Idaho Smokehouse Partners Recalls Nearly 30,000 Pounds of Meat Sticks Contaminated with Metal

Today, FSIS announced a recall by Idaho Smokehouse Partners, LLC, a Shelley, Idaho-based company, for approximately 29,541 pounds of ready-to-eat beef stick products that may be contaminated with metal.

The affected items are 1.15-ounce vacuum-sealed packages of “CHOMPS ORIGINAL BEEF STICK MILD,” with an expiration date of 02-10-2026 and lot code 25016 printed on the label. The products also bear the establishment number “6220A” ink-jetted on the package.

These beef sticks were produced...

HPAI H5N1 Virus in Dairy Cattle – What We Know

In March 2024, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1), commonly referred to as bird flu, was confirmed in domestic U.S. livestock for the first time in a dairy operation in Texas. Since then, the virus has spread to 994 dairy operations across 17 states, raising widespread uncertainty throughout the dairy and livestock markets. Industry participants have raised concerns about the outbreak's potential impact on consumer perception and demand for dairy and meat products, though government agencies reiterate that the national food supply remains safe. Expana is closely monitoring the situation...

Applegate Achieves Milestone in Regenerative Sourcing Nine Months Early

Hormel Foods’ natural and organic meat brand, Applegate, announced it has achieved its goal of sourcing 100% of the beef for its hot dog brands from certified regenerative grasslands — nine months ahead of schedule.

As of today, every Applegate Organics® The Great Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dog and Applegate Naturals® Beef Hot Dog is sourced exclusively from verified regenerative farms certified by Regenerative Organic Certification, Land to Market, and Certified Regenerative (endorsed by Certified Humane®).

This achievement has contributed to the transition of...

Tim Hortons® Appoints Naira Saeed as New Chief Operating Officer

Tim Hortons® announced today Naira Saeed as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), overseeing restaurant and field operations, franchising and development across Canada.

Saeed began her career working in capital markets, including at the Bank of Canada, before joining Tim Hortons in 2017 as the brand’s Head of Finance. In the eight years since, Saeed has led a number of the teams responsible for restaurant operations, franchising and franchisee profitability.

Saeed will continue to report to and work closely with Axel Schwan, President of...

ANALYSIS: UK’s Ongoing Measures Against Bluetongue

The UK government has been actively working to restrain the spread of Bluetongue among its herds, taking measures through restriction zones, pre-movement virus tests and licensing requirements. The latest effort is a vaccination cost calculator tool created by the AHDB on March 18, as part of the Battle Bluetongue vaccination campaign that launched in February 2025. The online tool aims to help farmers and vets make informed decisions about vaccinations by calculating the risk costs of Bluetongue against the monetary benefits of vaccinating...

ANALYSIS: US Egg Market Grapples with Volatility Amid Historic Supply Lows and Demand Swings

The US egg market continues to contend with significant volatility, shaped by historically low production levels and sharp demand fluctuations. The USDA reported on Friday that the national layer flock stands at 285 million head, marking the lowest count for the month of March since 2009. Over the past decade, the average March flock size has been 321 million, highlighting the severity of the current underproduction.

This supply-side constraint is largely due to the ongoing impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza...

Kroger Responds to Albertsons’ Lawsuit, Files Counterclaims

Kroger has announced that it has filed its formal answer and counterclaims in response to Albertsons' lawsuit, which was brought before the Delaware Court of Chancery following the termination of the proposed merger.

On December 11, 2024, Albertsons called off its bid to merge with Kroger after a two-year effort, subsequently filing a suit alleging breach of contract in connection with the collapse of the deal. 

Today, Kroger issued a statement revealing that it had filed its answer and counterclaims. The company asserts that while it was diligently working to secure regulatory...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Poult Supply Shrinks in 2025

In what has been a continuation of the established trajectory, turkey poult placements in 2025 are trending notably below the 5-year average for both hen and tom poults, as depicted in the chart. This decline reflects ongoing challenges within the industry, primarily driven by persistent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and the growing presence of Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV). HPAI continues to significantly disrupt operations through forced depopulations, movement restrictions, and prolonged farm downtimes, all of which have reduced the availability of breeder stock and subsequently limited poult supply...

