ANALYSIS: Hatchery figures: Filling a Need but Which One?

By almost every measure, 2020 has been an historic year and one which has rocked the chicken industry to its core...

New Legislation Introduced to Help Independent Restaurants Recover from COVID-19 Challenges

The Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act of 2020 was introduced on June 18 calling for $120 billion to help independent restaurants recover from the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Introduced by a bipartisan coalition of politicians including U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Representatives Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa, the legislation will create a fund to deal with the impacts of the coronavirus and help reemploy...

ANALYSIS: Labor Issues Create Record Spread Between Bone-in and Boneless Hams

Despite the nation’s gradual recovery and reopening, labor issues continue to plague some areas of the pork industry. We have seen this most often...

Tyson Foods, Inc. Releases Results From Covid-19 Testing At Berry Street Facility In Springdale, AR

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) announced today the results of facility-wide testing for COVID-19 at its Berry Street poultry facility in Springdale, Arkansas. 

Of the 1,102 team members who work at the facility and were tested onsite from June 4 to June 6, 199 tested positive, only one of whom showed symptoms. The other 198 individuals who tested positive did not show any symptoms and otherwise would not have been identified. 

This is in addition to 48 positive cases identified at Berry Street by the Department of Health or when seeking care through their own health care providers...

Smithfield Foods Details Ongoing COVID-19 Testing at Its Facilities

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today said that it is continuing to prioritize employee health and safety by providing free, on-demand COVID-19 testing to all its employees at its more than 40 U.S. facilities. The company offered the following details about the ongoing COVID-19 testing:

- Last month, Smithfield completed a testing phase in which private healthcare providers administered mass testing on a voluntary basis to all its employees.  

- At the conclusion of that phase, beginning last month, the company hired four private healthcare providers, Matrix Medical Network, Eurofins Scientific, Mako 

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...

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...

Restaurant Employment Falls to Lowest Level Since 1989

The restaurant industry lost more than three decades of jobs in the last two months, according to National Restaurant Association analysis of preliminary data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eating and drinking places – which are the primary component of the total restaurant and foodservice industry – lost 5.5 million jobs in April, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, which follows a net decline of nearly a half-million jobs in March. This is nearly three times more jobs than any other industry.

"In February, there were more than 12 million people on the payrolls of eating and drinking places across this country, but today more than six million restaurant workers are...

Kroger Providing COVID-19 Testing to Frontline Employees

Retail giant Kroger announced it will provide free COVID-19 testing to its frontline associates based on symptoms and medical needs.

The company also highlighted the additional safety measures it put in place to help protect its workforce.

"At Kroger, the safety and health of our associates and customers remain our top priority during this unprecedented time," said Tim Massa, Kroger's senior vice president and chief people officer. "Our associates have worked tirelessly to provide communities continued access to fresh, affordable food. We are dedicated to providing support and gratitude to our..."

ANALYSIS: Chicken Processors Coping with COVID-19 Related Set Backs

In light of the recent challenges that COVID-19 has brought upon the chicken industry, this week we thought it would be a good opportunity to check in on the supply side of the equation to...

Coronavirus Continues to Impact Number of Initial Unemployment Claims

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the figure for initial unemployment claims was 4,427,000 for the week ending April 18th. This is a decrease of 810,000 from the previous week's revised level. Last week's level was revised down by 8,000 claims from 5,245,000 for a total of 5,237,000. The 4-week moving average increased by 280,000 to reach 5,786,500.

For the week ending April 11th, the insured unemployment rate was 11%, an increase of 2.8 percentage points from the previous week. This marks the highest level of the insured unemployment rate in the history of the series. The total reached...

National Restaurant Association: Restaurant Industry has Lost Two-Thirds of Workforce

From beloved corner diners, to favorite independent restaurants to well-known chains, the entire restaurant industry has lost two-thirds of its workforce, more than eight million employees, as a result of COVID-19 closures, according to a new national survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association and included in a new industry recovery plan sent to Congress today.

The Association called on Congress to enact a new "Blueprint for Recovery" to provide targeted relief for the second largest private sector employer, an industry that is larger than airlines, railroads, ground transportation and spectator sports combined, and that has in the past been one of the...

Unemployment Claims Top 6 Million as Coronavirus Keeps Businesses Closed

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, during the week ending March 28th, the increase in initial unemployment claims due to the impact of the coronavirus reached 6,648,000. This is an increase of 3,341,000 from the previous week's revised level. States continued to identify increases related to the services industry broadly, again led by accommodation and foodservice.

However, state comments indicated a wider impact across industries. Some states cited social assistance and manufacturing. Meanwhile, an increasing number of states identified...

Retail Fresh Produce Demand Soars, but Landmines Remain During Coronavirus Pandemic 

The COVID-19 situation has created a surge in fresh produce demand in retail grocery, but challenges around foodservice, logistics, macroeconomics, and labor availability pose ongoing threats. While fresh produce sales through foodservice channels have largely dried up, consumers continue to stock up on grocery items, including fresh produce.

