ANALYSIS: A Jumbo/Medium Chicken Breast Meat Inflection Point

Over the years, medium-sized boneless breasts have enjoyed an unyielding premium over their jumbo-sized counterparts...

ANALYSIS: Pork Butts See Significant Pressure After Memorial Day

Substantial pressure continues to be noted throughout the fresh pork complex with bone-in butts seeing considerable losses in just...

Red Robin to Re-Open Approximately 65% Company-Operated Dining Rooms by June 7

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. announced that the Company expects to have re-opened approximately 270 dining rooms with limited capacity by June 7, 2020, representing approximately 65% of currently open Company-operated restaurants.

Paul J.B. Murphy III, Red Robin’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “With our relentless focus on health and safety for our Team Members and Guests, we are continuing to make progress re-opening our dining rooms across the country and welcome back our loyal Red Robin fans to experience...

COVID-19 Impact on Alternative Protein Industry

The on-going COVID-19 pandemic is re-shaping everything from the global economies to product categories, pricing, and stock availability to consumer behavior.

The pandemic has also placed the spotlight on meat supply and food security globally. The spotlight on meat supply has been evident in both developed and emerging markets amidst disruptions to supply chains and panic buying and stockpiling, following announcements of lockdowns and social distancing measures...

Amazon Air Expands Aircraft Fleet

Amazon continues to adapt to meet the changing needs of customers by investing in ways to provide fast, free delivery. Today, the company announced the lease of 12 Boeing 767-300 converted cargo aircraft from Air Transport Services Group (ATSG). These aircraft will join Amazon’s existing fleet of 70 aircraft to bring its total network to over 80 aircraft. One of the new aircraft joined Amazon’s air cargo operations in May 2020, with the remaining 11 to be delivered in 2021.

Amazon Air’s fleet expansion comes at a time when people in communities across the country continue to adjust to this unprecedented time, with many relying on having the items they need delivered directly to their doorstep. Amazon Air has played a central role during the COVID-19 pandemic by transporting essential PPE supplies for Amazon associates, frontline health workers and...

ANALYSIS: Turkey - Potential Production Progress Report

About a month ago we took a look at turkey egg sets which had plummeted to some of the lowest seasonal figures on record...

The Cheesecake Factory Provides Business Update

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated provided a business update given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Company began to reopen dining rooms across its concepts the second week of May. As of today, approximately 25% of the Company’s restaurants across its concepts, including 34 Cheesecake Factory restaurants, have reopened dining rooms with limited capacity in accordance with local mandates.

The reopened Cheesecake Factory restaurants have recaptured, on average, approximately 75% of prior year sales levels, reflecting continued strength in off-premise sales and building dine-in business. For The Cheesecake Factory restaurants that are continuing to operate...

Nielsen: Understanding Consumer Sentiment Can Help Companies Adjust as the U.S. Begins to Reopen 

Even though the year is almost half over, it’s just now starting to feel like a new year in parts of the U.S., as many states have allowed certain non-essential businesses like restaurants, movie theaters and retail stores to re-open in at least some capacity. We know, however, that many Americans plan to play it safe as businesses come back online rather than immediately jumping back into pre-lockdown behaviors. That’s why companies need to understand evolving consumer sentiment before assuming that open-for-business means business as usual.

The rise in CPG purchases (both on and offline) has been well documented throughout the lockdown period, but we have yet to see how consumers approach visiting non-essential businesses once they’re open again...

Aramark Opens More than 100 Pop-Up Grocery Stores for Frontline Healthcare Workers

As the fight against COVID-19 continues, Aramark is continuing to assist and support frontline workers by opening on-site ‘pop-up’ grocery stores at healthcare facilities across the country, to serve as a one-stop shop for doctors, nurses and hospital staff to grab necessities on their way home. To date, Aramark has opened more than 100 pop-up stores.

The Company is transforming existing retail spaces into grocery stores offering a variety of fresh baked goods, bread, milk, eggs, non-perishable items, paper towels, health & beauty aids and more.

These ‘mini-marts’ stock basic and hard-to-get items that Aramark is able to source through its vast distributor network. By offering a place to shop within their workplace environment...

Cracker Barrel Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results And Provides Business Update

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. reported its financial results for the third quarter ended May 1, 2020 and provided an update regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease ("COVID-19") pandemic on the Company's business.

