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...

The Retail Rundown:  Port Strike Sends Shockwaves Throughout Supply Chain 

The strike at East and Gulf Coast ports officially began once the calendar turned to October, following unsuccessful contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).

The strike's impact is being felt throughout the supply chain, causing significant disruptions in the flow of goods ahead of the rapidly approaching holiday season. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, USMX stated that its current offer includes a nearly 50% wage increase. In response, ILA said it has rejected USX's offer "because it fails to address...

Hurricane Helene Intensifies U.S. Agriculture Disruptions As Port Strike Officially Starts

Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 storm, made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region on September 26, 2024. The storm caused widespread destruction across the southeastern U.S., with the death toll approaching 125 as of this writing. 

Its damaging winds, storm surge, and flooding led to power outages and infrastructure damage in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas–with the Carolinas seemingly suffering the greatest impacts. Parts of North Carolina are submerged under water, where roads have been washed out and properties have been flattened. As of October 1...

ANALYSIS: Whole Turkey Quotations From the Start of Q4 to Thanksgiving

Five-year average trends show that quotations for fresh and frozen whole-body turkeys have historically increased by minute amounts between the outset of October through Thanksgiving, regardless of sizing. By the time that the fourth quarter arrives, most whole turkeys for the holidays are already spoken. Still, there are usually buyers who opt to stock up during the weeks immediately preceding Thanksgiving. This is especially true of fresh offerings as evident by the 5-year average quotation change of 0.36% and 0.96% for fresh hens... 

The Retail Rundown: Going All-Out for Autumn

Fall is just around the corner, with the official start of autumn this Sunday, September 22. As cooler weather sets in and travel plans wind down, grocers are ramping up their offerings of seasonal favorites to align with the change in consumer preferences. 

According to the Expana Retail Activity Index, seafood continues to lead for the fourth week in a row, making up 30% of total protein ads. Beef and pork are close behind, each at around 25%, while chicken accounts for 14%. Eggs represent 2.8% of retail opportunities, and turkey has 2.3%...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Exports Close Month On High Note

For those involved in the export sector of the turkey industry, 2024 has been anything but smooth sailing. Geopolitical tensions, fluctuating exchange rates, and variable international demand patterns have all contributed to a challenging landscape for players to navigate. Despite these difficulties, July's export figures showed some positive signs for marketers...

Chomps to Open State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Facility in 2025 to Meet Growing Demand

Chomps, the fastest–growing snack and food brand in the U.S.1, today announces a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mexico, Missouri, slated to open in 2025. This exciting development marks the next phase in Chomps' long-standing strategic partnership with Western Smokehouse Partners (WSP) and will support Chomps' rapid growth, allowing the brand to meet an increasing consumer demand for better-for-you meat snacks.

The co-investment in a new facility with WSP comes on the heels of Chomps' most...

ANALYSIS: Production Indications Suggest Turkey Supply Pinch

An earlier analysis piece we published described the year-over-year (YoY) change in turkey hatchery figures and quotations for frozen 16 lbs. toms...

ANALYSIS: Ice-Pick: July Turkey Cold Storage

Total turkey cold storage holdings through the end of July were up 4.7% year-over-year (YoY), and 3.3% month-over-month (MoM). A cursory glance at these figures might lead one to surmise that demand for turkey is becoming less and less active. However, these values don't necessarily tell the complete story. Sure, total frozen inventory of turkey is up when compared to the previous year, but it is the fourth lowest value since 1995, and follows 2021, 2022, and 2023, which brought with them three of the... 

ANALYSIS: Thumbing Through the Whole-Body Turkey History Book

From the end of October 2011 until last week, Expana’s 8 lbs. and 14 lbs. frozen hen quotations were identical in value. This marked a nearly 13-year-long streak of price equality between those two sizes. For participants who joined the turkey industry within those 13 years, the recent divergence in pricing between both weight categories may have come as a bit of a surprise.

While the 8-14 lbs. and even 16-20 lbs. weight brackets have always been closely aligned, prior to 2012, deviations between...

