Whetstone Distribution Acquires Chicago-Based Anmar Foods 

Whetstone Distribution has acquired Anmar Foods, a Chicago-based meat producer specializing in beef, turkey, chicken, and other animal proteins, including pork, lamb, sausages, and smoked products. 

The acquisition is part of Whetstone’s strategy to expand its regional customer base. The company recently bought several other Chicago-based businesses, including Fulton Market and Pritzlaff Wholesale Meats, as well as Moesle Meats and Queen Foods...

Spain Announces €444.5mln Fund for Farmers Affected by the Floods

The Spanish Agriculture, Fishing and Food Ministry (Mapa) plans to allocate €444.5mln in flood-recovery funding for affected farmers and producers in the next three months. Meanwhile, hefty rainfall is forecast to continue this week, troubling recovery efforts.

Of the allocated funds, €200mln will go to farmers as direct support.

"The affected farmer does not need to worry about submitting any application or doing anything for the direct aid. We will not ask for any paperwork, but will grant the aid ex officio...

Yu Shang Food Inc. Recalls Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products 

Yu Shang Food, Inc, a Spartanburg, SC, establishment, is recalling approximately 4,589 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products out of an abundance of caution. These products may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The ready-to-eat meat and poultry items were produced from October 21 to October 27, 2024. These products have “used by” dates ranging from 21-AUG-2025 through 27-AUG-2025. View full product list...

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Reports Results for the Fiscal Third Quarter Ended October 6, 2024

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., a full-service restaurant chain serving an innovative selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere, today reported financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended October 6, 2024.

Highlights for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2024, Compared to the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2023:

• Total revenues are $274.6 million, a decrease of $2.9 million.
• Comparable restaurant revenue(1) increased 0.6%.
• Net loss is $18.9 million, compared to...

Papa Johns Announces Jenna Bromberg as Chief Marketing Officer

Papa John’s International, Inc. (“Papa Johns®”) today announced the appointment of Jenna Bromberg to Chief Marketing Officer, effective Nov. 14. A recognized industry expert known for transformative brand campaigns and deep consumer insights, Bromberg brings a unique blend of quick-service restaurant and modern retail marketing expertise to the role.

“Jenna’s track record of building strong brands and driving innovative marketing campaigns makes her the ideal leader to help take the Papa Johns brand into its next chapter,” said Todd Penegor, President and Chief...

ANALYSIS: Put Your Turkey Where Your Mouth Is

This year’s per capita turkey consumption estimate is 13.9 lbs., a 9.0% decline from the 5-year average. In response, year-to-date (YTD) turkey slaughter is at a record low of 157.2 million, representing a 6.2% decrease year-over-year (YoY) and a 6.6% drop from the 5-year average. Notably, while both hen and tom harvest numbers are below the 5-year average, they have not decreased YoY. This trend reflects shifts in turkey production, driven by evolving consumption patterns...

The Retail Rundown: Holiday Countdown Rapidly Winds Down

With Thanksgiving just three weeks away, the holiday rush is fueling retail traffic as shoppers stock up on essentials. This week, turkey promotions account for 3.3 percent of all protein ads, down from 5 percent the previous week. The number of grocery chains featuring turkeys also declined, with 39 chains participating, compared to 49 chains a week earlier.

Despite fewer promotions, fresh whole turkey sales rose week-over-week, reaching $1.3 million last week, up from $909,368 the week prior, according to Circana...

Introducing IFMA The Food Away from Home Association

After decades of branding itself the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), a new identity for the 72-year-old organization was revealed today – “IFMA The Food Away from Home Association.”

Announced this morning at the organization’s Presidents Conference, the change was prompted by the association’s recent long-term strategic planning that included intensive self-examination and taking a clear-eyed look at the state of the industry...

PODCAST: "Agri-Food for Thought" Episode 16 - Brazil's Challenges and Trends in the Feed to Protein

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.

Agri-Food for Thought covers the latest news in food and agricu​lture. Listen now as Simon examines seasonal shifts underway in the food and ag space, with special guest Elliot Holgate, Market Reporter Feed Additives - South America, Expana, giving a deep dive on Brazilian feed, feed additive, and animal protein markets.