COVID-19 Business Update

Beginning in March, the unprecedented circumstances and rapidly changing market conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant disruptions to the restaurant industry and to the Company's business. As previously disclosed, the Company undertook numerous actions in response to the pandemic to...

Uncertainty Surrounds the Reopening of Businesses

While the reopening of businesses shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic is a significant step forward, the rate at which the economy will recover or consumers will feel comfortable resuming activities such as dining out or shopping remains to be seen.

“Is it possible the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is behind us? Maybe, but we are not out of the woods yet, and uncertainty abounds,” said National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz.

Kleinhenz added, “Predicting what will happen is even more challenging than usual. While history often helps guide us, previous downturns offer little guidance on what is likely to unfold over the next six to 12 months. There is no user’s manual in which government, businesses or consumers can find...

U.S. Restaurant Chain Transactions Down 18% Compared to Year Ago but Continue to Improve 

With nearly 320,000 restaurant units in the U.S. now allowed to offer some level of on-premise dining, customer transaction declines at major restaurant chains continued to improve in the week ending May 24, reports The NPD Group. Total major restaurant chain transactions declined by 18% in the week compared to same week year ago, a 25 point gain from the steepest decline during the COVID-19 pandemic of 43% in week ending April 12, according to CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 70 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains.

Major full service chain restaurant transactions declined by 42% versus same time year ago, a 7 point improvement from the prior week’s decline of...

NAMI's Response to New York Times' "End of Meat" Op-Ed

Like many sectors of the economy, meat and poultry production has been challenged during the COVID crisis. This leads to the popular pundit sport of writing the industry’s eulogy. The most recent comes from vegetarian and author Jonathan Safran Foer here in the New York Times. Safran Foer says COVID-19 has shown that for Americans, the end of meat is here.

From the start of the pandemic, it was clear meat is essential to Americans. Consumers were flooding grocery stores and buying necessities. Meat was among the few key items, like toilet paper and hand sanitizer, which they bought immediately and in historically high quantities. Meat continues to experience...

US Foods to Provide Free Reopening Kits to Independent Restaurants Across the Country

US Foods Holding Corp. announced it is giving away free reopening kits to qualifying independent restaurant owners to help support restaurant reopening efforts in communities across the U.S. The reopening kits provide independent restaurant operators with must-have supplies such as masks and safety guidance posters as well as resource guides to navigate state and local COVID-19 reopening requirements and help create a safer environment for staff and customers alike.

This initiative builds on the company’s ongoing commitment to providing foodservice operators with the expertise, resources and tools to help them successfully adapt their operations during COVID-19...

FAT Brands Reports First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

FAT(Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., reported fiscal first quarter 2020 financial results for the 13-week period ending March 29, 2020 and provided an update on the business as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andy Wiederhorn, President and CEO of FAT Brands, commented, “The first five months of 2020 have been unprecedented, and our mission has been steadfast - to guide our franchisees and their employees through these challenging times as safely as possible so they may best serve their communities and guests. As we are now moving into the re-opening phase in many locations both domestically and internationally, our operations teams have...

NPPC Urges Quick Senate Action on Legislative Relief for Hog Farmers 

COVID-related challenges have taken a severe financial and emotional toll on U.S. hog farmers, and rapid federal government assistance is needed to help thousands of pork producers weather this crisis. At a press briefing hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), four pork producers addressed the crisis on their farms and called on the U.S. Senate to expeditiously adopt livestock agriculture provisions included in COVID-relief legislation recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The impact of COVID-19 has caused hog values to plummet, creating a financial disaster for pork producers nationwide who face a collective $5 billion loss for the remainder of the year. Additionally, U.S. pork producers face...

Papa John’s Provides Business Update on Ongoing Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Papa John’s International, Inc. provided an update on the ongoing business impact of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including preliminary estimated comparable sales information for the May fiscal period. In the spirit of transparency during these uncertain times, the company will continue providing this information on a monthly basis through the June fiscal period, which is the end of the second quarter.

Rob Lynch, President & CEO said, “In May, for the second straight month, Papa John’s team members and franchisees delivered the best sales period in the company’s history. Our teams continue to meet the needs of new and returning customers and their communities, while making...

