Companies to be Impacted by Whole Foods Takeover

United Natural Foods. This company has been a supplier to Whole Foods Market. The sweetheart relationship was questioned when Jana Partners acquired a shareholding earlier this year. Amazon has the in- house capability to replace United Natural Foods.

Blue Apron. Poised for an IPO, Blue Apron may well be affected by the overwhelming sourcing and distribution capabilities of Amazon following the acquisition. Home delivery of meal kits has increased in popularity, but there is evidence that the interest in preparing in-home gourmet meals has plateaued.

Instacart. Previously Instacart has teamed with Whole Foods Market to facilitate sales in excess of $200 million in 2016. Obviously Amazon will supplant Instacart using its own resources. Instacart will in all probability enhance internet sales for other customers including Publix, H.E.B., Costco and others. Deprived of the Whole Foods Market business, Instacart may well be vulnerable to acquisition by Amazon.

Wal-Mart Stores. Recognizing the need to participate in E-commerce, Wal-Mart has made a number of strategic acquisition and is offering grocery pick-up through a number of formats.

Costco Wholesale. Whole Foods Market was a leader in promoting organic and natural products to an affluent demographic. Costco, recognizing the trend, introduced similar lines to Whole Foods Market but at a substantially lower price becoming the largest retailer of organic foods in the U.S. If Amazon manages to reduce prices on organic and natural items, the advantage enjoyed by Costco will be eliminated.

USDA Weekly Egg Price and Inventory Report, June 22^nd 2017.

The June 19^th USDA Egg Market News Report documented a USDA Combined Region value of $0.61 per dozen delivered to warehouses. This price lags Midwest Weekly values by one week, and is compared to a trailing 18-month peak price of $2.20 per dozen in late November 2015.  The USDA Combined range for Large, in the Midwest was $0.56 per dozen. At the high end of the range, the price in the Northeast Region, attained $0.64 per dozen.

The current USDA Combined Price was approximately 67 cents per dozen below the three-year average. During the first Quarter of 2016 the average was inflated by the rise in prices attributed to the post-HPAI shortage of all eggs but the price dropped 15 cents per dozen during the first two weeks of April 2016.

Hen numbers this week were stable for the second week after successive declines over the previous three weeks. The population is at a high level relative to demand with approximately 298.2 million hens in production. Hens-in-lay decreased from 303 million in early December 2016. The total egg-flock comprises 306.2 million including hens in molt and small flocks

Generic shell-egg stock rose by 0.1percent compared to a fall of 5.4 percent for the previous week confirming fluctuation between demand and production. Dried-egg inventory amounted to 28.0 million pounds (12,723 metric tons) as of May 31^st 2017. This is extremely high, as is the National stock of frozen egg products reported on June 22^nd confirming a stock of 39.5 million pounds (17,936 metric tons) on May 31st down from 41.2 million pounds on April 30^th.  

USDA Projections for 2017 and 2018 Egg Production

Source: Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook – June 16^th 2016

*Impacted by Spring 2015 HPAI outbreaks. Consumption in 2014, 267 eggs per capita

Subscribers to EGG-CITE are referred to the postings depicting weekly prices, volumes and trends and the monthly review of prices and related industry statistics.

Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch Seeking Truck Route Permit

At issue is a sharp turn in Mercersburg which cannot be assured with safety.  Options available to Herbruck’s include using 96 inch wide trailers, making changes to the intersection at Pennsylvania Route 16 and Park Street or to upgrade a Township Road to handle heavy vehicles.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is currently reviewing a permit application including a CAFO permit and tanks to store water from the egg packing plant.

Montgomery Township has issued an extension to allow Herbruck’s to obtain the necessary transport and environmental permission to proceed with the project which was announced just over a year ago.

Eggland’s Best Named “Most Trusted Egg” for Third Year Running

Charlie Lanktree, President and CEO of Eggland’s Best noted, “Eggland's Best is extremely proud to be recognized as America's Most Trusted.  He added, “At Eggland's Best, our goal is to consistently deliver a superior egg to our customers, and EB provides better taste, nutrition, and freshness."

Lohmann Patent Claim Against Novogen Dismissed

Novogen was awarded a nominal $130,000 for costs against Lohmann Tierzucht although the court dismissed a counter-claim alleging unfair competition

According to reports, Lohmann Tiercucht has entered an appeal against the decision.

Litigation has been in progress since 2014.

Lidl Opens First U.S. Stores

Brendan Proctor CEO of Lidl U.S. noted “It’s not about whether our model works in a market, it’s about what we have to do to adapt to the market. Today is the day we start that work.” He added “We will study the shoppers coming through today and the products they are purchasing and the volumes in which they are purchasing them.

This will be the first learning for us as to what customer’s see as our strengths and on that we’ll start work.” The initial nine stores are approximately 36,000 square feet in extent with 21,000 square feet of selling space.

As with Aldi, private label packaging will predominate. Initial offerings were cheaper than competitors at nearby Kroger, Sprouts Farmers Market and Publix stores although similar to Aldi.