ANALYSIS: Argentina Beef Exports Up 7.5% MoM in February, Down 27.5% YoY

Following record volumes in 2024, Argentina’s beef exports declined notably in early 2025. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Census, shipments in February totaled 50,080 metric tons (mt), up 7.2% from January but still 27.5% lower Y-o-Y. The monthly recovery was supported by stronger exports to secondary markets in Europe, such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, as well as to the US and Brazil. Although volumes to China also posted a modest increase, they remained considerably below 2024 levels, continuing...

The Retail Rundown: 20th Power of Meat Report Reveals Record-Breaking Meat Sales

The 2025 Power of Meat Study was unveiled this week at the Annual Meat Conference in Orlando, Florida, where Anne-Marie Roerink, Principal at 210 Analytics, shared key insights into shoppers' evolving meat and poultry purchasing habits. Here are some key takeaways from the study's 20th edition: 

Meat sales reach new heights 

This year’s report, released by the Meat Institute and The Food Industry Association (FMI), revealed that the meat department set a new sales record in 2024, reaching $105 billion in total...

ANALYSIS: New Zealand’s Feb 2025 Beef Exports Jump 18.2% M-o-M to 46,162 mt

New Zealand’s February 2025 beef exports rose 18.2% month-on-month (m-o-m) to 46,162 metric tons (mt), the latest Stats NZ data showed

Rising by 7,094 mt, higher volumes to key markets such as the United States (US), Japan and Korea boosted growth while outbound tonnage to its second largest destination, China fell due to the observance of the Lunar New Year...

ADM Inaugurates Pet Food Plant in Morelos, Mexico

ADM Animal Nutrition has inaugurated a wet pet food plant in the state of Morelos, Mexico.

ADM invested US$39 million in the facility, which strengthens its position among Mexico’s leading pet food manufacturers.

Julio Berdegué, Minister, Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), who attended the inauguration, said the new plant aligns with Plan México, promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum in collaboration with the private sector to enhance domestic production efficiency and competitiveness while reducing imports.

Smithfield Foods Added to Russell 1000 Index

Smithfield Foods, Inc., an American food company and an industry leader in value-added packaged meats and fresh pork, today announced that it has been added to the Russell 1000 Index, a key benchmark for large-cap U.S. stocks. The inclusion became effective after the market close on March 21, 2025, as part of the quarterly addition of eligible initial public offerings to the Russell Indexes.

The Russell 1000 Index includes the 1,000 largest publicly traded U.S. companies based on market capitalization and is widely used by investors as a benchmark for the...

ANALYSIS: Mexico’s Feeder Cattle Exports Post-Suspension in 2025

Mexico’s feeder cattle exports to the United States in February 2025, after trade resumed, totaled 23,816 head, a sharp decline compared to February 2024’s 110,511 head and February 2023’s 98,906 head, according to recent data..

By mid-March 2025, exports reached 15,023 head, significantly lower than the full-month totals of 135,687 head in March 2024 and 137,001 head in March 2023. With exports still being recorded for the second half of March 2025, volumes may increase, but they are unlikely to approach the levels seen in the previous...

ANALYSIS: US Beef and Veal Exports Hit 52-Week Low in Jan 2025 

According to the latest UDSA monthly beef and veal exports summary, US beef exports hit a 52-week low in January sending 104,414 metric tons (mt) of material overseas, which is down 13,000 mt month-over-month from December of 2024 (-11.1%).

The US exported 1.08M mt of beef in 2024, with the majority heading to Korea, Japan and China. As large consumers of beef cuts and boneless beef, much of what the...

ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Price Slows Descent, First Signs of Consumer Relief Underway

Expana’s cage-free large quotation has continued to decline this week, albeit at a slower pace to last, dropping to $5.83/dozen Thursday. This marks a 41% decrease since the market peaked at $9.86/dozen in late February.

