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ANALYSIS: US Shell Egg Prices Retreat as Post-Holiday Inventories Build
Shell egg prices have begun to ease in the post-Thanksgiving period, with Midwest large slipping 3cts to $2.58/dozen on Tuesday—the first downward move since late September. While the holiday performed in line with expectations and, in some cases, exceeded them, early December often brings a natural cooling in demand. Many consumers enter the month well-stocked after the long holiday weekend, leaving retailers to pull lighter volumes as they assess sell-through before committing to fresh rounds of replenishment.
These softer retail pulls, combined with...
The Retail Rundown: Holiday Shopping Lifts Foodservice and Grocery Demand
December is when most consumers fully embrace the holiday spirit—and start spending accordingly.
This year's holiday spending is off to a strong start, with record shopper turnout and a surge in online activity. Adobe Analytics reports that total online sales from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday amounted to $44.2 billion, up nearly 8% from last year.
Meanwhile, the National Retail Federation reports that a record 202.9 million people shopped over the Thanksgiving weekend, up from 197 million last year. Supermarkets were the most popular destination at 47%, followed closely by online shopping at 45%...
ANALYSIS: Comparing Cage-Free Demand This Thanksgiving to Last
Cage-free wholesale values continued to rise this week as Thanksgiving baking demand surged across retail channels. Large national chains have maintained affordable shelf pricing through November, driving strong consumer sales as households prepare for the peak baking period. At some of these chains, cage-free eggs are positioned below $1.50/dozen—an uncommon and striking inversion that puts them roughly 50cts below conventional shelf prices in many other regions. In effect, shelf prices are trending lower than they were heading into Thanksgiving last year, supporting consistent foot traffic despite ongoing pressure on household budgets...
ANALYSIS: EU Egg Market Steadies, Yet Avian Flu Keeps Tension Alive
The EU egg market appears to be settling after a period of sharp price escalation. As industrial buyers scale back year-end procurement, the urgency that had driven recent firming has eased, allowing spot values to stabilize, with slight softening appearing in some segments. Yet supply across most of the EU remains constrained, with only isolated pockets of improvement.
Dried yolk remains a pronounced bullish outlier. Strong demand and minimal inventories continue to push values upward. Its essential role in high-value food applications and limited substitution options keep buyers compelled to secure supply despite rising costs...
The Retail Rundown: Cheaper Turkeys Hit Shelves Despite Wholesale Price Surge
This Thanksgiving, holiday shoppers might spot some relief: retail turkey prices have eased, even as wholesale values climb toward near-record highs.
Ongoing challenges, such as persistent bird flu outbreaks and relatively low hatch rates, have limited production all year, leaving supplies exceptionally thin ahead of the holiday.
While retailers secure turkeys well in advance to build cold-storage inventories, frozen whole-bird stocks in 2025 remain near seasonal record lows, leaving little supply cushion...
The Retail Rundown: A Season of Plenty, Except for Turkey
For retailers, this year’s holiday season is shaping up to be one of plenty. The National Retail Federation (NRF) projects November and December sales to surpass $1 trillion for the first time, underscoring consumers’ continued spending power.
“American consumers may be cautious in sentiment, yet remain fundamentally strong and continue to drive U.S. economic activity,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.
While foodservice outlets are poised to capture consumer traffic on hectic days, retail prepared foods and frozen entrées are well-positioned to compete for at-home dining occasions as shoppers seek convenient, time-saving meal solutions...
ANALYSIS: Narrowing Price Spread Fuels Competition for Cage-Free Eggs
After two weeks of rapid gains, the cage-free market slowed as distributor participation faded and retail competition took center stage. Distributor demand—which had been strong through early November—has eased as many buyers front-loaded purchases to get ahead of rising wholesale costs and potential bird flu disruptions ahead of Thanksgiving.
With distributors stepping back, market focus has shifted to retail buyers, particularly on the conventional side. Some of the lowest everyday shelf prices and widespread feature activity have...
