Smithfield Foods - food industry company news 
Sustainability Watch - International Finance Corporation
30 April 2013
In this two-part Sustainability Watch, Ben Cooper looks at the lending activities of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the division of the World Bank that lends to private corporations, which is rapidly expanding its activities in the agribusiness sector.
US: Smithfield calls Continental Grain's split demands "flawed"
26 April 2013
Smithfield Foods CEO Larry Pope has labelled demands from major shareholder Continental Grain that the US meat giant should split in three "inherently flawed".
US: Meat group Smithfield to close Maryland plant
15 March 2013
US meat processor Smithfield Foods is to close a site in Maryland.
US: Smithfield to "review" Continental Grain criticism
11 March 2013
Smithfield Foods has said it will "review" criticism from major shareholder Continental Grain into the US meat processor's strategy and the investor's call to split the company in three.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
11 March 2013
Earnings results continued to pour in last week with retailers Carrefour, Delhaize and Waitrose amongst those issuing sales and profit figures. Delhaize told analysts there was work still to be done in the US, while Carrefour insisted it has to invest in order to build on signs of improvement. Elsewhere, Vion was bought by Boparan Holdings, and a BBC investigation uncovered evidence of horse smuggling from Ireland to the UK.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
11 March 2013
In a week of results from major retailers, Carrefour cheered the market with improvement in France, upmarket UK grocer Waitrose highlighted its strong year and Belgium's Delhaize insisted its business in the US would improve. Elsewhere across the Atlantic, meat processor Smithfield Foods faced calls from a major investor to consider dividing in three.
US: Smithfield Foods urged to split in three
8 March 2013
A major investor in Smithfield Foods has called on the US meat giant's board to consider splitting the company in three.
US: Meat giant Smithfield says "transformation" paying off
7 March 2013
Smithfield Foods said its move to become a company focusing more on "value-added" packaged meats is working after the US company reported "strong" third-quarter results.
MEXICO: Smithfield Foods JV receives funding for expansion
5 March 2013
Smithfield Foods' Mexico joint venture with local investors, Norson Holdings, has received funding for the expansion of its facilities in the country.
US: Smithfield Foods to form JV with Kansas Sausage Co.
15 February 2013
US meat processor Smithfield Foods plans to form a joint venture with Kansas City Sausage Co.
US: Kraft files Cracker Barrel lawsuit over trademark infringement
4 February 2013
Kraft Foods Group has filed a lawsuit against Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBOCS) over the US restaurant chain's plans to sell branded products in mainstream retail stores.
The just-food review of 2012: Commodity swings remain part of landscape
18 December 2012
Volatility in global commodity markets remained a significant factor for the food industry during 2012. On the one hand, adverse weather conditions hit grain harvests causing prices to spike, while on the other, over-supply has meant cocoa and sugar prices have continued to fall. Katy Askew takes a look at some of the major developments on the commodities markets over the past 12 months.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
10 December 2012
The week's two major stories broke within hours of each other on Wednesday - Tesco admitted it was "likely" to leave the US and Germany's Intersnack snapped up United Biscuits' salty snacks business. Elsewhere, ex-Tesco CEO Terry Leahy led a private-equity buy-out of UK discounter B&M Retail and Canada's Saputo agreed to buy Dean Foods' Morningstar arm. Meanwhile, Singapore agribusiness giant Olam International found its finances under scrutiny and we interviewed the head of Nestle's operations in equatorial Africa.
On the money: Smithfield confident on fresh pork turnaround
7 December 2012
Smithfield Foods is confident its fresh pork business will deliver profitable results this year, even as it is squeezed between depressed consumer sentiment and the need to raise retail prices.
US: Debt charge hits Smithfield Q2 but shares rise
6 December 2012
Smithfield Foods today (6 December) reported a slump in second-quarter profits but the US pork group's shares rose as underlying earnings beat forecasts.
US: Smithfield's Cracker Barrel lines set for spring launch
29 November 2012
Smithfield Foods has confirmed the deli and meat products it is developing under the Cracker Barrel restaurant brand are set to be launched in the spring.