ANALYSIS: Upward-Trending Turkey

This year the turkey meat complex hasn't experienced much activity, until fairly recently. From January to the end of April, tom breast meat quotations held at $2.60/lb. delivered, when the 5-year average for this period ranged anywhere from $3.57 to $2.59. Starting the week of April 29, prices started to decrease until they reached $2.20 the week of May 20. Since, prices have steadily trended sideways, contrary to the seasonal norm which indicates an upward trend from the end of April through mid-September... 

ANALYSIS: Piecing together the turkey production puzzle

Now, perhaps more than ever before, turkey market participants are searching for a beacon to illuminate the road ahead. Up until this point, 2024 has proven to be a notably challenging year for marketers, particularly due to the seasonally subdued demand for whole-body turkeys and raw materials. In addition to the unpredictable buying patterns, supply-side indicators seem to raise more questions than answers.

Our chart illustrates that total inventory holdings continue to hover above the previous year’s levels. June’s 1.5% increase marks the nineteenth consecutive month of year-over-year (YoY)...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage, Opposite Poles

As the chart illustrates, June’s month-over-month (MoM) uptick for whole birds of 10.0% aligns with the 5-year average MoM change of 12.6%. However, cold storage inventory of whole turkeys is at the lowest it has ever been for the month of June and is 12.2% lower than the 5-year average. Much of this can be attributed to factors such as HPAI and metapneumovirus. Part of it though, may also be contributed to an effort on the part of some producers not to put up whole turkeys when...

Boar's Head Provisions Co. Expands Recall for Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products 

Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc., a Jarratt, Va., establishment, is expanding itsJuly 26,2024, recall of deli meat products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The establishment is recalling approximately 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. Whole genome sequencing results show that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes...

ANALYSIS: Decreased turkey production doesn’t always mean increased prices...

As we look back on the past six months of production data, it becomes clear that the turkey industry is on a trajectory to harvest much fewer birds at the end of this year and the beginning of next year than it did in 2023. When it comes to the number of eggs in incubators and poults placed, '23 was by no means a stellar year. In fact, the year-to-date (YTD) total of eggs in incubators was about 2.0 million eggs short of the cumulative 10-year average...

Gorica Rajcic-Spasojevic Named Headstart Hatching General Manager

Headstart Hatching, a new custom turkey hatchery startup expected to hatch approximately 45 million turkey poults a year, has appointed Dr. Gorica Rajcic-Spasojevic as its general manager.

She brings 35 years of turkey industry expertise to Headstart, having previously held key technical and operational roles with Foster Farms, Jennie-O Turkey Store and Willmar Poultry Company. She is one of the top turkey embryologists in the world.

In her new position, Gorica will oversee operations for Headstart’s state-of-the-art hatchery, the first to include technology from sister company Next Nest Hatching, which provides poults with immediate access to feed, water and light after hatching. She will focus on optimizing poult quality and the potential rewards of introducing early nutrition.

Butterball’s New packaging to Hit Retailer Shelves in August

Butterball is rolling out a new look for its portfolio of retail products for the first time since 2018. The dramatic redesign aims to enhance the consumer shopping experience by incorporating a consistent look and feel across all product lines with easy-to-read labeling, an eye-catching bright blue design, and an interactive QR code to boost shopper engagement with the brand.

“Butterball is always striving to provide a consistent shopping experience for consumers across our different product categories, so achieving that was top of mind for this redesign,”...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Market, A Seasonal Quandary

The turkey market has been particularly challenging for players to successfully navigate over the past several years and, so far, 2024 has been no exception. This scenario is particularly true when speaking about the whole-body bird and raw material sectors where seasonally subdued demand persists here at the mid-year point. Given the fact that wholesale and consumer-facing demand patterns are notoriously challenging to predict on a "normal" year, turkey markets are falling back on traditional supply-side metrics to help illuminate the road ahead...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage: Up, Down, Sideways

While spot trade activity within the turkey market remains seasonally subdued here at the tail end of June, there is no shortage of influential variables that are weighing heavily on the minds of participants. One report which has raised a couple of eyebrows is the latest Cold Storage assessment. As illustrated by this week’s chart, both yearly and monthly inventory comparisons were far from unified through the end of May. Total holdings closed the month at 422.9 million pounds. This represents a 5.2% year-over-year (YoY) advance, while also positioning... 

