Pennsylvania State Police Investigating Egg Heist
Pennsylvania State Police are working to crack the case of a large egg heist, reported Fox News. Approximately 100,000 eggs were stolen from the rear portion of a Pete & Gerry’s Organics distribution center in Antrim Township, PA just south of Greencastle.
The number of eggs stolen would be roughly one-third of a full load, according to Ryan Hojnowski, an Egg Market Reporter for Expana.
This news comes at a time when egg prices are setting and breaking all-time highs almost weekly. Largely, the high price of this staple kitchen commodity...
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KFC® Teams Up with Mike's Hot Honey for a Match Made in Flavor Heaven
KFC® is bringing the heat—and the sweet—to its menu like never before with a new menu item available for a limited time only. The home of world-famous Original Recipe® fried chicken has teamed up with Mike's Hot Honey®, America's favorite hot honey brand, to create a mouthwatering, unforgettable new take on KFC's famous finger lickin' good® chicken.
Starting Feb. 9, just in time for the big game, savor the irresistible combination of KFC's world-famous...
Freddy's Promotes Erin Walter to Chief Marketing Officer
Fast-casual restaurant concept Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers® announced today the promotion of Erin Walter to chief marketing officer (CMO).
As the newly appointed CMO, Erin Walter will oversee all aspects of the company's marketing initiatives, working closely with the executive team to drive brand awareness, guest engagement, and overall business growth. Her innovative leadership style and strategic thinking are expected to bring a fresh perspective to the company's marketing strategies.
"Erin's talent and dedication have greatly benefited our team. Her strategic vision and creativity have been...
Meat Institute Expands Legislative Affairs and Marketing Teams with New Hires
The Meat Institute today announced the expansion of its legislative affairs and marketing teams with the addition of two new employees. (photos available by email request to slittle@meatinstitute.org.)
Chris Chaffee joins the Meat Institute as Director of Legislative Affairs working with Vice President of Legislative Affairs Nathan Fretz advocating for the meat and poultry industry with members of congress and federal officials. Chaffee will also help manage the Meat Institute’s Political Action Committee, MeatPAC.
“Chris Chaffee has extensive experience in advocacy, as well as serving in various...
HORMEL® Pepperoni Is Spreading The Love This Valentine’s Day With Heart-To-Heart Pizza Kits
The first come first serve kits feature the brand’s first-ever heart-shaped pepperonis and everything you need to satisfy a romantic’s taste for love
Roses are red, and pepperonis are too; this Valentine’s Day, the makers of HORMEL® Pepperoni are bringing dinner to you. For the first time ever, the makers of HORMEL® Pepperoni are releasing limited edition Heart-to-Heart kits, the ultimate at-home Valentine’s Day pizza kit with every ingredient needed to celebrate accordingly, featuring...
ANALYSIS: From Steady to Skyrocketing: The Unprecedented Rise of Fresh Turkey Thigh Meat Prices
On January 21, the fresh turkey thigh meat quotation reached a record level that has steadily risen since then. Still, thigh meat supplies remain nearly nonexistent, and some sellers toss around asking prices that are nearly 24% higher than the previous all-time high of $2.02. This begs the questions: How did we get to this point, and where do we go from here?
Like many high-powered objects, the energy needed for rocketing prices has been slowly accumulating in the...
Checkers & Rally's and John Soules Foods Bring Popular Chicken Bites to the Freezer Aisle
Checkers & Rally's, the iconic drive-thru restaurant chain known for its bold, craveable food at an unbeatable value, has teamed up with John Soules Foods to bring its fan-favorite Chicken Bites to freezer aisles nationwide.
As consumers continue to seek restaurant-quality meals in the comfort of their own homes, the new Checkers & Rally's Chicken Bites deliver just that. Made with all-white meat chicken, these fully cooked, crispy bites are seasoned to perfection, offering the same bold flavor that Checkers & Rally's guests know...
Cracker Barrel to Deploy Cheese Distributing Robots in New Orleans
Cracker Barrel will deploy cheese distributing robots to fans before “The Birds” face the reigning champions in New Orleans, according to a company press release.
From Thursday, February 6, to Sunday, February 9, Cracker Barrel’s 50-bot fleet of AI-powered food delivery robots will serve individually-wrapped cheese sticks to fans who must scan a QR code to receive the free cheese.
Nearby contracts for common cheddar cheese are valued at $1.89/lb, according to Expana.
The refrigerated, Roomba-esque robots will crawl streets and tailgate lots...
ANALYSIS: Tourism Boom Aids Japan's 2024 Total Beef Imports to Rise 4.4% Y-o-Y Despite Weak Yen
Japan’s 2024 total beef imports rose 4.4% year-on-year to 526,166 metric tons (mt), according to the latest statistics by Trade Statistics of Japan.
As the world’s third-biggest beef importer, inbound tonnage was 22,227 mt higher compared to the previous year, aided by its tourism boom. Higher volumes from Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay supported this growth, while supply from the United States (US) slumped as it grappled with its lowest herd size in 73 years...