Ranking Member Stabenow Introduces Legislation to Protect America’s Food Supply

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, introduced legislation to help protect the food supply after the COVID-19 crisis has put an unprecedented strain on farmers, workers, food banks, and families.

“The COVID-19 crisis has tested the strength of our nation’s food supply chain, creating a ripple effect that’s harming our families, farmers and workers,” said Senator Stabenow. “This bill will help strengthen our food supply by redirecting food to families and helping farmers and processors retool their operations.”

The shift in demand from restaurants and food service to retail and food donations has caused bottlenecks in the supply chain. Meanwhile, outbreaks of COVID-19 in food processing plants have...

ANALYSIS: A Bird’s Eye View of YTD Chicken Production

With mid-year just around the corner, this week we thought it would be a good opportunity to investigate how chicken headcount and average live weights are stacking up against...

DoorDash Launches Initiative to Continue Supporting Local Restaurants

DoorDash announced Main Street Strong, an initiative to help restaurants navigate the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this initiative, DoorDash is launching a suite of products, programs, and policies to help restaurants grow their business and take control of the customer experience by building their own digital ordering solutions.

As part of the "Main Street Strong" initiative, DoorDash is announcing new products and programs aimed at helping restaurants build their own brands online according to their unique needs.

Launching DoorDash Storefront, a service that enables restaurants to create their own online stores, providing them with a turnkey solution to offer their customers on-demand access to their restaurant without investing in in-house logistics. By our estimate, 40% of our restaurant partners today do not have...

Yum China Releases 2019 Sustainability Report

Yum China Holdings, Inc., issued its annual Sustainability Report, which highlights its commitment to sustainability and dedication to giving back to the community. It is the Company's third annual Sustainability Report since becoming an independent, publicly-traded company in 2016.

The new report outlines Yum China's sustainability strategy and its accomplishments in 2019, underscoring the importance of sustainability, innovation and culture to the Company's operations. The report also reflects Yum China's commitment to developing goals and taking actions in line with the Sustainable Development Goals to support the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

"As China's largest restaurant company, we are committed to working with stakeholders across the value chain to promote economic, social, and environmental sustainability. This is crucial not only for...

Technomic: Turmoil, Uncertainty and Some Relief Expected for Foodservice Over the Next 18 Months

The foodservice industry will experience significant declines in 2020.

The degree of decline will be dependent upon the timing of lifting restaurant closure restrictions, the status of school and college openings in the fall, the degree of travel return and a possible second COVID-19 wave in the fall.

Healthcare and retail hosts will be the strongest performers

In terms of segments, healthcare will perform at the strongest level in 2020, followed by retail hosts (e.g., c-stores, supermarkets) and limited-service restaurants. Retail and healthcare are less impacted by closures and LSR is strongly positioned for off-premise business. The most affected segments are...

Tyson Foods Publishes 2019 Sustainability Report 

Tyson Foods, Inc. published its 2019 Sustainability Report, “Grow – Deliver - Sustain”, outlining progress toward its sustainability goals and announcing key achievements in five focus areas: Food, Animal Welfare, Environment, Workplace, and Communities. The goal of Tyson Foods' sustainability initiative is to ensure the company produces safe, nutritious food for the global population and makes a positive impact on the world.

Tyson Foods’ commitments to help build a more safe, environmentally sound and sustainable food system represent a key element of the company's broader vision to raise the world's expectations for how much good food can do. Its strategy for sustainably feeding the world with the fastest-growing protein brands focuses on growing its business by delivering superior value to consumers and...

Coronavirus Continues to Impact the Unemployment Rate but Initial Claims Decrease 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the figure for initial unemployment claims was 2,123,000 for the week ending May 23. This week's number is a decrease of 323,000 from the previous week's revised level. The updated 4-week moving average was 2,608,000, a decline of 436,000 from the prior week's revised average.

For the week ending May 16, the adjusted insured unemployment rate reached 14.5%, a decrease of 2.6 percentage points from the previous week's rate. Also, the rate for the week prior was revised down by 0.1 to 17.1%. The 4-week moving average was 22,722,250, an increase of 760,250 from the previous week's revised level.

The number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled...