ANALYSIS: Turkey Export Volume Expands MoM Stride

By most accounts, April marked the continuation of a general improvement in year-over-year (YoY) turkey export throughput which has been playing out since June of 2023. Total holdings through month’s end touched on about 40.9 million pounds which marks an 18.5% YoY advance. Despite this significant leap, April’s ending tally is still positioned 2.3 million pounds shy of the seasonal 5-year average. As for the comparative monthly data, total outward volume during the month rose by 11.3%. This uptick is a stark contrast to the average 4.9% reduction observed...

ANALYSIS: A Deep Dive into Turkey Cold Storage

As touched on in last week’s analysis, there is no shortage of supply-facing variables which are playing an influential role in the turkey market. Despite a year-over-year (YoY) retreat in hatchery and harvest figures, frozen inventory levels are continuing to make headway above 2023 levels. With this in mind, we thought we’d elaborate on the most recent cold storage data and provide some historical perspective on the current inventory environment.

As illustrated by our chart, total cold storage stocks through the end of April notched above last year by...

ANALYSIS: A Turkey Supply Conundrum

Given the relatively stagnant, if not seasonally, subdued state of the turkey market lately, buyers and sellers are searching high and low for direction. While supply-side indications certainly tell an interesting story, they seem to bring more questions than they do answers. As has been the case for the past seventeen months, total cold storage holdings have trekked higher on a year-over-year (YoY) basis.

The latest reading through the end of April was no exception; notching higher by 6.15%. Coming in at 390.6 million pounds, total warehouse... 

ANALYSIS: Tapering Turkey Hatch Sets Production Tone

With trade activity continuing to fall to the sluggish end of the seasonal continuum, and given the ongoing uncertainty related to variables such as disease, turkey market participants are facing more questions than answers when it comes to the future potential of the complex. While the road ahead remains anything but a clear read, there are some forward-facing indications on the production front which might hint at the road which lies ahead. Despite the relatively average costs associated with corn and soybean values, lackluster demand patterns and the aforementioned threat...

ANALYSIS: Checking-In on Turkey Market Supply Factors

Although mid-May trade conditions have been slow to shift the undertone surrounding whole-body turkeys and raw materials, there is no shortage of variables which are weighing heavily on the minds of market participants as they refine their expectations for the road ahead. Central to many turkey-related conversations remains disease.

As illustrated by this week’s chart, year-to-date (YTD) commercial HPAI outbreaks have risen about 84%, or 229.6 thousand head, when compared to a similar period one year prior...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Export Volume Closes Q1 on a Relatively Positive Note

The latest turkey export data marks a continuation of the year-over-year (YoY) advances in outward tonnage which have been evident over the past nine months. Coming in at 37.7 million pounds, March’s closing tally stood 15%, or 3.5 million pounds, above this time in 2023. Given the ongoing complications with HPAI-related production and export constraints, it bears noting that total export figures still remain situated at the third-lowest seasonal level realized in two decades. Export value during this timeframe notched lower by 0.5%; positioning...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Headcount Slips to Record Low

Although transactional activity within the turkey complex remains seasonally thin here in mid-Q2, there is no shortage of variables which are catching the attention of market participants.

The latest Monthly Slaughter Report is perhaps top of mind for many players on the turkey side of the business, and with good reason. Total headcount retreated by 5% from February, and by a notable 18% when compared with this time last year. Coming in at 15.5 million head, March’s data also represents the lowest reading observed in over two decades...