CHINA/US: COFCO sells stake in Smithfield Foods
19 November 2012
Chinese state-owned agribusiness and food processor COFCO has sold its 5% stake in US meat giant Smithfield Foods.
US: Smithfield Foods to roll out Cracker Barrel-branded lines
13 November 2012
Smithfield Foods will launch a line of deli and meat products in the US under the Cracker Barrel brand.
US: Smithfield CEO upbeat despite Q1 profit slide
4 September 2012
Smithfield Foods CEO Larry Pope has insisted the US meat will produce "another year of solid earnings" despite lower quarterly profits.
Focus: Moscow adds to worries over grain harvests
18 July 2012
The Russian government has lowered its forecast grain harvest as poor weather conditions look set to damage the region's crop output. The news will concern the food industry, adding to spiking grain prices amid concerns over a supply shortfall. Katy Askew reports.
Comment: Market awaits verdict on grain outlook
10 July 2012
The futures market for grain products, particularly corn and soybean, retreated from record highs today (10 July) after a two-week run that one analyst described as "breathtaking". However, rather than signifying the return of stability to the market, it seems likely that traders are catching their breath as they await the USDA's monthly crop estimates.
Deal or no deal: Hillshire Brands lists... and is in play
29 June 2012
Shares in Hillshire Brands, formerly part of Sara Lee, rose today (29 June) as the pure-play US meat company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Michelle Russell takes a look at what lies ahead for the firm as analysts suggest it may become a takeover target.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
18 June 2012
Tesco and Sainsbury's reported first-quarter trading updates this week and both UK retailers faced questions over their prospects for the rest of the year. US meat giant Smithfield Foods also faced analysts after it posted its full-year results, with CEO Larry Pope arguing Wall Street does not value the company highly enough. Elsewhere, Arla announced a tie-up in China, PepsiCo made Mexico the first market for its global dips venture and UK firm Premier Foods plc offloaded another of its businesses.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
18 June 2012
In the UK, the increasing level of couponing in retail set the industry talking this week as Tesco CEO Philip Clarke noted the step-up in this type of promotion, while industry analysts gave their views on this growing trend. Elsewhere, Smithfield Foods CEO Larry Pope insisted the group is under-valued after shares in the meat firm fell more than 7% after fourth-quarter results that failed to meet analyst expectations.
On the money: "Wall Street doesn't appreciate us" - Smithfield CEO Pope
14 June 2012
Smithfield Foods CEO Larry Pope has insisted the group is under-valued after shares in the meat firm fell more than 7% after fourth-quarter results that failed to meet analyst expectations.
US: Smithfield upbeat despite lower FY profits
14 June 2012
US meat giant Smithfield Foods has insisted it has seen its "second best year" of profits, despite booking a 31% fall in net income.
On the money: Meat giant JBS to slow acquisition drive
22 March 2012
Highly-acquisitive Brazilian meat group JBS has indicated it will ease off the throttle in 2012 and reduce its participation in M&A activity in the global protein sector.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
12 March 2012
The intensely competitive nature of the UK food retail sector came to the fore this week, with Tesco outlining how it believes it can revitalise stagnant sales, Morrisons underlining its plans to develop its fresh food offer and Waitrose insisting it will continue to be fight hard on price. The end of the week also saw the announcement that a consortium led by Iceland Foods chief executive Malcolm Walker had acquired the UK frozen foods retailer. Across the Channel, Carrefour confirmed its profits slumped in 2011 and said it would cut capital expenditure this year. And Dairy Crest, the UK's largest dairy processor, said it was mulling whether to sell its French unit St Hubert. Click on the headlines for more.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
12 March 2012
Iceland Foods founder and CEO Malcolm Walker told of his "delight" at purchasing the UK frozen food retailer today (9 March) after months of talks to secure the firm.
US: Bankers hawk Sara Lee's meat business
9 March 2012
Investment banks are approaching rivals of Sara Lee, including Smithfield Foods, to see what interest there is in its US meats business, which is set to be spun off from the main group later this year.