The Retail Rundown: Turkey Promotions Climb as Holiday Demand Takes Hold
Turkey ads now make up nearly 4% of protein features this week and are on pace to capture a larger share next week as seasonal demand gathers momentum. Beef holds 23.8% of ad space, pork accounts for 22.8%, and chicken eased to 19%—down one point from last week. Eggs have 3% of this week’s buying opportunities, up one point compared to the week prior.
Within the turkey category, ads for frozen whole birds and fresh or frozen parts are evenly split, each accounting for 28% of turkey features...
ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Wholesale Values Surge Amid Retail Strength and Bird Flu Caution
Cage-free wholesale values surged again this week as both retail strength and precautionary buying surrounding bird flu ahead of the peak baking demand period help to sustain momentum. Buyer activity along the West Coast intensified noticeably, giving the market its most active tone in months.
Demand along the West Coast has held firm as competitive shelf prices and consistent promotional activity continue to support consumer engagement. Several large-scale chains in the Golden State have maintained prices near $1.50/dozen for cage-free eggs...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana’s Weekly Rundown #32
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 #32."
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.
...
This week, the US administration has continued to pressure trading partners like India to curb imports of Russian oil as to sanction the country during its war with Ukraine, cited Expana...
China's Meat Output Rises Nearly 4% Through Third Quarter 2025 as Imports Fall
China’s meat sector rose 3.8% through the first three quarters of 2025, driven by strong domestic poultry output, while import volumes slumped, according to recently released data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The broader economic picture shows that the world’s second-largest economy grew 4.8% during Q3, its slowest pace in a year, as weak domestic demand left China increasingly dependent on strong export activity.
Although the growth rate keeps China on track for its roughly 5% annual target, economists question whether the momentum is sustainable, given the country's reliance on external demand amid trade tensions with the United States...
ANALYSIS: US Cage-Free Market Begins to Ascend
Since mid-July, the cage-free market has been on a steady decline, interrupted only by brief periods of stability. However, with renewed demand for eggs across the US as we enter Q4—and a healthy level of concern surrounding the growing prevalence of HPAI—market values have begun to push upward.
Retail demand over the past few weeks has been generally average, but when multiple major chains reduced shelf prices to around the $2.50/dozen level or lower while some chains in other segments launched new promotional activity, consumers responded positively. This improvement coincides with cooler weather spurring baking interest, as well as elevated competing protein prices that continue to make eggs an attractive value...
M.C.I. Foods, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Breakfast Burrito and Wrap Products Due to Possible Listeria
M.C.I. Foods Inc., a Santa Fe Springs, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 91,585 pounds of specific lots of ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast burrito and wrap products containing egg that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The individually packaged and bulk packed frozen breakfast burritos and wraps were produced between September 17, 2025, and October 14, 2025. A list of the products subject to recall can be found here...
ANALYSIS: EU Egg Market Tightens Amid Widespread Bird Flu Outbreaks
The EU egg market remains under pressure, with overall availability described as limited, as recent bird flu outbreaks continue to unsettle sentiment and constrain supply. In Spain, concerns have intensified following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at a layer hen farm housing 727,000 birds. The facility was already under surveillance after a previous case was reported in the same area last month...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana’s Weekly Rundown #30
Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #30."
On October 7, US President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Carney met in the White House. The possibility a US-Canadian trade deal was a main topic of discussion...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #29
Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #29."
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%...
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
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...
HPAI Impacts and Dynamics within the Egg Market - Agri-Foods Americas 2025
In a presentation that cracked open the complexities of this year's egg market, Ryan Hojnowski- Market Reporter, shared his expert insights at Expana's Agri-Food Americas 2025 conference. He called the audience's attention with a deeply informative analysis highlighting the current egg market's challenges and dynamics.
The industry has faced significant disruptions, with the loss of 60 million egg layers between October 2024 and June 2025 due to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak. This loss coincided with...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #28
Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #28."
On Tuesday in New York, US President Trump gave remarks to the United Nations General Assembly, via the White House live stream...
Dino Nuggets On the Go? Tyson Drops New Chicken Cups
On September 22, Tyson Foods dropped chicken nuggets in a brand-new form: Chicken Cups, as detailed in a company press release. These new nugs are available in grocery freezers throughout the USA.
