Vertical Cold Storage's Strategic Expansion with First Customs Bonded Warehouse

In today's global trade environment, customs bonded warehousing has become increasingly appealing to businesses seeking financial flexibility.

Tariffs can significantly inflate costs, but by deferring duties until products are sold in the US market or re-exported, companies can optimize cash flow and gain strategic operational advantages.

Vertical Cold Storage, a leader in cold storage and logistics for the food and beverage industry, is marking an achievement with the full licensing of its first customs bonded warehouse.

The company strategically chose to expand at its...

New Report From FMI Reveals a Significant Shift in Consumer Dining Habits

A new report from The Food Industry Association (FMI) uncovers a significant shift in dining habits.

The study shows that consumers are increasingly choosing deli-prepared foods in place of restaurant meals.

The Power of Foodservice at Retail 2025 examines the factors influencing consumer motivation for choosing deli-prepared options, offering insights from the consumer's perspective on foodservice at retail.

Data from the report revealed that 53% of Americans now take a hybrid approach to creating meals; combining deli-prepared options with other items...

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Ready-To-Eat Meals That May Be Contaminated With Listeria

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for FSIS-inspected ready-to-eat meals produced by FreshRealm containing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated ingredient, specifically spinach, that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).

FSIS expects additional affected products to be identified and will update this public health alert as more information becomes available. Consumers should check back frequently.

The following products are subject to the...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

Seafood Chain Long John Silver's Swaps Iconic Fish for Chicken in New Logo

Long John Silver’s, a long-time seafood chain, has moved chicken to the front and center.

The company revealed a new logo that replaces its signature fish logo with a chicken and features a new “CHICKEN + SEAFOOD" lock-up.

The new redesign will be rolled out across its digital platforms and will be unveiled further on the Long John Silver's Front Row Motorsports car during the South Point 400.

"Guests have been telling us for years that our chicken is a best-kept secret...

Trump Teases Lula Meeting; Implications for Global Beef, Coffee Markets

On October 6, US President Trump teased an upcoming meeting with the Brazilian President via Truth Social. The current tariff expense for doing trade between the two countries has reorganized the flow of beef and stifled coffee trade, for example. Individuals involved in these markets and beyond are waiting to see if US tariffs on Brazil will be revised.

“This morning, I had a very good telephone call with President Lula, of Brazil. We discussed many things, but it was mostly focused on the Economy, and Trade, between..."

StoneX and Expana to Launch OTC Dairy Derivatives

StoneX Financial Europe GmbH (“SFEG”), a subsidiary of StoneX Group Inc. (“StoneX”; NASDAQ: SNEX), has announced a collaboration with Expana to launch a new suite of OTC dairy derivatives referencing Expana’s IOSCO-assured EU dairy benchmarks. The partnership expands the range of risk management tools available to the global dairy industry and enhances price transparency.

The first contracts will cover fat-filled milk powder and high-protein whey, with plans to broaden coverage to additional dairy products over time. StoneX Plus users will gain direct access to Expana’s benchmarks

Saudi Tanmiah Launches New Poultry Processing Plant and Feed Mill

Saudi Arabia's Tanmiah Food Company has launched a new poultry processing plant in Al Majmaa and a new feed mill in Dahna, the company has announced.

The poultry facility integrates advanced processing lines capable of handling large birds – "a first of its kind in the Kingdom", Tanmiah said, adding that the new site strengthens partnerships with leading global QSR brands, including McDonald’s Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the Dahna feed mill is currently in a production trial phase. It has a capacity of 40 metric tons per hour

Climax Foods Announces Rebrand to Bettani Farms; $6.5 Mln in New Funding

Climax Foods, a food technology company leading breakthrough innovation in the global cheese market, today announced it has rebranded to Bettani Farms and appointed former CFO of Califia Farms, Sandeep Patel, to serve as CEO and Chairman. Additionally, the company announced a $6.5 million initial closing of its Series A, led by S2G Investments ("S2G"), a multi-stage investment firm focused on scaling solutions across food and agriculture, energy, and oceans, with additional participation from new and existing investors that include

ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Declines Ease, Seasonal Pressures Persist

The rest-of-market Expana Benchmark Price Cage-Free Quote remains under pressure, currently sitting at a daily all-time low of $1.64/dozen. However, following a 23ct decline over the previous week, values are now more closely aligning with open-market trade levels, resulting in more measured drops...

Foster Farms Recalls 3.8 Million Pounds of Corn Dogs

According to an announcement by the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), approximately 3,843,040 pounds of chicken and turkey on-a-stick corn dog products are being recalled by Foster Poultry Farms, LLC due to possible contamination of extraneous materials, specifically pieces of wood embedded in the batter.

This action was taken after both the establishment and FSIS received multiple customer complaints, including five that involved injuries.

These items were produced between July 30, 2024, and August 4, 2025...

