Latest meat & poultry news and analysis articles 
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CANADA: Maple Leaf closes poultry plant
8 February 2012
Maple Leaf Foods is to close a poultry facility in Canada to boost efficiency, hitting around 100 jobs.
Promo Tracker: Waitrose offers deepest promotions
7 February 2012
Waitrose's promotions offered consumers the highest saving on average, according to the latest data from the just-food Promo Tracker.
On the money: Analysts hail Tyson Q1 despite profit slump
7 February 2012
Tyson Foods managed to garner the support of analysts on the release of its first-quarter results, beating estimates despite continued high feed costs.
US: Restructuring, impairment, spin-off costs hit Sara Lee profits
7 February 2012
Half-year profits at US food and beverage group Sara Lee have tumbled by 75% due to restructuring and impairment charges, as well as costs from its planned split.
US: Feed costs weigh on Tyson Q1 profits
6 February 2012
US meat giant Tyson Foods has booked a drop in first-quarter profits as feed costs continue to weigh on the company's earnings.
2012 - Supermarket battles to drive supplier M&A
6 February 2012
Some of the world's largest retailers struggled in 2011, which promises to mean even more intense competition in 2012. What could this mean for suppliers? Ultimately, it could mean the industry witnesses more consolidation this year.
UK: ANM production director Roach to leave firm
6 February 2012
UK-based farmer co-op ANM Group has confirmed that another senior executive from its meat division is to leave the company.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
6 February 2012
Hershey and Unilever were among the major food manufacturers that this week were the first to report their 2011 financial results. Unilever's profits inched up 1% and CEO Paul Polman pointed to the performance of its home and personal care operations - casting some questions over the prospects of its food operations. In the retail sector, this week saw the long-speculated appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour and analysts expressed concern about the outlook for Ocado despite narrowing full-year losses.
UK/RUSSIA: Higher sales will lead to "strong" FY, says Cherkizovo
2 February 2012
Russia-based meat processor Cherkizovo has said it is "optimistic" it will report a "strong financial performance" for 2011 after disclosing sales volumes for the year.
UK: Morrisons acquires meat facility from Vion
1 February 2012
UK retailer Morrisons today (1 February) announced an agreement to acquire a meat processing facility from the UK division of Dutch food group Vion.
US: Cargill procurement VP Bull to retire
1 February 2012
US agribusiness giant Cargill yesterday (31 January) announced that its VP of procurement in the company's US beef business is retiring.
RUSSIA: Cherkizovo launches Petelinka poultry line
31 January 2012
Russian meat processor Cherkizovo has launched a line of chilled semi-processed poultry products under the Petelinka brand.
UK: Pork demand drives Cranswick to strong Q3
30 January 2012
UK pork supplier Cranswick today (30 January) announced a "strong" third-quarter sales performance.
BRAZIL: Former ConAgra president to replace Seara's Bonassi
30 January 2012
Brazilian meat giant Marfrig has appointed a former president of ConAgra Foods to head up its Seara subsidiary.
UK: Tulip chief Murrells to lead Co-op's food business
27 January 2012
Steve Murrells, the chief executive of UK meat processor Tulip, is to become CEO of The Co-operative Group's food retail business.
just-food's research round-up
27 January 2012
Baby food, confectionery, meat and poultry and soup are the sector's featured in this week's just-food research round-up.
UK: Boparan Holdings cautious on margins
26 January 2012
UK food manufacturer Boparan Holdings has warned stubbornly high commodity costs and increased competition over Christmas has weighed on its margins in recent weeks.
US/CHINA: WTO panel to probe Chinese duties on US poultry
25 January 2012
A WTO disputes panel has been created to decide whether Chinese anti-dumping and countervailing duties on US broiler chicken exports are legal.
UK: Public health goes local in policy shake-up
24 January 2012
Local governments in the UK will have more responsibility for public health in a set of measures announced by the coalition government today (24 January).
US: USDA to overhaul poultry inspection process
24 January 2012
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing reforms to poultry inspection that it claims will save taxpayer money and lower costs for producers.
BRAZIL: JBS denies Goias Verde acquisition rumours
24 January 2012
Major Brazilian meat processor JBS has denied rumours that it is in talks to buy vegetable producer Goiás Verde.
EU: Brussels targets EU states flouting egg ban
23 January 2012
The European Commission is taking legal action against 14 EU member states that it thinks are failing to comply with new laws banning the keeping of hens in battery cages.
US: Private-equity invests in frozen food firm Evol
23 January 2012
US frozen meal and snack manufacturer Evol Foods has received investment from a private-equity fund.
AUS: Food industry body chief Carnell to leave
23 January 2012
The chief executive of the industry association that represents Australia's food manufacturing sector is to leave in March.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
23 January 2012
Müller's decision to bid for UK milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies was the first major M&A move of 2012 and sparked plenty of debate, with industry watchers arguing the German yoghurt maker will face challenges in a fiercely competitive industry. Strikes at Unilever, job cuts at Kraft Foods and US dairy processor Dean Foods and continued gloom over the prospects of retail giant Carrefour also attracted headlines this week.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
23 January 2012
Executives at Müller and Robert Wiseman Dairies espoused the benefits of the German yoghurt maker's decision to buy the UK milk supplier, a deal that divided analysts. Industry watchers also scrutinised the latest trading updates from Premier Foods plc, the UK's largest food manufacturer and Carrefour, the French retail giant, while Kraft Foods chief Irene Rosenfeld said the US group's 2011 results means it is one of the industry's better performers - on the day job cuts of 1,600 were announced.
In the spotlight: Kraft puts "lean, mean machine" in motion
20 January 2012
Kraft Foods, which plans to split in two by the end of the year, this week outlined the first impact of the move when it announced plans to cut 1,600 jobs in North America. Analysts believe the split allows the US food giant to accelerate efforts to cut costs and boost margins from the new grocery business. Michelle Russell reports.
US: Kraft to cut 1,600 jobs in North America
18 January 2012
Kraft Foods is to cut around 1,600 jobs across North America as it prepares to split the business into two.
US: Kraft 2011 sales, earnings beat company forecasts
18 January 2012
US food giant Kraft Foods has said its underlying sales and earnings per share in 2011 beat expectations.
UK: Tulip may close Birkenhead site
16 January 2012
Tulip, the UK arm of meat co-op Danish Crown, today (16 January) announced it may close its site in Birkenhead on the Wirral.