Burger King, KFC Owners Miss Results Estimates as Fast-Food Spending Wanes

Burger King parent Restaurant Brands and KFC owner Yum Brands missed market estimates for quarterly results on Tuesday, hit by weak demand in the United States and abroad from budget-stretched customers.

Consumers are relying on cheaper, home-cooked meals instead of eating out as fast-food prices have risen over the past year, hurting traffic across the industry.

As a result, restaurant operators have turned to aggressive promotions in an attempt to attract value-seeking customers. Burger...

Publix Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results and Stock Price

Publix’s sales for the three months ended Sept. 28, 2024 were $14.6 billion, a 4.9% increase from $14 billion in 2023. Comparable store sales for the three months ended Sept. 28, 2024 increased 3.4%. The company estimates sales for the three months ended Sept. 28, 2024 increased 0.6% due to the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Net earnings for the three months ended Sept. 28, 2024 were $1.1 billion, compared to $833 million in 2023, an increase of 31.7%. Earnings per share...

BRF Buys Stake in Saudi Arabian Poultry Company for USD 84 Million

BRF reported on 31 October that it formalized the purchase of 26% of shares of the Saudi Addoha Poultry Company, one of the largest chicken producers in Saudi Arabia, for USD 84.3 million.

The announcement is on the back of BRF's partnership with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) set to invest USD 500 million in poultry production and food processing in the region.

According to media outlet Infomoney, Bradesco’s BBI analysts estimate that the Addoha factory purchased, which operates entirely in the halal...

FAT Brands Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. (“FAT Brands” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended September 29, 2024.

Andy Wiederhorn, Chairman of FAT Brands, said, “Over the last three years, we have expanded our brand portfolio to include 18 distinct concepts while our footprint has increased tenfold, now encompassing over 2,300 locations across more than 40 countries and 49 U.S. states or territories. We opened 22 new units during the third quarter, bringing our year-to-date openings to 71 new...

Pilgrim’s Pride Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results with $4.6 Billion in Net Sales

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, one of the world's largest poultry producers, reports its third quarter 2024 financial results.

Third Quarter Highlights

• Net Sales of $4.6 billion.
• Consolidated GAAP operating income margin of 11.1%.
• GAAP Net Income of $350.0 million and GAAP EPS of $1.47. Adjusted Net Income of $387.0 million or Adjusted EPS of $1.63.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $660.4 million, or a 14.4% margin.
• Our U.S. Fresh portfolio continued to improve through progress in operational excellence, strong demand, and enhanced...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Continues Descent

Keeping in line with August's overarching theme, September's latest public warehouse holdings report reveals an ongoing tug-of-war between historically low production levels and seasonally tepid demand for key items like turkey breasts. The most recent inventory report brought with it a modest 1.4%, or 6 million pound, uptick in total holdings when compared with the year prior. Despite this slight advance from 2023, at 427 million pounds, September’s reading still resides at the fourth lowest seasonal level in nearly three decades; highlighting this year’s 3% year-over-year (YoY)... 

Thanksgiving Side Dish Showdown: What Do Americans Want to Ban from the Buffet

A New Survey Reveals the Dishes You Can Cut from the Menu to Save Money this Holiday Season.

Thanksgiving is America’s favorite non-denominational holiday. It’s a festive occasion marked by feasts, football, family…and occasional feuding. Tensions may run exceptionally high at the grown-ups’ table this election year, so Savings.com suggests an alternate arena to settle more playful disputes.

White meat or dark? Stuffing or spuds? Should we even call it Turkey Day? Keep conversation light with these collegial controversies and... 

A Tu Gusto, LLC Recalls Frozen Croquette Products Produced Without the Benefit of Inspection 

A Tu Gusto, LLC, a Lehigh Acres, Fla. firm, is recalling approximately 7,630 pounds of frozen meat and poultry croquette products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and may contain undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains soy, sesame seed and wheat, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.

The frozen meat and poultry items were produced between April and October of 2024... 

CDC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response Update October 29, 2024.