"Tyson Foods’ Innovation team developed this new cup format after recognizing the consumer need for more convenient ways to eat chicken. Ideal for busy lifestyles, the cups are stored frozen and can be enjoyed straight from the microwave in 90 seconds to 2 minutes," read the release...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #27
Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #27."
US tariff revenue may be used to fund the nation’s farmers, reported Reuters about an interview between Agriculture Secretary Rollins and the Financial Times...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #26
Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #26."
Despite 50% tariffs remaining on Brazil and India, the Indian Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump expressed positivity that the respective trade teams would reach a deal, according to their latest social media...
Egg Farm Fire Under Investigation in Wharton County
An egg farm in Wharton County was reportedly ablaze this morning.
News has circulated that multiple fire units were dispatched to Maxim Egg Farm, a Cal-Maine Foods company, on FM 442 in Lane City, Texas.
Cal-Maine Foods announced the acquisition of Maxim Eggs back in November of 2012. The deal included two production facilities with a capacity for about 3.5 million laying hens.
The extent of the damage is still unclear.
While the investigation is ongoing, no cause of the...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #25
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #25."
In the States, a federal appeals court ruled that US President Trump’s use of global tariffs exceeded presidential authority, but they remain active until at least October 14, 2025...
Restaurants Embrace the Autumn Shift
The chill is in the air, and as we welcome a new, crisp month, the industry is gearing up for consumers to embrace autumn flavors and seasonal recipes. With the arrival of the new season, people are swapping their cookout favorites and salads for bonfires, comfort food, and Sunday wings.
Retailers are ahead of the curve, rolling out smoky and savory specials to capitalize on the shift, while some focus on attracting budget-conscious customers amidst rising food and labor costs.
More McValue
Starting September 8, McDonald’s will expand its...
ANALYSIS: US Egg Production Rebounds, But Demand Struggles to Absorb Rising Supply
US egg production is showing signs of recovery in the wake of this year’s historic bird flu outbreak, which triggered one of the most severe supply disruptions on record. The USDA’s latest Chickens & Eggs report showed the nation’s table-egg layer flock expanded 2.18% this month to 296.8 million layers, marking the highest level since January...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #24
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #24."
On August 22, Canadian Prime Minister Carney dropped most retaliatory tariffs on US products, beginning September 1, reported Expana in an article that suggested the move may help soothe trade relations...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #23
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #23."
This week, tariff news took a bit of a backseat to US President Trump’s dealings with Russian President Putin in Alaska—along with President Trump’s meeting with many European leaders...
Moldovan Poultry Producer Axedum to Invest €9 Mln in Expansion
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Moldovan bank Maib have approved €9 million in financing for the poultry producer Axedum, both banks announced.
The funds “will finance the construction of a modern feed mill and enable Axedum to expand into a new business line of egg production,” the EBRD said.
Axedum is seeking to export its products into the European Union. Moldova holds EU accession candidate status...
Hendrix Genetics Invests in New Poultry Pedigree Facility in the Netherlands
Dutch-based Hendrix Genetics is investing in a pedigree facility in the Netherlands as part of a new poultry breeding program, the company said. Hendrix Genetics specializes in the breeding of turkeys, poultry, swine, salmon, trout and shrimp.
“The facility will support the growth of Hendrix Genetics’ Layers and Traditional Poultry Breeding Program,” the company said.
Hendrix Genetics expects to start operations this month and reach full capacity within six to eight months.
The facility has a modern hatchery as well as rearing and production houses...
ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Market Tests as Prices Converge with Conventional
After several weeks of sharp declines, the cage-free market found its footing this week, holding steady for multiple days and marking a sharp reversal in pace. The rest-of-market cage-free quotation sits at $2.69/dozen and, for the first time since its introduction in 2024, has fully converged with the conventional Midwest large quote. The narrowing spread between the two markets has become a defining factor for both cage-free availability and subsequent trade values.
With the spread gone, cage-free suppliers are increasingly diverting product...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #22
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #22."
The timeline for tariff negotiations between the US and China trade teams has been extended for another 90 days—moving the deadline to November 10, according to a White House fact sheet...