Domino's Pizza Announces Business Update

Domino's Pizza, Inc., announced preliminary information from the first eight weeks of the second quarter in advance of its second quarter earnings release on Thursday, July 16, 2020 in light of the dynamic situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statement from Ritch Allison, Domino's Chief Executive Officer:

"Today we are providing a business update which includes preliminary sales results from the first eight weeks of the second quarter. We are doing so in the spirit of transparency, and due to the material increase in U.S. same store sales that we have experienced subsequent to...

U.S. Restaurants Continue Slow Recovery in Week Ending May 17 as More States Reopen

Customer transactions at major U.S. restaurant chains declined by 21% in the week ending May 17 compared to same period last year, a slight gain from last week’s 23% decline and the fifth consecutive week of improvement, reports The NPD Group. Major quick service chain restaurants, which represent the majority of restaurant transactions, improved transaction declines to 20% in the week compared to a 21% decline in the prior week from year ago, according to CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 70 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains.

Continued improvement in restaurant chain transaction declines was aided by adding 93,000 restaurant units in states where restrictions to on-premise dining were lifted from the week ending May 10 to the week ending May 17. These openings are more critical for...

The Trip Back to 'Normal' Slaughter Levels

Tuesday, May 26th, was a relative milestone for the hog industry as of late. The day’s kill was estimated at 405,000 head, the first time daily slaughter reached the 400,000 mark since April 17th. While this is a small victory, it is a victory nonetheless for an industry that has seen a precipitous drop in chain speeds due to COVID-19. The last time hog slaughter was near ‘normal’ was the week ended April 18th. Just two months ago, the industry achieved the largest daily hog slaughter on record at 500,879 head. As worker absenteeism and plant shutdowns disrupted chain speeds drastically during the last week of April, daily kill dropped to as low as 267,367 head, nearly 47% off its peak. 

It has been a slow but steady climb back to ‘normal’ slaughter levels. The improvement in production capabilities during the latest five weeks has helped nudge last week’s kill to over 2 million head. Early indications for this Saturday’s slaughter are pushing... 

Consumer Confidence Index Stabilizes in May

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index held steady in May, following a sharp decline in April. The Index now stands at 86.6 (1985=100), up from 85.7 in April. The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – declined from 73.0 to 71.1. However, the Expectations Index – based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions – improved from 94.3 in April to 96.9 this month.

The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was...

PODCAST: What's Shakin with Bacon? Volatility in the Pork Market

Russell Barton joins the show (from a distance) to discuss the unprecedented volatility in the pork market due to COVID-19. This segment covers retail, foodservice, unemployment, exports, and more...

Taco Bell Plans to Hire 30,000 Team Members this Summer

Taco Bell announced today that it, together with its franchisees and licensees, plans to hire at least 30,000 team members this summer. The company and its franchisees are committed to being the safest place to work, and Taco Bell has previously introduced strict steps to protect team members, including temperature checks, contactless service and mask and glove requirements. During a time of uncertainty, Taco Bell and its franchisees are proud to offer jobs and welcome more individuals to their community.

“Since COVID-19 became a reality, we have continued our commitment to putting our people first,” said Taco Bell’s Chief People Officer Kelly McCulloch. “We work closely with our franchisees to ensure that we’re meeting...

ANALYSIS: COVID 19 Rooted Chicken Production Cutbacks on Tap 

Not a day goes by when the immediate and future potential impact of COVID-19 isn't central to dialogue...

UB Consulting Presents: The Other Side of COVID-19

The latest report from UB Consulting provides a look into what The Other Side of COVID-19 looks like for the protein industry. 

Although each commodity’s foodservice dependence varies widely, the ripple effects across supply chains continue to be felt, from inconsistent supply availability and price volatility, rising unemployment and changing consumer behavior. UB Consulting has outlined the biggest impacts seen in the egg, red meat, chicken, and certain segments of the seafood value chain as well as a few things to watch out for as we move closer to the "other side" of this pandemic. 

Click HERE to read this exclusive report...

Has the Coronavirus Caused Consumers to Adopt New Eating Behaviors? 

Although social distancing measures have forced many people to stay indoors and start experimenting in the kitchen, the verdict is mixed on home cooking. According to Datassential, two in five consumers did not actually start cooking more often. However, about 35% found joy and excitement in discovering new dishes, yet more than a third of Gen X and households with children are sick of having to cook more often for their families.