ANALYSIS: Tightening Turkey Production Trends

Given the relatively serene state of the turkey market here in early Q2, market participants are keeping their eyes trained on the stats as they refine their expectations for the road ahead. When it comes to supply-facing variables, disease remains a top consideration, and with good reason. In just the first four months of the year, about 346 thousand commercial turkeys have been impacted by HPAI. Although this figure represents only a small fraction of the industry’s annual production potential, it is one part of a more complex scenario currently unfolding on the supply...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Exports Tonnage: Greater Than What Meets the Eye

The turkey export figures were quite a sight to behold throughout the month of February. At 36.4 million pounds, total outward tonnage rose on a year-over-year (YoY) basis for the ninth consecutive month in a row. The most recent data gave way to a notable 46% advance from 2023. This was enough to position February’s closing figure at the highest seasonal level observed since 2021.

Total export value also realized a 20% uptick from the previous year. Although month-over-month (MoM) volume retreated by 0.07%...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Inventories: Frostbite, or Ready to Take Flight?

Although the turkey marketing backdrop has been relatively sedate leading up to Easter, industry players still have quite a lot to mull over as we fast approach Q2. One report which has garnered attention recently is February’s Cold Storage assessment..

As depicted by this week’s chart, month-over-month (MoM) movement of most key lines kept closely with the established seasonal trend. Comparative yearly figures, however, were a mixed bag; ranging as high as 98% above, to as low as 15% below, 2023.

Starting with the cumulative data, total inward movement...

ANALYSIS: Hatching Plans to Combat Future Uncertainty

Anyone intimately involved in the turkey industry has most likely had their eyes on the hatchery data to start the year. Substantial reductions in all three major categories, Eggs In Incubators, Eggs Hatched and Net Poults Placed have taken place over the past few months which leads many to question what exactly is causing the downtrend. The answer though, may not be as simple as it once was. Traditionally speaking, when hatchery statistics move notably higher or lower, it comes as a concerted effort by the industry to better align with current and...

The Retail Rundown: 2024 Annual Power of Meat Study Recap

The 2024 Power of Meat Study was revealed at the Annual Meat Conference in Nashville, Tennessee this week. Anne-Marie Roerink, Principal at 210 Analytics, presented the findings and identified the trends currently shaping the retail meat sector.

This year’s report found that the number of Americans who describe themselves as meat eaters (80%) and the number of households that purchase meat (98%) were unchanged from 2023. Circana data indicates that overall household penetration across all incomes, ethnicities, household sizes, and ages, averages above 97%...

Salm Partners, LLC, Recalls Johnsonville Polish Kielbasa Turkey Sausage Products 

Salm Partners, LLC, a Denmark, Wis., establishment, is recalling approximately 35,430 pounds of Johnsonville turkey kielbasa sausage that may be contaminated with foreign materials, specifically pieces of rubber, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The turkey kielbasa sausages were produced between Oct. 30-31, 2023. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]:

• 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing a single piece of "Johnsonville POLISH KIELBASA TURKEY" sausage and best by dates "05/17/24" and "05/18/24"...

Full Moon® Launches New Artisanal Sausage Slices

Today, Full Moon®, the brand known for its human-grade dog food and jerky treats, announced the launch of its Artisanal Sausage Slices, giving pets the fresh from the deli experience they deserve. Created for devoted pet owners who prioritize their own health, wellness and quality food, these snackable treats will help them do the same for their furry friends.

Like all Full Moon® products, Artisanal Sausage Slices are made using 100-percent human-grade ingredients sourced responsibly from family farms, meaning they look, smell, and taste just like the...

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® Announces Return of Easter Heat n' Serve Favorites

To celebrate Easter, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® is announcing new meal offerings to help create a delicious home-cooked meal experience. Guests can enjoy new items like the Hot n' Ready Easter Ham and Turkey Family Dinner and a Heat n' Serve French Toast Bake or traditional favorites like the Easter Heat n' Serve Ham or Prime Rib meals.

"This Easter, let Cracker Barrel do the homestyle cooking," said Cracker Barrel Vice President of Culinary Thomas Yun...

ANALYSIS: December Turkey Exports Leave Room For Interpretation

While Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been slow to relinquish its ugly grasp on the turkey industry, December’s ending export figures didn’t deviate too far from the established seasonal course.