CDC continues to respond to the public health challenge posed by a multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, or "H5N1 bird flu," in dairy cows, poultry and other animals in the United States. CDC is working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), state public health and animal health officials, and other partners using a One Health approach.

Since April 2024, CDC, working with state public health departments... 

The Retail Rundown: Late-Season Push for Grilling Cuts

As October ends, beef and seafood promotions are neck and neck, each occupying about 25 percent of total advertising space. During the final week of "Pork-tober, pork features account for 20.8 percent of buying opportunities, closely followed by chicken at 20.6 percent.

Though the shift from grilling cuts to roasts has been in motion for a few weeks, a forecast of record warmth in parts of the central and eastern U.S. this week offers a last chance for backyard cooking before winter sets in.

This could spur late-season promotions...

Mountaire Farms President and CEO Phillip Plylar to Retire at End of 2024

COO Amanda Irwin Named President in 2025

Mountaire announced the retirement of Phillip Plylar, President and CEO, effective December 31st, 2024.

“We are grateful for Phil’s many contributions over the last 28 years, which have led to the company’s continued growth and prosperity,” said Dabbs Cavin, CEO of Mountaire Corporation. “Phil has done such a tremendous job leading Mountaire Farms that we are now the fourth-largest company in our industry.”

Succeeding Phil, Mountaire announced Amanda Irwin, Chief...

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Meat and Poultry Products Illegally Imported 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for various meat and poultry products that were illegally imported from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.

The following products are subject to the public health alert, regardless of the product date. View labels in Burmese.

• 180-g. cans containing “BEST BEEF CURRY.”
• 425-g. cans containing “BEST Chicken Biryani...

Fire At JBS Poultry Plant in Passo Fundo, Brazil

A fire broke out on Sunday October 27 at JBS’s poultry processing facility in Passo Fundo, Brazil.

Local media outlets reported that the blaze affected an area designated for packaging. It was reported that JBS had confirmed local firefighters contained the blaze without injuries. 

Lar Agroindustrial Plans New Investments in Protein and Grains for 2025

Lar Agroindustrial Cooperative has announced plans to allocate resources towards new protein production units and to modernise its processing plants for poultry, pork, and soy, according to local media outlet Agfeed.

In 2024, Lar invested BRL 1 billion, with the majority directed to its soybean crushing operations, including the BRL 280 million acquisition of a soybean crushing plant from Copagril. Additional investments were made in poultry slaughtering, animal feed production, piglet and chick facilities, and logistics.

For 2025, Lar plans to invest a further BRL...

ANALYSIS: Hang-gliding Chicken Thigh Meat

Thigh meat quotations started being recorded in November of 1997. Since then, in over two-thirds of the years, the quotation has decreased from Q3 to Q4. The last year in which quotations were higher on average in Q4 compared to Q3 was 2018 when they were higher by an average of 1%. In the past five years, there's been an average decline in value of approximately -26%, with annual average changes ranging from -6% in 2019 to -52% in 2022. As we enter Q4 of this year, market participants...

New Butterball Togetherness Report Provides Insight on Thanksgiving Plans

Butterball, the best known and most loved* brand of turkey in the U.S., today announced the findings of the Butterball Togetherness Report: 2024 Thanksgiving Outlook, which reveals the Thanksgiving plans of hosts and attendees alike.

The holiday report reveals that 86% of consumers plan to celebrate Thanksgiving with others and an anticipated average celebration size of nine people. And turkey reigns supreme, as 87% of hosts plan to serve turkey this year. It's also consumers' favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal (51%), followed by stuffing (44%), pie (32%) and potatoes (27%)...

ANALYSIS: A Turkey Balancing Act

The turkey industry as a whole continues to find itself at a crossroads, with cold storage numbers dwindling and slaughter and hatchery data similarly declining. While some of the slowdown in production is intentional, aiming to counter sluggish consumer demand, disease-related complications—both past and ongoing—remain a significant concern. Uncertainty surrounding future production has left many market participants on edge as the year-end approaches and 2025 looms.

Delving into the numbers, the latest USDA cold storage report showed total turkey inventories edging... 