Logistics have been strained, both globally and domestically, but the industry is adapting rapidly. The imminent global recession and rapid climb in the value of the US dollar will continue to threaten global demand, even after the virus is contained. Labor availability constraints and increases in...

Coronavirus Impact Leads to Highest Unemployment Claims in U.S. History 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, during the week ending March 21st, the increase in initial unemployment claims due to the impact of the coronavirus reached a record high. States are continuing to cite service industries broadly, particularly foodservice. Additional industries also cited include social services, transportation, warehouses, and manufacturing industries.

A record 3,283,000 people filed claims for unemployment in the United States last week as the coronavirus pandemic shut down large parts of the economy. The labor department reported that the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims showed an increase of 3,001,000 from the previous week's revised level.

This marks the highest level of claims in the history of the seasonally adjusted series. The previous high was 695,000 in October of 1982. The previous week's level was revised up by...

Papa John’s to Hire 20,000 New Team Members Immediately

Papa John’s announced the company is hiring up to 20,000 new restaurant team members.

“For anyone looking for immediate ways to earn an income, we’re making it quick and simple to apply, interview and be hired at Papa John’s,” said Marvin Boakye, Papa John’s chief people and diversity officer. “We want to add talented team members to our Papa John’s family across the country to deliver food safely to our customers’ doorsteps. We are in the unique position – as a restaurant that specializes in...

Coronavirus: 3,000 U.S. Jobs Already Publicly Cut, 9 Million More Threatened as Restaurants Close

Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. reported that coronavirus-related job cuts reached 3,634, with an additional 9 million jobs threatened in the leisure and hospitality sector.

In Challenger’s Job Cuts Report, which tracks publicly announced job cuts through company announcements, media reports, and SEC filings, did not include layoffs from bars and restaurants that were shut down across 13 states.

"We are certainly beginning to see the cracks in the foundation. Slowing demand, brought on by the need for Americans to practice social distancing..."

NPPC Renews Call for Labor Solutions for Pork Production Continuity 

Job Report Numbers Show 2020 is Off to a Good Start

Starting the year on a strong note, the US economy added 225,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 3.6 percent. Today's job report provides more evidence of accelerating employment growth, with the last three months averaging 211,000 new jobs. Stronger employment growth may reflect growing confidence of employers, as some of the geopolitical risks -- such as the US-China trade spat -- subsided in recent months.

Amid stagnant growth in the working-age population, strong employment growth will likely further tighten the labor market in 2020. As a result, we can expect increasing challenges around...

Rabobank: Foodservice 2020 Global Outlook

The global market outlook is for foodservice sales to continue to grow, although some tempering is expected due to macroeconomic uncertainties across most geographies. This report explores the foodservice market in various regions and looks at the four main issues for foodservice executives: the macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, delivery, input costs, and sustainability.

The Foodservice 2020 Global Outlook explores the issues that are top of mind for foodservice executives. The first of these is the uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment. Consumer confidence, a key driver for foodservice, may be under increased pressure in 2020 as economic growth slows down and geopolitical events add uncertainty and an overall...

Despite Gradual Slowing of Job Growth, Labor Market will Still Feel Tight in 2020

The US economy added 145,000 jobs in December, and previous months were revised down slightly. The unemployment rate remained at 3.5 percent. This month's job growth was in line with The Conference Board's view that the labor market appears to be in a healthy state.

Job creation was mainly concentrated in the services sector as well as in construction, while the decline of 12,000 jobs in manufacturing shows that this part of the economy is still weak. However, easing trade tensions between China and the US may help to further improve business confidence in 2020, as The Conference Board reported earlier this week.

With this month's increase in employment, the labor market ended 2019 on solid footing. In 2019, the unemployment rate reached its lowest point since the late 1960s and job growth was...

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...

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...

Consumer Confidence Index Rebounded in July

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index rebounded in July, following a decrease in June. The Index now stands at 135.7 (1985=100), up from 124.3 in June. The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – increased from 164.3 to 170.9. The Expectations Index – based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions – increased from 97.6 last month to 112.2 this month.

“After a sharp decline in June, driven by an escalation in trade and tariff tensions, Consumer Confidence rebounded in July to its highest level this year,” said Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “Consumers are once again optimistic about current and prospective business and...

U.S. Department of Labor Releases Productivity and Costs by Industry Report

The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released its productivity and costs by industry in 2018 report. The report highlighted changes in the productivity of employees in various industries, along with the compensation workers receive.

The report provides statistics for merchant wholesalers that sell grocery and related products, food and grocery stores, and foodservice and drinking places.  

The report highlighted various statistics, including an upswing in labor productivity for foodservice in 2018, which climbed by 1.6 percent. In the same industry...