Online is the big winner, but summer may bring a temporary halt. Recent data indicates a likely temporary halt to this expansion in Q2 2021, as cases...

Broad-Based Growth Drives U.S. Beef and Pork Exports to New Heights

Fueled by impressive growth in a wide range of destinations, U.S. beef and pork export value shattered previous records in May, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports also reached a new volume high in May, while pork export volume was the third largest on record.

“The outstanding May performance is especially gratifying when you consider where red meat exports stood a year ago,” noted USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “The industry faced unprecedented, COVID-related obstacles at all levels of the supply chain, and...

Foodservice, Drinking Places Help Propel US Employment Boost in June

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said notable job gains were seen in the foodservice and drinking places sector for the month of June.

Overall, nonfarm payroll employment jumped 850,000 in June. In June, nonfarm payroll employment is up by 15.6 million since April 2020 but is down by 6.8 million, or 4.4%, from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

For the month, nearly half the job gain was seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (343,000) which has opened at a rapid pace as...

Poultry Quarterly Q3 2021: Improving Local Industry Performance, Shifting Trade Flows

The outlook for the global poultry industry continues to improve. This is mainly driven by the reopening of economies as vaccination levels accelerate in developed countries and increase in emerging markets. This will help the recovery of global, regional, and especially foodservice demand, which, on average, makes up one-third of global poultry demand. As supply usually responds slowly to such increases, significant price inflation in 2H 2021 is possible, especially as feed prices remain high and avian influenza has disrupted...

Chief Economist: NRF Revised Forecast Because ‘Great Uncertainty’ Has Transformed Into Recovery

As retailers head into the second half of 2021, the “great uncertainty” that clouded the nation’s economic outlook earlier in the year has transformed into evidence of an unprecedented recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said today.

“It has become clear that the U.S. economy and retail sales are growing far faster and more steadily than anyone could have expected just a few months ago,” Kleinhenz said. “We are seeing not just unprecedented growth from months of pent-up demand as the economy reopens but momentum as well...

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...

Pilgrim’s Shares 2020 Sustainability Achievements

Pilgrim’s announced the release of its 2020 Sustainability Report, which includes the five-year results of its 2015 sustainability goals and aggressive new global targets that will guide the company’s sustainability strategy over the next decade and beyond. The report transparently details the company’s progress in key priority areas – animal care, team members, environment, communities, customers and consumers, and suppliers – across its operations in the UK, Continental Europe, Mexico and the United States.

Pilgrim’s has established sustainability as core to its business strategy, adopting industry-leading initiatives that build on the company’s long-standing commitment to sustainable food production. Pilgrim’s is the first major global meat and poultry company to offer a sustainability-linked bond tied to...

Fourth of July Cookout Cost Stable Compared to Year Ago

U.S. consumers will pay just a few cents more for their favorite Independence Day cookout foods compared to last year, including cheeseburgers, pork chops, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad, pork & beans, strawberries, potato chips, fresh-squeezed lemonade and vanilla ice cream with chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

Farm Bureau analysis reveals the average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people remains affordable at $59.50, or less than $6 per person. The cost is up just 16 cents (less than 1%) from last year, but...

USAPEEC: Latest Update On the South Korea HPAI Egg Situation

Since the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) broke out, the consumer price of the egg has been soaring. However, at some point, the egg price is expected to fall from mid-year 2021. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), on June 11th, the domestic price of an egg tray, which is formed of 30 shell eggs, rose 46 percent to 7,557 KRW (6.69 USD), from 5,179 KRW (4.59 USD) the average year.

The HPAI has died down, but the price has not yet come down with it. With the prolongation of COVID-19, consumers tend to stay indoors and avoid eating out. The change in consumer behavior caused an increase in the demand for the egg. According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), the average purchase of eggs per household in the first quarter of 2021 was...

Technomic's Take: Roadblock to Recovery for Restaurants

By all accounts, the restaurant industry is roaring back to life as vaccination distribution spreads, dine-in restrictions are lifted and improved weather throughout most of the country sends consumers flocking to restaurants to dine with friends and family. Operators are reporting same-store sales approaching, and in some cases exceeding, pre-pandemic levels as pent-up demand drives the dine-in surge and off-premise orders remain strong.

For restaurant operators eager to return to full capacity, however, significant headwinds remain as the restaurant industry struggles to fill jobs to meet this booming demand. The biggest challenge facing operators in this current recovery period is finding staff willing to work. There are numerous other factors that are impacting...