Innovations in the store include a bakery and an aisle providing shoppers with 80 percent of weekly convenience products including bread, dairy and refrigerated meat. This allows customers to enter the store, purchase what they need and get to the checkout according to Proctor.

AEB to Promote Eggs to the Caribbean Market

In 2016, exports to the region attained a value of $27 million representing 13 percent of the total value of eggs exported. The volume of 33 million dozen represents the output of constant flock of 1.4 million hens.

The AEB and USAPEEC will host a Reverse Trade Mission for ten buyers from the Caribbean attending the American’s Food and Beverage Show to be held September 24^th through 26^th in Miami.

FSNS to Open Laboratory in Boise, Idaho

Hendrix Genetics Hatchery to Open August 15^th 2017.

The opening will feature guided tours of the facility, followed by a luncheon. The management team will be available to answer questions about the facility and the installations.

With this newest hatchery, Hendrix Genetics is strengthening their global supply of layer strains to serve the U.S. market with safe, high-quality pullet chicks.

EggsCargo® System Jumbo Trays Now Available

In the U.S. Jumbo eggs weigh in excess of 71g corresponding to 1.9 lbs per dozen.

For additional information click the Twinpack Special Products logo on the right side of the Welcome page.

South Africa Reports HPAI

It is noted that Irvines’ Poultry Farm near Harare, Zimbabwe was infected two weeks ago, also with H5N8 HPAI. Given the 800 mile distance between the two locations it is reasonable to assume that wild birds are disseminating virus. It is also highly probable that undetected infection is present in small subsistence units and backyard chickens in both nations given the absence of routine surveillance structure and the capabilities of veterinary field services in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Based on experience with Newcastle Disease in the 1970s it is highly probable that HPAI will become seasonally or permanently endemic requiring a program of suppression using vaccines.

Traditional Supermarkets Experience Bad Week

The opening of the first ten Lidl stores was a further blow to traditional supermarkets facing competition from the deep discounters with efficient stores, limited range and a concentration on private label brands.

According to news reports, Wal-Mart Stores has been working on a defense against the inroads by deep discounters by investing in lower prices. Quoted in the WSJ article, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart Stores noted that although they will be committed to low prices, they are also upgrading  quality, freshness and assortment having raised wages and improved training of workers to enhance the buying experience.

The following table indicates the share prices of the designated companies on Thursday June 15^th at close of trading before the Amazon announcement and at close of trading on Thursday 22^nd

Company      Thursday 15^th        Thursday 22^nd         Difference (%)

Wal-Mart          $78.90                   $75.52                   -4.2

Kroger              $24.45                   $22.55                   -7.7

Target               $55.36                   $50.65                   -8.5

Costco              $180.08                $159.79                 -11.3

Dollar Tree       $73.02                   $67.69                   -7.3

Whole Foods    $33.06                   $43.20                 +30.7

S&P Index         2,342                      2,434                  +0.1            

Bonuses for Grocery Executives Cut

FDA Places Sanctions on Florida Feed Mill

Defects noted included:

• rodent infestation of the company warehouse,
• failure to name additive ingredients on medicated feed labels,
• failure to provide directions for use on labels,
• deficiencies in control of possible cross-contamination in manufacturing feeds
• inadequate procedures to identify, store and control inventory of drugs for medicated feeds.

Inspections by the FDA took place between 2014 and 2016 and it is evident that the company failed to correct deficiencies identified in early audits since warning letters were issued after each review.

Death or required euthanasia of horses as a result of toxicity usually involves inadvertent inclusion of ionophores in feed. Although the report in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association detailing the case did not provide a specific diagnosis, it may be presumed that cross-contamination of horse feeds occurred if the mill in fact included ionophores in feeds for other species, given the deficiencies in operation identified in inspections.

Hickman’s Family Farms Certified by American Humane

"We believe that all animals–those in our homes, those in service to our country, and those on our nation's farms and ranches–deserve humane treatment," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. "By becoming an American Humane Certified producer, Hickman's Family Farms helps assure their consumers that the food on their plates was raised humanely and under the science- and evidence-based protections established by American Humane”.

"Our family is now celebrating the 73rd year providing fresh eggs to our customers," said Clint Hickman, vice president of Hickman's Family Farms. "Our Grandmother Nell Hickman started our business with the goal of taking care of her hens as she took care of her family. We are very happy to earn the American Humane Certified certification. We view this as another step in verifying that the care and welfare of our hens is of utmost importance to not only our customers, but also to our family, employees and the communities in which we live."

Western Ohio Supermarket Competition Lowers Price of Eggs

Sharp reductions in price will stimulate purchase of eggs. As noted in the weekly review of egg prices posted on EGG-CITE, supermarkets have taken advantage of low wholesale prices which have not been passed on to consumers. By maintaining high margins on eggs through the past four months, food retailers have artificially restricted consumption to the detriment of the shell-egg segment of the industry.

NCC Statement on Possible Importation of Chicken from China

The NCC does not believe that the decision to allow importation of chicken from China will have any material impact given the prediction of low volume. The NCC statement continued:-

 FSIS still must take a number of steps, the first of which will be the publishing of the proposed Rule in the Federal Register along with a comment period before it can make a final determination as to whether China is equivalent and thus eligible to export poultry to the United States that was slaughtered and cooked in Chinese establishments.