Campbell’s and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment Announce Partnership 

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) and Campbell Soup Company (NASDAQ:CPB) (Campbell’s) today announced a unique marketing partnership spanning four storied sports franchises across several of the world’s biggest leagues.

Campbell’s will serve as an official partner to the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), the Washington Commanders (NFL), New Jersey Devils (NHL), Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and Joe Gibbs Racing (NASCAR). The multi-year partnership will enable fans to connect and engage with Campbell’s leading portfolio of brands through unique activations and authentic offerings in prominent sports and entertainment markets...

ANALYSIS: Breaking out the Chicken Production Roadmap

From a seasonal shift in buyer outreach, to heavy live weights, and even hurricanes, there is no shortage of variables which are keeping chicken market participants on their toes here in mid-October.

Given the volatile and somewhat unpredictable nature of the market lately, players are finding that historic seasonality isn’t always the best indicator of the road that lies ahead. This scenario has prompted some participants to break out the production “roadmap” in an attempt to hone their expectations for the future. Perhaps one of the best indicators at...

Walmart Sets the Table Early With a Thanksgiving Meal for Less Than $7 per Person

Today Walmart officially launched its holiday meal, bringing customers incredible savings on mealtime favorites, earlier and at an even lower price than last year. And to help spread more joy during the season of giving, Walmart is offering customers the opportunity to gift a meal directly to loved ones anywhere in the country and, new this year, donate an entire meal to their local Salvation Army unit.

As food prices remain top of mind, more customers want to begin saving earlier...

Check Out The Super-EST Market In Town: Lidl Relaunches Brand In The US

Grocery shopping... as just another errand? Couldn't be us!

Buckle up, because Lidl US is here to take your tastebuds on a joyride through the aisles, offering the highest quality products at the lowest prices.

Introducing The Super-EST Market

We're putting the "super" in supermarket (make that The Super-EST Market) by delivering a curated collection of private label picks, global imports, and everyday name brands. With 170+ stores woven through neighborhoods across nine East Coast states and Washington, D.C...

ALDI Commits to Thanksgiving Prices Lower Than 2019, Feeding 10 People for Less than $47

This holiday season, ALDI is offering its lowest-priced Thanksgiving basket in five years – a full meal for 10 people at less than $47.* With reports showing grocery prices are up 50% across the industry on hundreds of items compared to 2019,** shoppers will get welcome relief at ALDI on their favorite Thanksgiving fixings.

Throughout the Thanksgiving season, holiday hosts can shop ALDI for all the fresh ingredients and award-winning products they need to assemble...

NCC Elects New Officers; Peco Foods’ Bill Griffith Installed as Chairman

The National Chicken Council (NCC) has installed the four officers that will guide the organization through 2025. The installation took place at NCC’s 69th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Bill Griffith, Chief Operations Officer at Peco Foods, will serve as 2024-2025 Chairman.

Bill has more than 25 years of management experience in the food industry and is known for his strong reputation for innovation, sustainability and quality...

ANALYSIS: Turkeys Stuck at Home, Exports Drop in August

On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, total turkey export volumes were down -10% in August, while total export values were up 4%. These numbers could suggest a combination of a few factors. First, export buyers may have been buying less overall production, but the production they were purchasing may have been of a higher value than the previous year.Second, in the case of Mexico, an average YoY increase in the strength of the Mexican peso to the U.S. dollar may have supported Mexican buyers. Last, but certainly not less...

Wakefern Food Corp. Acquires Di Bruno Bros. Portfolio of Branded Products

Wakefern Food Corp. today announced the acquisition of the Di Bruno Bros. portfolio of specialty products that are currently distributed nationally to wholesale and retail customers.

A pioneering specialty food retailer and purveyor of gourmet cheeses and cured meats in the Philadelphia area since 1939, Di Bruno Bros. was also one of the first specialty grocers online when it began selling its products nationwide in 1998.

The five Di Bruno Bros. retail locations and a bottle shop in Philadelphia were recently acquired by DB Gourmet Markets...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Export Volumes in August

Total chicken exports were up 3.5% from July to August, compared to a 5-year average month-over-month (MoM) change of 4.6%. Of the twenty countries listed in the USDA’s monthly import/export report, thirteen of them had increased MoM export volumes in August, but only seven of them were up year-over-year (YoY). This aligns with the year-long trend of lower export volumes in which the current year-to-date (YTD) value of 4.4 billion lbs. is -8.6% lower YoY and is...