For the most part, the pandemic has encouraged very few consumers to adopt new shopping and dining strategies, the rest are maintaining their prior routines. Online grocery shopping and grocery delivery have benefited the most from these new trials, with 21% trying grocery pickup for the first time, and...

TOURtech Touchless Menu Technology Helps Restaurants Reopen Safely

TOURtech unveiled its Touchless Menu technology, which broadcasts digital menus onto guests' personal smart devices. This system eliminates the need for disposable and reusable menus, supporting social distancing guidelines and helping reduce multi-touch items that can spread COVID-19 and other germs.

"We all want to reopen bars and restaurants, but in the safest possible way," said Allen Cook, founder and CEO of TOURtech. "Our technology provides safe ordering for customers and staff so restaurant owners can focus on...

April Restaurants Sales Hit Lowest Point in 35 Years

According to the National Restaurant Association, consumer spending at eating and drinking establishments was at its lowest level since October 1984, when adjusted for inflation.

In the month of April, sales at eating and drinking establishments reached $32.4 billion, on a seasonally-adjusted basis according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In January, sales were more than double April’s mark at $65.4 billion.

April sales were the smallest in volume since March 2005, but when adjusting for inflation it was the lowest mark in 35 years...

Initial Unemployment Claims Decrease from Previous Week's Level

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in the week ending May 16th, initial unemployment claims totaled 2,348,000. This is a decrease of 249,000 from the previous week's revised level. Claims totaled 2,687,000 in the last week, and the 4-week moving average was 3,042,000, a decrease of 501,000 from week prior. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 17.2% for the week ending May 9th, an increase of 1.7 percentage points from the previous week's revised rate.

The advance number of initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, reached 2,174,329 in the week ending May 16th. This represented a decrease of 182,265 or 7.7%. To compare, there were...

Darden Restaurants Provides Business Update

Darden Restaurants, Inc., provided an update of certain business results given the dynamic environment resulting from COVID-19.

"As we continue to reopen our dining rooms, we remain dedicated to providing a safe environment for our team members and guests," said CEO Gene Lee. "Early signs show that our loyal guests are grateful for the opportunity to dine-in with us, and they appreciate the added safety measures we have implemented. At the same time, our To Go business remains strong. I am pleased that we are able to return some team members from furlough to support these phased openings, and we look forward to safely serving more guests as...

Technomic: Consumer Perspective on Social Distancing Measures within Restaurants

Following CDC guidelines for safe social distancing, half of consumers would be comfortable dining in at restaurants with a 6-foot distance between tables. However, more than a quarter would be more comfortable with 9-15 feet.

More consumers willing to social distance than wear protective gear

More than half of consumers would follow social distancing measures, but less than half would be willing to wear a mask or gloves when in a restaurant. Consumers ages 35-44 are more likely to...

SNAP Online Purchasing to Cover 90% of Households

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that households in 13 new states – Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia – will soon be able to purchase food online with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Once operational, online purchasing will be available in 36 states and the District of Columbia, home to more than 90% of SNAP participants. 

In addition, Secretary Perdue also announced an expansion of independently owned and operated retail stores beyond those included in the original pilot. Soon more SNAP authorized retailers, under...

USDA, FDA Strengthen U.S. Food Supply Chain Protections During COVID-19 Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic response continues, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have been working around the clock on many fronts to support the U.S. food and agriculture sector so that Americans continue to have access to a safe and robust food supply. As a next step in carrying out Executive Order 13917, the USDA and FDA announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (PDF, 137 KB) to help prevent interruptions at FDA-regulated food facilities, including fruit and vegetable processing.

This is an important preparedness effort as we are approaching peak harvesting seasons, when many fruits and vegetables grown across the U.S. are sent to be...

MPF Cancels Face-To-Face Event; Moves Forward with Virtual Trade Show & Convention in August

Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety and health of its attendees and exhibitors, the Midwest Poultry Federation (MPF) announces that its in-person convention, re-scheduled for July, is cancelled. Instead, MPF will offer a complete virtual trade show and conference online on August 12-13, 2020.

MPF’s leadership team met several times last week to weigh its options and then brought the full board together to make the decision, which was unanimous.

Said MPF President Greg Nelson: “Given the current COVID-10 situation and the unknowns surrounding large gatherings, we cancelled the in-person convention in the best interest of...

