United Natural Foods Shares Top Trends to Help Grocery Retailers Prepare for Summer Selling Season

United Natural Foods, Inc. completed its Spring and Summer Selling Show in San Diego, CA, the first of the Company’s 2025 show season. The two-day show brought together more than 4,300 attendees, connecting 1,800 retailers with 800 supplier brands. Exhibitors showcased thousands of unique brands spanning natural, organic, fresh, specialty, and conventional grocery products.

During the show, UNFI experts discussed current trends and emerging growth opportunities across the grocery retail industry. Top trends include*...

Hudson Riehle, Long-Time Leader of Association Research and Knowledge Group, to Retire

Today, the National Restaurant Association announced that Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the organization's Research and Knowledge Group, will retire in April.

For more than 38 years, Riehle has provided the data and thought leadership that defined the restaurant and foodservice industry. From the Association's forecast of annual sales and employment growth, to showing the impact of economic catastrophes like the 2020 pandemic and the 2008-2009 recession, Riehle has transformed how the economic impact of the industry is understood at the...

Philippines Bans South Dakota Poultry Imports After Bird Flu Outbreak

The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has reimposed a ban on wild bird and poultry products from South Dakota after additional cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza were reported in December. The Philippines had lifted the ban on the state in September 2024.

The ban includes imports of domestic and wild birds, including eggs, semen for artificial insemination, day-old chicks, and other poultry products, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said. But the ministry added that “heat-treated products” were exempted from the ban...

The Fresh Market Announces New President and CEO, Brian Johnson, To Head Specialty Grocery Chain

The Fresh Market, Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Brian Johnson as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective February 3, 2025, replacing Jason Potter, who has decided to pursue a new opportunity. The Fresh Market thanks Mr. Potter for his service and leadership over the last five years.

Johnson has served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at The Fresh Market since 2020 and brings more than 30 years of experience to the role. In the last five...

ANALYSIS: The Price of Heavy Cutter Cows Increases for the Eighth Straight Week

The price of a cutter cow over 500 lbs continued its eight-week streak of increases, currently sitting at $2.38/lb. At the start of 2024 prices hovered around $1.85/lb marking a year-on-year increase of 28.65%. This uptick comes as cow slaughter levels began to decline in the second half of 2023, possibly signaling a retention period like the last one seen in 2016.

Within the past couple weeks, winter weather has been a...

ANALYSIS: US Shell Egg Prices Soar Past $7.00 per Dozen Amid Ongoing Bird Flu Crisis

Just over two years ago, the idea of the U.S. egg market surpassing $5.00 per dozen seemed almost unimaginable. When prices hit a record high of $5.46 per dozen in December 2022, industry participants largely believed that mark would hold for the foreseeable future. But an unprecedented convergence of challenges has shattered those expectations. The relentless spread of bird flu, combined with insatiable retail demand, has pushed prices past the $6.00 threshold—and now beyond $7.00 per dozen...

Perdue Farms Adopts "NestBorn" On-Farm Hatching Concept

Perdue Farms, a family owned fourth-generation U.S. food and agricultural company, has decided to incorporate the on-farm hatching concept “NestBorn” into their broiler production & supply chain. The adoption of this innovative & future-proof approach to hatch day-old chicks in broiler barns – instead of in hatcheries – perfectly fits into the company’s belief in responsible food and agriculture, and is aligned with its deep, long-standing commitments towards animal care and No Antibiotics Ever.

In the summer of 2023, a demonstration NestBorn Egg Placing Machine was placed into...

ANALYSIS: December Broiler-Type Pullets Reflect Industry Trends and Future Demand Outlook

December’s broiler-type pullet chicks hatched numbers came in 5.3% lower year-over-year (YoY) at a value of 9.1 million chicks, still 3.3% higher than the 5-year average. From this data, we can gather some insight into the overall attitudes of the industry. 

First, a little background into what broiler-type pullet chicks mean for the industry. These are the birds that will grow into breeders to produce the broilers used for production. Unlike their progeny that will only have a production cycle...

Argentina Eases Food Trade Restrictions Under New Decree

Argentina has implemented reforms to its food trade policies, removing regulatory hurdles for imports and exports. Decree 35/2025, published in the Official Gazette on Monday January 20, introduces changes to the Argentine Food Code (CAA) aimed at simplifying administrative procedures and promoting trade.

The decree eliminates duplicative inspections for imports from countries with high sanitary standards, such as the United States, the European Union, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Importers can now bring food products into Argentina by submitting a Sworn Declaration of Importation, without additional certifications from domestic authorities...

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 937 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...