Fire at Aviagen's Hatchery in Paraná, Brazil

On 12 October, a fire broke out at Aviagen's breeder production hatchery in Carambeí, Paraná. An official statement from Aviagen América Latina, shared with Expana, confirmed that the damages were only material, with all staff members reported safe.

Local media reported that the fire spread across various sections of the facility, prompting the involvement of military firefighters to support the local firefighting efforts due to the severity of the situation.

Aviagen is a global supplier of broiler breeder stock. The unit in Carambeí was reported as important for the supply of chicks to...

Butterball® Unveils a Stress-Free Solution for Holiday Hosts: Cook from Frozen Premium Whole Turkey

Today, Butterball, LLC introduced the Butterball Cook from Frozen Premium Whole Turkey, an innovative offering for seasoned and novice Thanksgiving hosts alike. Created with convenience in mind, the new Cook from Frozen turkey requires just two easy steps: unwrap and roast. There's no thawing, no mess and no stress, resulting in an effortless Thanksgiving centerpiece.

The most popular questions received by the Butterball® Turkey Talk-Line® are consistently about how and when to thaw a turkey...

Perdue Champions New Standards For "Pasture-Raised" Labeling at Ninth Annual Animal Care Summit

The new labeling guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture redefines "pasture-raised" as chickens that spend the majority of their lives physically on pasture

Perdue Farms, a leader in animal care, no-antibiotics-ever and innovative regenerative farming practices, is setting a new standard for transparency in the poultry industry with its successful petition for a more accurate guideline to the "pasture-raised" label. Perdue's pioneering raising models, which align with the new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines...

First DORITOS® Restaurant Elevates Late-Night Favorites at Crypto.com Arena

Today, DORITOS® introduces a new bold culinary experience for Crypto.com Arena ticket holders who seek the unexpected by opening a Doritos After Dark™ restaurant at the iconic sports and live events arena. Offering everything from spicy appetizers to bold entrees and sweet desserts, the restaurant elevates all dishes with the undeniable flavor and crunch of Doritos chips, inviting fans to feed their late-night curiosity.

"Taking cues from our consumers, we are enabling people to experience their favorite brands from Frito-Lay....

ANALYSIS: Upward-Trending Turkey Drum Quotations

Quotations for domestic East coast frozen tom drums were established in January of 1989. Since then, there have only been four years in which the quotations have not retreated from the first of the year to the current date. These years were 2011, 2013, 2018, and 2024.

None of these years have boasted a record-high seasonal quotation at any point of the year, and they don't have the most dramatic increases from the first of the year to the current week. In fact, only...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Cold Storage Holdings in August

Despite a slight retreat in demand for several domestic lines during August, frozen inventory remained well below last year’s level, fueled in part by an active call from the export arena. Now, in October, these factors are starting to resurface and play a major role in current market dynamics. Total chicken in frozen inventory was down -9.0% year-over-year (YoY), which positions August’s inventory at the third lowest seasonal level over the past ten years. All individual categories, with the exceptions of drums and paws, were also down on a YoY basis...

How a Port Strike Could Ripple Through the Ag Sector

The port strike has entered its third day and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) has signaled that they are willing to resume negotiations with the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), but without preconditions made by the union. 

In an update provided Wednesday, USMX stated: "Reaching an agreement will require negotiating – and our full focus is on how to return to the table to further discuss these vital components, many of which are intertwined. We cannot agree to preconditions to return to bargaining – but we remain committed to bargaining in good...

Live Updates: Key Developments in the East and Gulf Coast Port Strike

October 3: The port strike has entered its third day and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) signaled that they are willing to resume negotiations with the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), but without preconditions made by the union. 

In an update provided Wednesday, USMX stated: "Reaching an agreement will require negotiating – and our full focus is on how to return to the table to further discuss these vital components, many of which are intertwined. We cannot agree to preconditions...