DJ’s Boudain LLC Recalls Sausage Link Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
D.J.’s Boudain, LLC, a Beaumont, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 17,720 pounds of boudain sausage link products that may be contaminated with foreign materials, specifically pieces of a pen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The fresh and frozen boudain sausage link items were produced on January 23, 2025. A list of the products subject to recall can be found here: [view product list]. The labels for the impacted products can be found here: [view labels]...
What Trump Tariffs Mean for Food and Agriculture Trade
US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% tariff on imports from China.
Tariffs for Canada and China are in effect as of February 4, while the tariffs on Mexico have been delayed for one month following negotiations with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who agreed to send 10,000 members of her country’s national guard to the border to address drug trafficking...
Trudeau: Trump Will Pause Tariffs on Canada for 30 Days
As of Monday evening, US President Trump will postpone 25% tariffs on Canada, Reuters reported after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote an X post about the matter.
After the day's second conversation with Trump, Trudeau wrote:
"I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting..."
Calling All Tender Lovers: Jollibee's NEW Chicken Tenders and Sauce Are Here!
Global restaurant sensation, Jollibee, world-famous for its crispy and juicy Chickenjoy fried chicken, joyfully delicious Chicken Sandwiches, and irresistible Peach Mango Pie, is unveiling its new mouth-watering Chicken Tenders and creamy Signature Tender Sauce across the U.S. Recently crowned "the best fast-food fried chicken" in America by USA TODAY, Jollibee is bringing its signature quality to the beloved chicken tender. Now Jollibee fans have even more to rave about with the new Chicken Tender recipe and Signature Tender Sauce, ensuring satisfaction anytime a craving hits...
Krispy Krunchy Chicken Introduces New Chicken Nuggets
Krispy Krunchy Chicken®, one of the fastest-growing hot food concepts in the convenience store business with over 3,200 locations, is serving up BIG flavor in bite-sized form with its brand-new Chicken Nuggets menu item. Starting today, customers can enjoy these golden, crispy, juicy nuggets that raise the bar on the competition, resetting expectations for just how good a nugget can be.
The new Chicken Nuggets are made with whole-muscle white chicken breast, marinated in a proprietary blend of seasonings and coated in a special “krunchy” breading...
Report Finds More Than 90% of Shoppers Now Purchase Groceries Both In-Store and Online
As grocery shopping enters a new era of digital transformation, FMI—The Food Industry Association and NielsenIQ (NIQ) today released their new report, Digital Engagement Transforms Grocery Shopping Cover for the Digital Engagement Transforms Grocery Shopping report, which premiered at FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference. The report finds that today, more than 90% of shoppers participate in both online and in-store shopping.
In 2017, FMI and NIQ predicted that by 2025, digitally engaged grocery shopper spending would reach $100...
Let Beef Take Your Big Game Party to the Endzone
Whether you're rooting for Kansas City or Philadelphia, fans can agree on one thing – football season is better with beef. That's why the Beef. It's What's For Dinner. brand, funded by the Beef Checkoff, is sharing some fan favorite game day recipes ahead of kickoff.
While the commercials get going and the coin toss gets underway, it's the perfect time to start off with a good dip. This Cheeseburger Dip combines ground beef with your favorite cheese and burger toppings for that classic burger taste – just dip with...
Spanish Competition Authority Fines Food Firm Alimentaria Peñasanta
Spanish food producer Alimentaria Peñasanta has been fined for acquiring Spanish dairy company Lácteas Flor de Burgos without notifying the CNMC, Spain’s Competition Authority. Alimentaria Peñasanta is part of CAPSA Food, which owns Spanish dairy brands such as Central Lechera Asturiana, Larsa, or Innova Food Ingredient. Lácteas Flor de Burgos is specialized in the production of soft cheese and yogurt.
The acquisition took place in December 2023, but Alimentaria Peñasanta did not inform the CNMC until March 2024, violating the Spanish Competence Act 2007, the CNMC said...
ANALYSIS: Lower Cattle Kills Weigh on New Zealand's 2024 Total Beef Exports
New Zealand’s 2024 total beef exports fell 5.6% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 497,014 metric tons (mt), according to the latest Stats NZ data.
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US Meat Trade Faces Uncertainty Ahead of Tariff Implementation
On Thursday, President Trump reaffirmed his plan to impose 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, set to take effect on February 1, 2025. He is also considering an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports.
The announcement has heightened uncertainty across many industries, including the livestock and meat sectors. The tariffs threaten to significantly disrupt live cattle shipments from Mexico and Canada, both key suppliers...
Compounding these challenges, a ban on feeder cattle imports from Mexico remains in effect following...
ANALYSIS: Frozen Pork Inventories Remain Low Despite Slight Increase
The USDA December Cold Storage report for 2024 frozen pork inventories indicated a 2.4% increase compared to November 2024. However, this rise still left overall frozen pork stocks 6.7% below December 2023 levels, suggesting a tighter-than-expected pork supply. Several factors likely contributed to this situation.
Firstly, pork production in 2024 was down 0.9% compared to 2023. Simultaneously, export demand remained robust throughout much of 2024, exceeding both year-over-year and ten-year average levels.