Weak retail demand remains the primary force behind declining wholesale values, as inflation-weary consumers continue to push back against high shelf prices. In response, grocers have scaled back their orders to better align with sluggish sales, leaving suppliers scrambling to offload surplus inventory. As recently as... 

USDA Announces New FPAC Leadership to Better Serve Farmers and Ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced key presidential appointments to the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area. These appointees will lead efforts to advance President Trump’s America First agenda and ensure that farmers, ranchers, and producers have the support they need to keep feeding, fueling, and clothing America.

“FPAC is the most farmer-facing mission area at USDA, housing the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service—agencies producers rely on every day,” said U.S. Secretary...

Hormel Foods Appoints Jeff Ettinger to Board of Directors

Hormel Foods Corporation, a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced today that Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of The Hormel Foundation, has been re-appointed to the Hormel Foods Board of Directors, effective March 21, 2025. The Hormel Foundation, an unaffiliated non-profit organization with a charitable mission, beneficially owns approximately 46% of Hormel Foods outstanding common stock. Ettinger previously served on the Hormel Foods Board of Directors and spent nearly three decades with the company, retiring in 2016 after a successful tenure as president and chief executive officer...

Syngenta and PepsiCo Reward Farmers for Regenerative Farming Practices

Syngenta, leader in technology and innovation in agriculture, and PepsiCo, global leader in food and beverages, are working in collaboration with the aim of boosting regenerative and traceable agriculture in the food industry value chain in a transparent and verifiable way.

During the first year of joint work, Syngenta provided PepsiCo with 4,000 tons of sunflower oil from fields of farmers in the province of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis and Santa Fe, who applied regenerative agriculture practices.

In a second stage, it is expected to increase...

Coke Florida Announces Key Leadership Changes

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) announced that Andy Hill, Chief Customer Officer, will immediately take on the expanded role of Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, reporting to Troy Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coke Florida. The company also announced that Thomas Benford, President and Chief Operating Officer, has decided to leave the company at the end of the year and will transition to become an advisor to Mr. Taylor.

Hill joined Coke Florida in 2024 as its Chief Customer Officer, bringing over 30 years of experience across the...

ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Price Slows Decent, First Signs of Consumer Relief Underway

Expana’s cage-free large quotation has continued to decline this week, albeit at a slower pace to last, dropping to $5.83/dozen Thursday. This marks a 41% decrease since the market peaked at $9.86/dozen in late February.

Weak retail demand remains the primary force behind declining wholesale values, as inflation-weary consumers continue to push back against high shelf prices. In response, grocers have scaled back their orders to better align with sluggish sales, leaving suppliers scrambling to offload surplus inventory. As recently as... 

ANALYSIS: Broiler Weight Class Shifts and Market Dynamics

Throughout most of 2024, and all of 2025 up to the latest data for the week of March 8th, average live weights set new record weights week by week. However,  data from the week of March 8 shows the average live weight dropping 2.43% from the previous week to match 2024’s data at 6.43 pounds. We’re also seeing a shift in the cumulative broiler headcount by weight class, with a 7.48% year-over-year (YoY) decrease for the 4.25 lbs. and down birds, and 10.50% YoY increase for the...

ANALYSIS: Easter Lamb Demand Meets Import Challenges

With Easter falling later this year on April 20th, about five weeks away, demand for lamb leg cuts in the US is typically supported. However, imported supply from Australia and New Zealand remains tighter due to several factors.

According to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Australian lamb exports have increased 6% year-over-year, but much of this product is being shipped to China and the United Arab Emirates, reducing availability for the US. Multiple US market contributors that buy imported material have noted limited offers from Australia...

ANALYSIS: China’s Jan-Feb 2025 Beef Imports Drop 11.3% Y-o-Y to 468,465 mt

China's total beef imports for the first two months of the 2025 calendar year slumped to 468,465 metric tons (mt), according to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

Dropping by 11.3%, the 59,684 mt was led by lower shipments from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, New Zealand, whilst higher volumes from the United States (US) and Australia capped further losses.

Volumes in January 2025 was recorded at 276,540 mt as importers often frontload shipments early...