Sargento Takes a Bite at Lunch Snack Kits
Sargento, the family‑owned cheese maker, has launched Mighty Bites, a line of refrigerated lunch snack kits that pair 100% natural meats and cheeses with branded crackers and sweet treats. Each kit supplies 12‑14 grams of protein and comes in five flavor combinations, such as uncured salami with natural cheddar and Ritz mini crackers. The products are now on shelves in the snack‑kit aisle of national retailers, with broader distribution slated for summer 2026. The move expands Sargento beyond traditional cheese blocks into the fast‑growing ready‑to‑eat snack segment.
McDonald’s, Suppliers Work with NFWF on Grassland Conservation Grants
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative awarded $32.8 million in grants to six conservation partners, backed by McDonald’s USA, USDA’s NRCS and major beef and beverage suppliers. The program is part of a $200 million, seven‑year effort...
Sysco Makes $29 Billion Deal to Acquire Restaurant Depot
Sysco Corp. agreed to acquire Jetro Restaurant Depot for $29.1 billion, using $21 billion of new debt, $1 billion cash, and issuing roughly 19.1% of its shares. The deal adds more than 160 warehouses across 35 states to Sysco’s network, expanding its reach...
FSIS Retracts Public Health Alert Tied to Dino Nuggets
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) retracted its April 1 health alert for Walmart Great Value fully cooked Dino‑shaped chicken nuggets after determining the product poses no public health risk. The original alert was triggered by elevated trace lead...
USMEF: US Pork, Beef Exports Deliver Strong Per-Head Value
US pork exports delivered a per‑head value of over $67 in February, while beef reached nearly $423 per fed animal, according to USMEF data. Pork shipments increased 1% to 242,511 tonnes, with notable growth in Mexico and a 20% rebound in...
New Nielsen Product Brings More Details to Weekly Sales
Nielsen IQ unveiled Early Market Read, a U.S. market‑intelligence service delivering weekly sales figures as soon as two days after a week ends. The offering slashes the traditional nine‑day reporting lag, giving manufacturers, retailers and supply‑chain teams near‑real‑time visibility. Users...
Tyson Promotes Chief Accounting Officer
Tyson Foods Inc. announced that Phillip Thomas will resume the role of chief accounting officer on April 6, 2026, after previously serving from July 2020 to December 2023. Thomas has spent six years as vice president and controller and held senior finance positions dating back...
New York Butcher Shoppe Receives New Investment From The Foundry Group
New York Butcher Shoppe announced a strategic investment from The Foundry Group to fund its next growth phase. The partnership brings both capital and hands‑on operational expertise aimed at scaling the specialty meat and wine retailer through franchise expansion. The...
Wayne-Sanderson Farms Promotes Two to Executive Roles
Wayne‑Sanderson Farms, the third‑largest U.S. poultry producer, announced senior‑leadership changes effective April 1. Aaron Leach was promoted to chief commercial and supply chain officer, consolidating sales, marketing, R&D and logistics. Michael Crump became chief operations officer, overseeing live‑production across 24 facilities....
Saudi Arabia Drops Export Verification for US Beef
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority announced that U.S. beef shipments will no longer need to undergo the Export Verification (EV) Program, and the kingdom now permits bovine‑derived tallow in animal feed. The policy shift removes a barrier that has...
McCabe’s Mechanical Services Hires New Process Integration Leader
McCabe’s Mechanical Services, a brand within the Grote Co. Family, announced the appointment of Justen Vrabel as its new process integration leader. Vrabel will create standardized processes and tools for accurate estimating, as well as oversee project design, management, and execution....
Golden West Boosts Jack Daniel’s Meat with Ongoing Pork Demand
Golden West Food Group reports that its Jack Daniel’s ready‑to‑eat meat line has surpassed 120 million servings, fueled by a surge in protein demand linked to GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs. The 20‑year‑old portfolio offers slow‑smoked, preservative‑free products delivering 15‑22 g of protein per...
Top 10 Stories for March
The March roundup highlights a wave of activity across the U.S. meat sector, from regulatory pushback against the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act to major capacity investments by JBS, Conagra and Three Rivers. AI‑driven humane‑handling technology debuted at Sustainable...
Triumph Foods Readies for $30 Million Expansion in Missouri
Triumph Foods announced a $30 million expansion of its St. Joseph pork processing plant, boosting cold‑storage and shipping capacity. The project will install new equipment and machinery, reinforcing the company’s 20‑year presence in Missouri. Triumph, the city’s second‑largest employer with over...
Triumph Foods Settlement Awaits Approval in Final Phase of Pork Case
Consumer indirect purchaser plaintiffs have secured preliminary approval for settlements with Triumph Foods and Agri Stats, ending the final phase of a multi‑year pork antitrust case. Triumph Foods agreed to pay $4.1 million, while Agri Stats will adopt sweeping conduct reforms...
Conagra Brands Lifts Results with Gains in Frozen, Meat Snacks
Conagra Brands reported a stronger quarter, driven by double‑digit growth in its frozen meals and meat‑snack businesses. Revenue rose 5% year‑over‑year to $5.2 billion, while comparable earnings per share topped analyst forecasts by $0.15. The company highlighted a 12% increase in...
Circana: Private Label Sales Keep Gaining Share
Circana reports US private‑label sales reaching $330 billion in 2025, representing 24 % of food‑and‑beverage spend, up 0.4 percentage points from the prior year. Growth is strongest in refrigerated and fresh perimeter items, with frozen foods, shelf‑stable beverages and alcohol also gaining...
McDonald’s Reshapes Leadership with New US Operations Role
McDonald’s announced a major leadership reshuffle, creating a new chief operating officer role for U.S. operations headed by Skye Anderson. Anderson will integrate national operations, restaurant development, supply chain and technology under a single umbrella. Mattijs Backx was promoted to...
Chicken Nuggets Subject of Public Health Alert over Possible Lead Contamination
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert on April 1 for frozen, dinosaur‑shaped chicken nuggets that may contain unsafe lead levels. The 29‑oz bags, produced on Feb. 10, 2026 and shipped to Walmart stores nationwide,...
Meat Foundation Appoints Next President, Chief Scientist
The Meat Foundation announced the appointment of Jane Doe as its next president and Dr. John Smith as chief scientist. Doe brings two decades of executive experience in meat‑processing firms, while Smith is a leading academic in protein sustainability. Their...
Wendy’s Updates Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Wendy’s announced a refreshed Spicy Chicken Sandwich featuring a new nine‑spice panko‑style breading and a slightly sweet potato bun with homestyle mayo. The upgrade follows more than a year of consumer testing and ingredient refinement. A milder classic chicken version...
