Month: February 2011

December statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) confirm that 2010 was the best year ever for U.S. beef export value. A final total of $4.08 billion breaks the pre-BSE high from 2003 of $3.86 billion by more than 5 percent and exceeds the 2009 total by nearly $1 billion. Total volume was 1.067 million metric tons, an increase of 19 percent over 2009. …

Forget the T-bone steak, or the pork spare ribs, for which the cuisine of U.S. carnivores is famous. America is poised to become a nation primarily of white meat eaters, as higher grain prices highlight the price competitiveness of poultry rearing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has said. …

The Cattlemens College session on Trends and Trendsetters at the annual Cattle Industry Convention last week in Denver didnt feature crystal balls or palm readers, just experts from various sectors in the beef business. Consumers are going back to the basics. They want high-quality, a personal connection, choices, value and their own way. …

During the special session The Power of Meat: An In-Depth Look at Meat Through the Shoppers Eyes, study author Anne-Marie Roerink will provide the latest information on what customers have to say about food spending, protein preferences, the effects of marketing and merchandising on their meat/poultry purchases, packaging and meat preparation. These results will be presented in a format for immediate use in store operations. …

CombineNet, Inc., the leading provider of advanced sourcing technologies, announced that Smithfield Foods has again selected the CombineNet ASAP (Advanced Sourcing Application Platform) product to support sourcing activities across multiple areas of its spend. …