Cal-Maine Appoints First Ever Chief Strategy Officer, Keira Lombardo
Cal-Maine Foods has appointed Keira Lombardo as its first ever Chief Strategy Officer, a move that underscores the company's dedication to enhancing value through operational excellence and innovation.
Lombardo brings over two decades of industry experience, during which she has held several executive positions.
Before joining Cal-Maine, she was the Chief Executive Officer of Dairy MAX, a large-scale dairy organization. There, she implemented a model focused on return on investment, aligned the team and strategic goals, and promoted dairy as a healthy, affordable...
ANALYSIS: EU Shell Egg Market Holds Firm Amid Seasonal Slowdown and Structural Shifts
The EU egg market is navigating its customary summer slowdown, a period typically marked by a dip in demand from the bakery and food manufacturing sectors. This time of year is often referred to by market participants as the cheapest period to buy eggs. However, in a notable departure from the norm, egg prices remain elevated during the summer, defying expectations.
As a result of the seasonal lull, many processors are either scaling back operations or temporarily shutting down for maintenance. Egg breakers are taking...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #21
Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #21."
On August 6, US President Trump issued an executive order that imposes a new 25% additional ad valorem tariff on imports from India into the States, effective 21 days after the White House announcement...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #20
Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #20."
As of July 27, the United States and the European Union reached a trade agreement: The US will charge a 15% tariff on all imports across-the-board from the coalition of countries...
USDA Seeks Nominations for American Egg Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is currently seeking nominees for the American Egg Board (Board) to fill three member and three alternate vacancies in Area I (AL,CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, LA, ME, MD, MA, MS, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, TX, VT, VA, WV). They will serve a two-year term beginning March 2026 to March 2028. The deadline for nominations to organizations certified in Area I is Friday, September12, 2025.
Egg producers who own more than 75,000 laying hens may...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #19
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #19."
ANALYSIS: EU Yolk Prices Hold Firm as Supply Bottlenecks Curb Market Relief
The EU egg and egg products market remains broadly firm, with pricing supported by structural tightness rather than short-term seasonal factors. While July typically brings softer shell egg prices on the back of weaker summer demand, current price levels remain well above historical norms. Only limited easing has been observed, and overall market sentiment continues to reflect caution as supply constraints dominate pricing dynamics.
Tightness is most pronounced in the yolk segment, both liquid and dried, where availability remains constrained...
Cal-Maine Closes Fiscal Year with Record Profit and Strong Growth
Just after markets closed Tuesday, Cal-Maine Foods released its financial results for the final quarter of its fiscal year.
President and Chief Executive Officer Sherman Miller stated, “Our results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 marked a strong finish to a challenging, but successful year of transformation for Cal-Maine Foods. We continued to advance our growth strategy in a dynamic market environment, maintained a strong focus on safely, efficiently and sustainably managing our operations, added production capacity to meet customer demand and stayed disciplined in our...
ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Market Climbs on Promotional Strength and Supply Strain
Cage-free values surged 38cts this week as aggressive promotional activity along the West Coast drove stronger-than-expected retail movement and pulled product from other regions. The combination of active demand and ongoing supply limitations created a tighter marketplace and spurred strong premiums attached to wholesale values.
Retail demand has reportedly improved in most regions, but nowhere more than along the West Coast, where several chains have launched new features—some priced around $3.00/dozen. These promotions have resonated with inflation-conscious consumers, resulting in shelf...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #17
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #17."
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...
This week, reciprocal tariffs were re-announced in the form of letters from the US Trump administration to trading partners who could not reach a trade deal within the previously granted 90-day pause...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #16
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #16."
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #14
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #14."
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #13
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #13."
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #12
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #12."
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #11
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #11."
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #10
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #10."
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #8
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #8."
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #7
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #7."
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #6
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Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #5
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Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #4
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #4."
FEATURED STORIES
ANALYSIS: US Cattle Live Weights Reach New Record Highs in Oct 2025
ANALYSIS: Broiler Hatchability Climbs in Q4, Narrowing Gap With Historical Norms
ANALYSIS: US Government Shutdown Effects at the Retail Level for Coarse Grinds
ANALYSIS: Turkey Supply Constraints Drive Market Fundamentals