As 2023 came to a close, total outbound volume hit 42.1 million pounds. So what does this mean for market participants? Sentiment is highly dependent on one’s vantage point. On one hand, December’s export tally marks a significant 43.1% advance when compared to the year prior. On the opposite hand, it is important to bear in mind that 2022’s sweeping...

Turkey Smoke is Back in 2024 and Expands from Coast-to-Coast

The National Turkey Federation (NTF) is pleased to renew its partnership with the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), kicking off the fifth year of the Turkey Smoke Series, which encourages both professional and amateur pitmasters to showcase the versatility and creativity of turkey on the smoker or grill. The Turkey Smoke Series features a turkey category in select barbeque competitions across the United States during the 2024 season. Pitmasters and contest organizers love that the Turkey Smoke Series adds thousands of dollars...

REPORTER: After Decade-Old WTO Fight, India Cuts Frozen Turkey, Duck Tariffs

This article was originally featured in the WINTER 2024 Edition of Urner Barry’s Reporter magazine.

On September 11, 2023, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced that India had agreed to reduce tariffs on frozen turkey and ducks from 30% to 5%, along with other U.S. agricultural products. This ends the last major trade dispute between the two nations, potentially opening a sizable export market forAmerican producers.

The announcement came after President Joe Biden’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in New Delhi...

Salm Partners, LLC Recalls Ready-to-Eat Turkey Kielbasa Products Due to Possible Extraneous Material

Salm Partners, LLC, a Denmark, Wis. establishment, is recalling approximately 133,039 pounds of ready-to-eat turkey kielbasa products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically bone fragments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The ready-to-eat turkey kielbasa items were produced on October 27, 2023, and October 30, 2023. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]:

13-oz. plastic vacuum-sealed packages containing “PARKVIEW TURKEY...

Mintec Releases "Christmas Dinner Index 2023" Report

The Retail Rundown: Ham Features Increase for the Holidays

The countdown to Christmas is rapidly winding down and shoppers are busy stocking up on last-minute gifts and food for visiting family and holiday gatherings.

For the second week in a row, pork features claim the top spot among protein ads this week with 28.4%. Seafood follows with 25.7% of total protein ad volume, while beef comes in third at 20.5%. Chicken retail buying opportunities declined to 8%, compared to 13.8% the previous week. Turkey features advanced to 9.7%, up about four points from last week...

Enjoy the Season with Dickey’s Heat and Serve Holiday Feasts

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit knows the holidays are the perfect time to sit back and enjoy some Texas-style with friends and family. With significant holiday sales so far this year, the Dickey’s team was thrilled to secure plenty of Smoked Turkeys, Prime Ribs, Cajun Turkeys, and Spiral Cut Hams for you to enjoy at a fantastic price.

Give your favorite pit master a break this holiday season and let Dickey’s do the cooking for you. The barbecue brand recognizes that we have a lot to be grateful for...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Exports Start Q4 on a High Note

While recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in various states and counties have posed challenges to the international footprint of the turkey industry, export performance through the end of October demonstrated noteworthy resilience.

During this period, the total outbound movement reached 52.9 million pounds. This marks the highest seasonal level observed since 2020 and also reflects a 5.8% increase when compared to September. With that being said, it is worth noting that October's cumulative movement still lagged approximately 18 percentage...

The Retail Rundown: Thanksgiving Turkey Retail Prices Reported Higher Despite Wholesale Drop

With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, Urner Barry is looking back at how this year’s retail Thanksgiving sales compared to recent years. 

According to Circana data, retail turkey prices on both a discounted and non-discounted basis have consistently trended higher in the past five years. Generally, distribution has also seen an uptrend in recent years. 

Distribution is a measure that reports the distribution of discounted and non-discounted items. It takes into account the number of Universal Product Codes (UPCs) selling within a given aggregate...

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year at The Fresh Market!

The Fresh Market is making prepping for the holidays easier than ever this year, with the specialty food retailer’s prepared holiday meals available now for pre-order, a special holiday print edition of The Fresh Market Magazine, and a holiday-themed shoppable livestream featuring brand ambassador, Chef Anna Rossi. 