UPDATE: Albertsons Voluntarily Recalls Deli Items Due to Listeria Concerns

The FDA has announced a voluntary recall from Albertsons Companies concerning select store-made deli items that contain bowtie pasta supplied by Fresh Creative Foods which has been linked to a broader recall due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The outbreak affects multiple retailers under the Albertsons umbrella across several states, including: Albertsons, Albertsons Market, Amigos, Andronico’s Community Markets, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Pak 'N Save, Pavilions, Market Street, Randalls, Safeway, Tom Thumb, and Vons. Impacted states include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nebraska...

Port of LA Seeks Proposals for New Pier 500 Container Terminal

The Port of Los Angeles has announced its search for proposals from parties interested in the pre-development of Pier 500, a project designed to boost cargo efficiency and accommodate larger, next-generation cargo ships. This development comes after decades of efforts to increase capacity amid rising demand at one of the United States' busiest ports.

The proposed site for Pier 500 spans 200 acres and will feature two berths and approximately 3,000 linear feet of new wharf. Situated at the southern tip of...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #29

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #29."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

...

On September 29, the US placed 50% tariffs on imports of timber, lumber, and their derivative products, according to the US Presidential Action. 

Also starting October 1, the US will be imposing 100%...

DoorDash Announces New Innovations With Delivery Robots and App Enhancements

DoorDash has recently made headlines with innovative strategies connecting customers to local retail, food, and beverages.

Its mission, as stated on its website, is "to empower and grow local economies by opening doors that connect us to each other. When you order something you need, local merchants get business, and Dashers get paid."

The company continues to look for ways on pressing the dial in service, while elevating its features. It recently announced the launch of the DoorDash Dot- a fully electric, autonomous delivery robot...

QSR Firms McDonald’s and Little Caesars Highlight Plans for Resilience – Agri-Food Americas 2025

Supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures are testing the resilience of some of the leading names in the US Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) sector, even as McDonald’s Corp and Little Caesars Enterprises press ahead with expansion plans and menu tweaks.   

On the sidelines of the recent Agri-Food Americas 2025 conference in Chicago, McDonald’s and Little Caesars executives both informed Expana that the current demand environment is significantly marked by volatility in traffic patterns and shifting consumer preferences. To mitigate risk with such trends

ANALYSIS: Seasonality Resumes in August Following a Turbulent Year for Chicken Cold Storage 

While year-over-year (YOY) fluctuations in cold storage inventories for August varied widely between lines, most categories closely aligned with the average month-over-month (MOM) changes. August was a month which brought a semblance of normalcy with it to a market that, throughout much of the year, had been unseasonably robust.

Pricing for WOGs, especially the middle tiers, fell sharply in July, then continued with a much more gradual decline at the beginning of August before flattening out. This is a...

ANALYSIS: US 2025 Ground Beef Heats Up, Pre-Labor Day Sales Jump 12%

In the week leading up to Labor Day 2025, the retail fresh ground beef market outperformed the same period in 2024 according to Circana data, with total sales climbing 12% year-over-year (YOY). Distribution improved modestly by 3%, reflecting stronger retail penetration, while discounted sales rose only slightly. This signals that the bulk of demand strength was driven by underlying consumer pull rather than promotional activity. 

Course ground blends highlighted this trend. The 70–77% lean...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Edges Higher MOM Amid Supply Constraints

The total volume of turkey in cold storage was still lower year-over-year (YOY) in August, following a trend that has been in place all year. With that said, the figures more closely approached those of last year than they had previously, with a 3.1% month-over-month (MOM) increase in holdings which is quite a bit higher than the 5-year average increase from July to August of 0.7%. However, despite this slight increase, cold storage inventories remained at an all-time low...

FDA Conditionally Approves First Drug for Prevention and Treatment of New World Screwworm 

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration conditionally approved Dectomax-CA1 (doramectin injection) injectable solution for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm larval infestations, and prevention of NWS reinfestation for 21 days. Dectomax-CA1 is conditionally approved for use only in cattle. 

“We understand the urgency with which America’s farmers and ranchers are asking for tools to fight New World screwworm,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Today’s conditional approval – the first in the U.S. for NWS – shows our dedication to rapidly advancing important animal medicines when they are needed most. We...

ANALYSIS: USDA Report Highlights Continued Declines in Frozen Pork Inventories

The USDA’s August Cold Storage report, released on Friday, reveals that frozen pork stocks have remained near 10-year lows throughout most of 2025, with several months registering inventories 10–20% below the decade-long average. This persistent shortfall reflects a combination of reduced hog slaughter and production volumes, driven in part by recent disease outbreaks, alongside the lingering impact of the Prop 12 implementation in 2024. Seasonal inventory patterns, characterized by spring and...

ANALYSIS: US Boneless Beef Cold Storage Stocks Hit 52-Week Low in August 2025

Boneless beef stocks hit a 52-week low in the latest USDA Cold Storage report, with just 354.7 million pounds (M lbs) in freezers nationwide. This marks a modest month-over-month decline of 2.3 M lbs (-0.7%).