US Foods Launches Restaurant Reopening Blueprint

US Foods Holding Corp. announced the launch of the company’s latest COVID-19 online operator resource, the US Foods Restaurant Reopening Blueprint. The Restaurant Reopening Blueprint provides operators with a how-to for putting key COVID-19 guidelines into practice as they plan reopening efforts.

The Restaurant Reopening Blueprint is informed by interviews with key stakeholders such as diners, restaurant staff and US Foods consultants and chefs. Interviews were also conducted with operators and diners in China to understand what learnings might be applicable for U.S. restaurant operations.

The guide provides recommendations for approaching regulatory requirements, principles for planning an effective reopening, best practices for approaching...

An Updated List of Restaurant Dine-In Guidelines And Opening Dates for Every State

The dining experience is going to be looking a lot different in a post-coronavirus world. 

Back in March states began to close restaurant dining rooms in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Now, over a month later, some states are beginning to reopen the economy, which in some cases allows restaurants to once again offer in-house dining. However, with no COVID-19 vaccine, and the coronavirus continuing to spread throughout the country, busy waiting areas and packed dining rooms are..

Still Concerned About COVID-19, U.S. Consumers Will Want More from Convenience Stores

Across the U.S. retail landscape, the convenience channel has been the offline channel to watch over the past year. With the country in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, the convenience channel is poised to be even more dominant as stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.

Last November, Nielsen forecasted that the U.S. convenience channel would grow faster than all other offline channels over the next five years. When we look at the importance of proximity to our homes and the desire among many to avoid large crowds, convenience stores have the ability to write their own future. To do so, they need to embrace the opportunity to expand beyond categories traditionally expected from the channel. Baking staples, for example, aren’t common on the shelves at most C-stores, but...

CDC Provides Guidelines for Reopening Restaurants and Bars During COVID-19 Pandemic

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines to help foodservice businesses like restaurants and bars reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CDC urged businesses to “check with state and local health officials and other partners to determine the most appropriate actions while adjusting to meet the unique needs and circumstances of the local community.”

As restaurants consider reopening, the CDC noted two questions business owners should ask, the first being, “Will reopening be consistent with applicable state and local orders..."

DOJ Provides Guidance for U.S. Pork Industry Response to COVID Crisis

The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division provided guidance for collaboration among U.S. hog farmers to effectively address unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The favorable decision is in response to a “business review” letter submitted to the DOJ by the National Pork Producers Council seeking permission to allow hog farmers greater flexibility in working to maximize the number of hogs entering the food supply, minimize the tragic need to euthanize hogs, and, facilitate the safe and orderly euthanization of those hogs which are not able to enter the food supply.

COVID-related pork packing plant closures and slowdowns have caused a severe back-up of pigs on farms. Overcrowding impacts pigs’ ability to rest comfortably and may result in...

April Retail Sales Drop Nearly Twice as Much as March During Coronavirus Pandemic

Retail sales dropped almost twice as much during April as they did in March as the nation’s economy saw its first full month when most businesses were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Retail Federation said.

“As predicted, retail sales were bad in April and lower than in March,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “This should come as no surprise since April was the first full month when most businesses not considered essential were closed, both in retail and across the economy. But month-to-month comparisons provide little insight other than indicating that most of the economy was on lockdown. Now that we’re in mid-May, many businesses are already starting to reopen. Relief payments and pent-up demand should provide some degree of post-shutdown rebound, but...

Maple Leaf Foods Reports First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

COVID-19 Impact on the Plant-Based Meat Market

According to MarketsandMarkets, the global plant-based meat market size is projected to grow from $3.6 billion in 2020 to $4.2 billion by 2021, recording a compound annual growth rate of 17.0% in the realistic scenario during the forecast period.

The pea segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment in the plant-based meat market during the forecast period.

The use of pea in plant-based meat has gained significant prominence over the past two years, driven by companies such as Beyond Meat (US), R&S Blumos (Brazil), and other regional players who are...

Rabobank: Impact of Coronavirus on Southeast Asian Food & Agribusiness

Southeast Asia will face far-reaching challenges from the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, such as economic decline, reduced out-of-home consumption, and supply chains disruptions, even beyond the lockdowns.

After panic buying, consumers will shift from foodservice to retail and – after a short, suppressed splurge (if any) – to recession-period spending.

Production will also be affected, albeit less, but transporting goods will continue to experience problems due to...