Whether it's a festive feast with family and friends or a small gathering, The Fresh Market offers everything guests need to create memorable and delicious meals. To make holiday shopping even more convenient, The Fresh Market also...

Mintec Releases "Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023" Report; Read It Here

Mintec enables the world's largest food and manufacturing brands to implement more efficient and sustainable procurement strategies. We do this through our cutting-edge SaaS platform, Mintec Analytics, which delivers market prices and analysis for thousands of commodities, food ingredients and associated materials. Our data and tools empower our customers to understand prices better, analyze their spend and negotiate with confidence.

Mintec’s latest report, “Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023,” is a look at the components that make up the traditional holiday dinner...

The Retail Rundown: Feasting on Holiday Features

Thanksgiving is here and the retail segment is teeming with all things turkeys, sides, sweets, and treats!

Fittingly, turkey leads the protein category with 31.1% of total feature volume, up from 22.5% the week prior. Pork follows with 22.8%. Seafood narrowly overtakes beef for the third spot, with 18.8%. Beef claimed 17.4%, nearly flat with last week.

Mintec recently took a look at the components that make up the traditional holiday dinner in its "Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023" report. The index, which measures price fluctuations across key food commodities that make up a...

Urner Barry’s Market Briefing Provides Insights on Commodity Protein Markets

Urner Barry is the leading provider of protein market news and information in the food industry. Through daily canvasses of the trade and an unrivaled historical database, our analysts are uniquely positioned to report on the underlying conditions and significant disruptors to the market. In this Market Briefing, Urner Barry reporters outline the latest action in the commodity protein markets, highlighting seasonal factors, disruptors, and current supply and demand fundamentals.

Click HERE to view the latest report...

The Retail Rundown: 2023 Thanksgiving Outlook

Thanksgiving is just one week out and grocers are bracing for a busy weekend ahead as shoppers secure any remaining needs for the holiday feast. Below, we have the latest outlook on what Turkey Day 2023 may bring.

The Star of the Show 

Shoppers this Thanksgiving may breathe a sigh of relief when looking at prices for the big bird. Last year, households shelled out more money for their turkeys due to factors including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) complications, low cold storage holdings, and inflation.

A lull in bird flu detections following the initial outbreak...

Brazil Food Processor BRF Widens Net Loss in Q3 on Grain Prices, Chicken Glut

BRF SA, the Brazilian pork and poultry processor, widened its third-quarter loss from the year-ago period as it continued to deal with a chicken oversupply while also trying to rein in grain prices, it said on Monday.

BRF reported a 262 million real ($53.37 million) net loss in the third quarter, larger than the 136.7 million loss a year ago but slightly better than an LSEG consensus forecast of a 279 million real loss.

Despite the hit, BRF said improvements in the company's...

Majority of Thanksgiving Celebrations Predicted to Include Whole Turkeys this Year

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, Cargill's U.S.-focused Future of Turkey study indicates a return to traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, with more than 8 in 10 consumers who responded saying they plan to purchase a whole turkey this year. This marks a turnaround from previous years when consumers often purchased individual turkey parts such as turkey breasts as they exercised caution during the pandemic with smaller gatherings and celebrations.

“Americans hold onto the belief that a whole turkey should be the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends,”...

The Retail Rundown: Tuning in to Holiday Turkey Features

For this week's retail rundown, we're tuning in to holiday turkey features as Thanksgiving inches closer. Grocers are making room for the big bird in their meat cases and freezers for the millions of turkeys that will be gobbled down in two weeks. 

Seafood maintains the top spot among protein ads with 23.8% of features this week. Turkey ads captured nearly 9% of protein features this week, up from 6.9% the previous week. Within the turkey complex, frozen whole turkey features account for 56.5% of features, up from 25% a week...

Meijer Turkey Prices Help Families Combat Inflation, Celebrate Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, Meijer is stocked and ready with a wide selection of turkeys at prices that roll back the clock to lessen the impact of inflation on families.