NCBA Announces 2025-2026 Policy Committee Leaders

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced the appointment of key cattle industry leaders to serve on the association’s policy committees. The policy committees review, discuss, and vote on resolutions brought forward by NCBA members. These grassroots policies become part of NCBA’s policy book, which directs advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.

“What sets NCBA apart as an organization is our grassroots policy process,” said NCBA President-Elect Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattle producer. “Our volunteer committee leaders serve an important role by providing a venue for cattle producers from...

7-Eleven, Inc. Offers Free Pizza to Football Fans and Pizza Lovers for the Big Game

The Big Game may be a celebration for some, but for most fans, it's a tough reminder that their team didn't make it to the grand finale of football season. This year, 7-Eleven is stepping up to help viewers eat their feelings by offering a FREE pizza for fans whose teams didn't make the final cut.

Throwing a pity party for your team's loss? Don't bother. 7-Eleven has fans covered by offering a FREE pizza with your...

Campbell's Names Risa Cretella as President of Meals & Beverages 

Campbell’s Company has announced the appointment of Risa Cretella as Executive Vice President of its Meals & Beverages division, effective February 1, 2025. In this role, Cretella will oversee a portfolio of iconic brands, including Campbell’s, Chunky, Pace, Pacific Foods, Prego, Rao’s, Swanson, and V8, in North America.

Cretella will report directly to Mick Beezhuizen, Campbell’s incoming President and CEO.

Commenting on the appointment, Beezhuizen highlighted Cretella’s key contributions since joining the company, particularly her leadership during the integration of Sovos Brands...

Custom Food Solutions Announced a Recall of 105,164 lbs. of RTE Frozen Drunken Chicken

Custom Food Solutions, based in Louisville, Kentucky, has announced a recall of 105,164 pounds of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) frozen drunken chicken after a routine inspection by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) revealed that the packaging did not disclose undeclared allergens—specifically egg and sesame.

The affected products were produced between March 14, 2024, and January 15, 2025, and have a shelf life of one year.

The recalled items are packaged in 60-pound cases, each containing...

ANALYSIS: Wider Market Access Propels 5.0% Growth in China’s 2024 Total Beef Imports

China's 2024 total beef imports reached 2.87 million metric tons (mt), according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

Annual growth was pegged at 5.0%, rising by 137,816 mt, driven by wider market access. Gains from the Mercosur trade bloc, including Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, bolstered growth, while reduced in-bound shipments from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States (US) capped further expansion.

Much of 2024’s import growth was driven largely by the dent in Brazilian imports...

ANALYSIS: Navigating the Frozen Whole Turkey Market

If we take a look at Expana’s current 16 lbs. frozen tom turkey quotation in comparison to all the previous data dating back to 1989, it doesn’t look like current prices are that low. However, when inflation is accounted for, we find that it is in the bottom 1% of listed values. In fact, this week’s data is only higher than the inflation-adjusted quotations of 16 other weeks: Late-February through late-March in 2002 and January to early February in 2004.

Interestingly, this value, which is 24% lower than...

Panera Bread Names Brian Krause as Chief Development Officer

Panera Bread has announced the appointment of Brian Krause as its new Chief Development Officer. In this role, Krause will lead the company's efforts to drive new store growth, while overseeing development, design, and real estate strategies.

Krause brings a wealth of experience to Panera, having previously served as Chief Development Officer at Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches under Inspire Brands. He also held the role of Senior Vice President of Franchise Development at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Most recently, Krause was responsible for overseeing the growth... 

The USDA Welcomes Presidential Appointees

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the individuals appointed by President Trump to key senior staff positions. These leaders will play a critical role in advancing the President’s agenda while addressing the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers. 

Kailee Tkacz Buller has been appointed Chief of Staff. Previously, she served as President and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association and the Edible Oil Producers Association. Buller was also appointed by Governor Youngkin as the 8th Congressional District Representative on the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services... 

The Retail Rundown: Arctic Blast Supports Egg Demand While Seafood Leads Ads

Seafood continues to lead the retail protein category for the fourth consecutive week, accounting for 29% of all featured advertisements. Beef comes in second with 25%, while pork and chicken are tied at 20% each.

Arctic air across much of the country and an unusual winter storm in the South have influenced product movement and demand this week. Expana reports that the frigid conditions have boosted egg demand as consumers stock up on essentials.

Wholesale egg prices have ascended to a fresh all-time high, with Expana’s Midwest large quotation at...

Wens Food Group Grows FY2024 Pork and Chicken Sales

In FY2024, Wens Food Group sold 30.2 million pork products (including live pigs and fresh pork), generating CNY 61.8 billion (approximately USD 8.5 billion) in revenue. The average sales price of live pigs for the year was CNY 16.7 per kilogram (approximately USD 2.3). Compared to 2023, the sales volume, revenue, and average sales price increased by 14.9%, 33.5%, and 12.9%, respectively. 