Data available through November 2024 shows weekly export totals consistently...
ANALYSIS: 2024 Mexican Beef Export Dynamics
The Mexican beef export market throughout 2024 reflected the complex interplay of macroeconomic factors and trade dynamics, resulting in significant shifts in export patterns and market behavior.
Currency movements played a pivotal role in shaping market dynamics, particularly during the first half of the year when the Mexican peso showed unprecedented strength, reaching MXN 16.43 per USD, a level not observed since 2015. This currency appreciation created challenging conditions for export operations, as it effectively reduced the competitive advantage of Mexican beef in international markets.
The market landscape underwent a substantial...
Trump’s Political Appointments: What They Mean for Commodity Markets
On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in for this second term as US President. JD Vance also took the oath of office to become the 47th Vice President.
The new President and his political appointments have dotted headlines in the agricultural commodity space and beyond–grabbing the attention of individuals worldwide. More importantly, the people Trump is bringing aboard to lead, regulate, or deregulate the country’s industries will carry with them implications for domestic and international commodity markets...
Hormel Foods Announces Retirement of Mark Ourada, Group Vice President, Foodservice, after 37 years
Hormel Foods Corporation, a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced the upcoming retirement of Mark Ourada, group vice president, Foodservice, following 37 years of dedicated service and leadership.
Throughout his nearly four-decade-long career with the company, Ourada has played an active role in the successful development and evolution of the $3.8 billion Foodservice business segment. He was also instrumental in the PLANTERS® brand integration and helped the company drive focus and growth in the convenience store channel...
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 951 dairy operations across 16 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...
CKE Restaurants Celebrates Retirement of Long-Time International Business Leader Mike Woida
Today, CKE Restaurants (CKE) proudly announces the retirement of Mike Woida, president of International, following 48 years with the company. Woida has been a visionary leader and a driving force behind the international expansion of both the Carl's Jr.® and Hardee's® brands, advancing the company's global presence to more than 35 countries, achieving system sales exceeding $1.5 billion and laying the groundwork for continued international growth.
Throughout his distinguished career, Woida's strategic insight, commitment to excellence and ability to build...
Expana Spotlight: A Year of Impact
2024: Supporting Your Success with Data-Driven Insights
In the past year, we’ve solidified our role as a trusted partner for businesses navigating complex supply chains by enhancing the depth and breadth of our market intelligence.
From introducing additional proprietary price series to expanding forecasting capabilities and cost modelling, we continue to provide actionable insights that support smarter decisions and better outcomes for our clients. Read on to uncover the exclusive data and insights made available in 2024. Dive into key sections and see how our work is helping shape...
Morocco Stops German Feed Grain Imports Over Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Morocco has halted imports of feed grains from Germany following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the head of Morocco's grain trade federation (FNCL) said on Thursday.
The import suspension affected "all untreated plant-based feed intended for animal consumption from Germany due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak there," Omar Yacoubi told Reuters.
A source at Morocco's food safety agency ONSSA confirmed that plant-based imports from Germany for animal feed had been "suspended" until Germany is declared free of foot and mouth again or certifies local regions that are free of the disease...
PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep. 22 - The Road to Agri-Food Europe 2025, feat. Olympia Theocharous
On today’s episode, we speak to Olympia Theocharous, Expana’s Content Director for Events...
ANALYSIS: Navigating Growth and Resilience at the Hatchery
When analyzing the latest chicken hatchery data from late December through early January, it is evident that the trends dominating much of 2024 have persisted into the new year. The number of chicks placed, and eggs set continues to significantly surpass both last year’s figures and the five-year average. This sustained growth aligns with expanding consumer demand for chicken, driven by its broad availability and cost-effectiveness compared to other proteins like beef.
However, the industry continues to face notable challenges, particularly with hatchability rates. While there have...
ANALYSIS: “Other” Countries Quota of Imported Beef to the US Full in January 2025
The “other” countries quota for beef arrivals to the US was set at 65,005 MT for 2025 and was quickly filled by January 17. In 2024 the quota was not reached until early March. Any beef arriving outside of this quota from origins that are not Argentina, Australia, New Zealand or Uruguay will now be hit with a 26.4% tariff. The chart below depicts the weekly amount of beef passed for entry from a country within the quota range for the...
ADM Appoints Carrie Nichol as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
ADM has appointed Carrie Nichol as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, effective March 1. She will succeed Molly Strader Fruit, who will transition to the role of Vice President, Total Rewards and HR Operations.
Nichol joins ADM from Cargill, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, and Global Process Leader. With more than 20 years of experience in accounting and finance, she has held various leadership positions at Cargill, overseeing accounting operations, internal...
IPPE 2025 Live: Soybean Meal Gains Ground in US Poultry Diets
Soybean meal inclusion in US broiler diets has increased by 8% from 2020 to 2024, while the use of distillers dried grains (DDG) and fats and oils has declined, according to Lara Moody, Executive Director of the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER). She shared these insights during the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), sharing a preview of the latest data in IFEEDER’s upcoming Feed Ingredient and Pet Food Consumption reports.
The rise in soybean meal usage is largely driven by lower prices, a
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