On a year-over-year basis, 2025 cold storage levels have closely mirrored 2024, with both years consistently falling below the 5-year average. The reduced cattle slaughter has led to tighter supplies and lower volumes of beef entering cold storage. Meanwhile, existing inventory is being...

ANALYSIS: US Flank Steaks Remain at Unprecedented Levels for This Time of Year 

Flank steak prices typically decline as summer winds down and grilling season comes to a close, but 2025 has proven to be an exception. In September, weekly prices reached a historic high, surpassing the previous record set in 2023. Since August, values have reached their highest levels for this period in nearly four decades, surpassing all years back to 1985. 

Historically, flank steak prices begin to soften from mid-to-late July into August. However, that seasonal decline hasn't occurred this...

Trump Claims He Will Meet With Lula; No Date Yet

On Tuesday in New York, US President Trump gave remarks to the United Nations General Assembly, via the White House live stream. At the end of his remarks, Trump began speaking about tariffs--disclosing that he'd be meeting with Brazilian President Lula in the coming week(s).

"Brazil now faces major tariffs in response to its unprecedented efforts to interfere in the rights and freedoms of our American citizens and others," started Trump who alluded to the conviction of former Brazilian President Bolsonaro and about unfair trade between the US and Brazil...

Expana Unveils New Unified Platform Transforming Global Food Market Data Into Strategic Intelligence

Expana, the world’s largest agri-food-focused Price Reporting Agency (PRA), launches a modern integrated platform that combines trusted pricing data with AI-enhanced cost models and personalized insights.

Built on the legacy of Urner Barry, Mintec, Feedinfo, Tropical Research Services (TRS) and Stratégie Grains, Expana unites 200+ years of expertise into a modern hub. The platform delivers a comprehensive food commodity database and actionable intelligence for volatile markets.

Expana is supported by IOSCO-assured pricing, predictive analytics, cost modeling and expert analysis.

US Baking and Milling Industry Execs Discuss Countering Inflationary Pressures - Agri-Food Americas

As inflationary pressures persist through 2025, leaders in the North American bakery and milling industries are grappling with supply chain complexities that continue to reshape procurement strategies and product portfolios.

On the sidelines of the recent Agri-Food Americas 2025 conference in Chicago, executives from Sara Lee Frozen Bakery and Bay State Milling outlined to Expana how ingredient costs, tariffs, and operational uncertainties are driving adjustments across their businesses.   

Jason McDonald, Senior Manager of Procurement at Sara Lee Frozen Bakery

United Natural Foods Announces Fourth Quarter Financial Results

United Natural Foods has released details of its financial results for the final quarter of its fiscal year.

Net sales reached $7.7 billion in the quarter, marking a 1.6% increase year-over-year (YOY). The gross profit for this period was $1.03 billion.

The report highlighted operating expenses of $1.046 billion, or 13.6% of net sales, compared to $1.075 billion, or 13.2% of net sales in 2024.

The company reported a net loss of $87 million in the fourth quarter...

Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners: Coffee, Cocoa Among Exempt Commodities

As of September 5, products like coffee, cocoa, and tea (along with hundreds more) may be exempt from US reciprocal tariffs if a country’s leaders make a deal with the US trade team, according to a White House fact sheet that specifies exemptions for trading partners that make substantial, reciprocal commitments to mitigate the national emergency-inducing trade-deficit.

To date, market participants watched as deals with the European Union and Indonesia provided a vague mention towards exemptions for “natural resources” like EU cork...

ANALYSIS: September Pork Cutout at Decade Highs Despite Recent Softening

The weekly Expana Pork Carcass Cutout is navigating at 10‑year highs for September, despite some recent softening in daily readings. The cutout is currently 7.9% above this same point in 2024 and 28.4% higher than the 10‑year average...

ANALYSIS: US Egg Market Sinks to 16-Month Lows Despite Fresh Bird Flu Outbreak

The US egg market remains under intense pressure this week, with conventional large slipping below $2.00/dozen for the first time since May 2024. Soft demand at retail, coupled with rising production ahead of the fall holiday stretch, has tipped the balance firmly against sellers...

ANALYSIS: Chinese Authorities Arrive in Brazil for Audit with a Plan to Resume Chicken Exports

Brazil’s poultry industry is navigating a critical juncture, marked by the resumption of exports to the European Union (EU) (in late-September 2025) and an ongoing Chinese audit that could determine the future of poultry trade with its largest chicken importer. Approximately 11% of Brazilian chicken meat exports were destined to China in 2024.

A technical team from China has arrived in Brazil to assess the country’s sanitary and phytosanitary control systems in the wake of the Avian Influenza (AI)...

ANALYSIS: Hatchery Figures Reflect Robust Broiler Production Alongside Shifting Market Dynamics

The year-over-year (YOY) change in the number of broiler-type pullets hatched has varied widely each month. However, when we take a step back and look at the data as a total, we find that year-to-date broiler pullets hatched are above that of last year, even though August’s data shows a 5.3% decrease. The lower YoY number of broiler-type pullets hatched this August is likely more a function of last year’s high hatch, along with an additional working day...