"The year-over-year increase in revenue from pork product sales in 2024 was primarily attributed to higher sales volumes and increased average...

Muyuan Group Sells 71.6 Million Pigs in FY24

Muyuan Group, a large scale Chinese livestock producer, has released its live hog sales data for December 2024, the fourth quarter, and the full fiscal year.

In December 2024, the company sold a total of 8.6 million pigs, including 8.2 million commercial pigs, 360,000 piglets, and 31,000 breeding pigs. These sales generated revenue of CNY 15.4 billion (approximately USD 2.1 billion). Among the total sales, 2.2 million pigs were sold to Muyuan’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Muyuan Meat Co., Ltd., and its subsidiaries.

The average sales price of commercial...

Weis Markets Announces Promotion of Bob Gleeson to Chief Operation Officer

Weis Markets, Inc. announced this week the promotion of Bob Gleeson to Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Company.

As COO, Mr. Gleeson will oversee the Company's merchandising, marketing, advertising, store operations, information technology, asset protection, and pharmacy departments. He will also have oversight of the supply chain departments including distribution, transportation and manufacturing. He will continue to report to Jonathan H. Weis, Chairman, President and CEO of Weis Markets, Inc.

Mr. Gleeson joined the Company in 2018 and was promoted to Vice President of...

Circana Announces Leadership Transition: Stuart Aitken Named President and CEO, Succeeding Kirk Perry

Circana, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, today announced that Stuart Aitken has been named President and CEO, effective January 1, 2025. He will succeed Kirk Perry, who has decided to retire from his role as President and CEO at Circana and will continue to serve as a member of the Circana Board of Directors. Aitken will also join the Board as a director.

Aitken joins Circana from Kroger, where he has served as Chief Merchant and Marketing...

Trump to Lay Out Trade Vision but Won't Impose New Tariffs Yet

President-elect Donald Trump is planning to issue a broad memorandum Monday that directs federal agencies to study trade policies and evaluate U.S. trade relationships with China and America's continental neighbors -- but stops short of imposing new tariffs on his first day in office, as many trading partners feared.

The presidential memo directs federal agencies to investigate and remedy persistent trade deficits and address unfair trade and currency policies by other nations, two longstanding Trump irritants. And it singles out China, Canada and Mexico for scrutiny, directing agencies...

Aldi’s Making Waves With New European Locations and a Chardonnay Partnership

In January’s fourth week, news about the discount grocery store Aldi made food industry headlines with talk of expansion, and an alcohol partnership that will help clean the ocean.

In 2025, Aldi is set to open nine stores in London, the company announced. The openings in Wimbledon, Fulham Broadway, Caterham, and Orpington are part of the grocery chain’s £650 million investment in Britain during this new year.

Furthermore, leaders of this grocery chain plan to open 40 new supermarkets in Spain. So, shoppers in regions like Andalusia, Madrid...

APHIS Updates Policy to Enhance Surveillance of Turkey Flocks in HPAI Affected States

As part of its ongoing, multi-faceted efforts to combat the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today is updating its policy for pre-slaughter surveillance to enhance testing of turkey flocks in affected states. In late December 2024, APHIS became aware of a genetic link between turkeys potentially infected with HPAI H5N1, virus detected in raw pet food, and an infected household cat.

Out of an abundance of caution, and to...

USDA Shares Enrollment of Six Additional States in Its National Milk Testing Strategy for H5N1

USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy Now Accounts for Two-Thirds of the Nation's Dairy Herds

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced an additional six states are enrolling in the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS). This brings the total number of states testing under NMTS guidelines to 36 since the first round of states joined in early December.

With the enrollment of six additional states, the NMTS will account for bulk milk tank...

Hormel Foods Announces Retirement of Brian Johnson, Vice President and Corporate Secretary

Hormel Foods Corporation, a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced the upcoming retirement of Brian Johnson, vice president and corporate secretary.

“Throughout his 30-year career at Hormel Foods, Brian has been a trusted advisor to me, our executives and our Board of Directors,” said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “Brian has earned tremendous respect internally, externally, and with our Board of Directors, for his expertise, sound judgment, integrity and dedication. Brian and his wife...

Several US States Implement New Food Packaging Regulations in 2025

In 2025, several US states have enacted, or are set to enact, new legislation that prohibits or restricts the use of certain types of packaging in food retail.

In addition, implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging is expected to increase across several states in 2025, according to the National Law Review. EPR programs shift the cost of waste management and recycling from municipalities to product manufacturers. States including Massachusetts, New York and Washington may see advancements in EPR legislation this year.