The Midwest retailer anticipates selling 1 million turkeys this holiday season, which is the equivalent of 520 truckloads. Customers can purchase Meijer brand frozen turkeys for only 59 cents per pound through Nov. 25, which is roughly the same cost Meijer offered its customers in the 1930s, said Josh Potts, Meijer Poultry Buyer...

Bird Flu Infects Commercial Table Egg Layer Farm for First Time in 11 Months

A commercial table egg layer operation has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, for the first time in eleven months. 

The impacted operation had 940,000 birds in Wright County, Minnesota, according to USDA data. The government lists the confirmation data as November 3, 2023. 

Prior to last week's detection, the latest commercial layer operation to be hit by bird flu was a farm with 239,700 birds in Weld County, Colorado on December 20, 2022...

Target's Serving Up an Easy, Affordable Thanksgiving Meal for Under $25

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced how it is helping guests serve up an effortlessly delicious Thanksgiving meal that won't stretch their budgets. Starting today, guests can shop Target's Thanksgiving meal for under $25 online and in store, including the following must-have staples to serve four:

• Good & Gather Premium Basted Young Turkey (Frozen) – 10 lb.
• Good & Gather Russet Potatoes – 5 lb.
• Good & Gather Cut Green Beans – 14.5 oz.
• Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup – 22 oz.
• Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce – 14 oz...

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Unleashes Feastmode for the Holiday Season With New Holiday Menu

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery®, the leading family-dining restaurant brand known for homestyle comfort and all-day breakfast, invites guests to enter feastmode. With an array of holiday offerings, Perkins invites guests to enjoy hearty holiday feastivities with delicious Prime Rib dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Perkins, a name synonymous with comfort food and bakery treats, has been a beloved part of holiday traditions for 65 years. Starting Wednesday, November 8, 2023, participating restaurants will elevate their commitment to ensuring guests have a joyful holiday season...

It’s Turkey Time: BJ’s Wholesale Club Thanks its Members with Free Thanksgiving Turkeys

BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ), a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs, today announced its annual free turkey promotion, helping members take advantage of incredible savings as they shop for their holiday essentials.

From November 1 through November 9, BJ’s members will be eligible to receive a digital coupon for a FREE fresh or frozen Butterball whole turkey when they spend $150 in the same transaction, in-club or online.

The free turkey coupon will appear in members digital coupon gallery beginning November 11...

Bob Evans Restaurants Celebrates This Holiday Season with the Return of Farmhouse Feasts

To celebrate the Thanksgiving season, Bob Evans holiday meals allow guests to spend less time cooking and more time making memories – the true meaning of the season. For years, Bob Evans has mastered their signature Thanksgiving recipes to alleviate the burden of making a Thanksgiving meal for its guests. This year, the return of Bob Evans’ Farmhouse Feasts feature a collection of holiday meals to-go that can accommodate gatherings of any size and are packed cold, ready to heat and serve in two hours or less...

Bird Flu Detected in Several U.S. Commercial Turkey Flocks Last Week

Last week, several commercial turkey operations spanning four states reported positive detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a highly contagious and often fatal disease in birds. 

HPAI can be spread by direct or indirect contact with infected domestic or wild birds including ducks and geese. The disease can also be spread by contact with the virus on surfaces such as hands, shoes, clothing, and animal fur.

Poultry owners are urged to increase their biosecurity practices to protect their flocks, especially with fall migration underway.

California 

On October 26, HPAI was detected in...

Cold Storage: End Sep Combined Meat/Poultry -1.3% on Mo, -7.8% on Yr

USDA monthly cold storage data released Wednesday afternoon showed combined meat and poultry stocks held in the nation's freezer warehouses at the end of September at about 2.146 billion pounds, 1.3% below the previous month and 7.8% less than a year ago.

Turkey and pork stocks were below the previous month while chicken and beef were up from their respective August figures. Turkey stocks were up from a year ago while chicken, pork, and beef were smaller. The combined stocks were 9.3% below the five-year average of...