It is difficult to envisage how export of chicken from China to the U.S. could occur given the frequent reports of outbreaks of avian influenza with diverse strains which suggests an endemic status. This would disqualify chicken raised and slaughtered in other than a disease-free Region as defined by the OIE.

China has not imported chicken from the U.S. since the beginning of 2015 due to claimed concerns over avian influenza. China has never recognized the World Organization for Animal Health principle of Regionalization. Procedures in China to lift bans are circuitous and non-transparent. This effectively result in interminable delays, deliberately imposed in anticipation of a new cycle of bans should isolation of a low-pathogenicity strain in wild birds or limited outbreak in a non-commercial backyard farm be identified by surveillance. 

Food Safety Net Services Announces New Personnel and Executive Promotions

Lori Ernst, Jeff Carpenter and Randal Garrett have been promoted to Senior Vice Presidents. John W Bellinger, CEO, stated “Lori, Jeff and Randal are the leaders of FSNS and we are so fortunate to have each of them directing the future of our company,” Lori Ernst will manage FSNS Certification and Auditing. Jeff Carpenter will be responsible for Strategic Alliances. And Randal Garrett will manage Operations.

Additional promotions include Tim Santy advancing to Vice President of Operations, Scott Edwardsen will move to Vice President of IT, and Gennadiy Liberzon will become Vice President of Accounting and Finance. “These three individuals have a combined 24 years of service with FSNS,” said Bellinger. “Their contributions have been instrumental in the growth of the company, and their expertise in the food safety industry is invaluable.”

Joel Haag, an industry veteran with over 20 years purchasing experience will serve as Vice President of Purchasing and Distribution. Joel will enable the company to continue to manage costs and distribution strategies.

Food Safety Net Services (FSNS), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a national network of ISO 17025 accredited testing laboratories open 24/7, 365 days a year. FSNS provides expert technical resources that assist companies with implementing food safety and quality programs that deliver critical information needed to continually improve process controls. Additional services include GFSI, SQF and PAACO, approved auditing and certification capabilities. For more information, click the FSNS logo on the left side of the Welcome page.

Status of 2017 Corn and Soybean Crops

                                                                            WEEK ENDING

CME Prices

Changes in the price of soybeans and soybean meal this week were:-

• Corn:                     July quotation down by 5 cents.                (-1.2 percent)
• Soybeans:            July quotation down by 3 cents                 (-0.3 percent)
• Soybean Meal:   July quotation down by $7/ton                  (-2.2 percent)                                  

For each 10 cent per bushel change in corn :-

• The cost of egg production would change by 0.45 cent per dozen
• The cost of broiler production would change by 0.25 cent per pound live weight

For each $10 per ton change in the price of soybean meal:-

• The cost of egg production would change by 0.40 cent per dozen
• The cost of broiler production would change by 0.25 cent per pound live weight

See posting on the May edition of CHICK-CITE (enter WASD in SEARCH block) summarizing the May 10^th USDA-WASDE Report #565, for a review of price projections and quantities of commodities produced during the 2016-17 season.

Export of Shell Eggs and Products, January-April 2017.

U.S. EGG EXPORTS FOR JANUARY-APRIL 2017 COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING MONTHS IN 2016

Source USDA-FAS/USAPEEC

DeCoster Requesting Incarceration in New Hampshire

It is a matter of record that in 1996 the Turner, ME. complex, still owned by DeCoster, but leased to a Hillandale Farms entity, paid a penalty of $2 million and settled claims by workers amounting to $3.2 million.  Apparently his piety does not preclude “cheating contractors, not paying bills, hiring illegal immigrants and breaking environmental laws” as noted by then Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.

The 2010 outbreak of SE precipitated by the management practices and willful neglect exercised at his Wright County, IA complex resulted in fines of $6.8 million for his company Quality Eggs (an obvious oxymoron) and a fine of $100,000 for himself and his son Peter in addition to the jail term.

World Food Prices Rising According to UN-FAO

It is anticipated that bountiful supplies of oilseeds will result in stable prices for this class of commodities and that declining demand for meat in China will reduce total world output of protein.

USDA - WASDE FORECAST #566, June 9^th 2017

Corn

The projection of the corn harvest was unchanged from May attaining 14,065 million bushels, down 7.1 percent from 2016. None of the major categories of use were appreciably changed. The projected USDA range in farm price incorporated an 80 cent per bushel spread as is normal for a mid-year report with many uncertainties relating to weather ahead. Price was unchanged from the May WASDE Report at 300 to 380 cents per bushel. At noon on June 9^th, CME quotations for July and September 2017 corn were 389 cents and 372 cents per bushel respectively.

The RFS for 2016 was belatedly determined to be 18.11 billion gallons by the EPA on November 30^th 2015 (See Editorial in CHICK-CITE). The value was four percent higher than the May 2015 proposal of 17.4 billion gallons. The RFS declared by the EPA is currently the subject of litigation. It is doubtful that the incoming Administration will alter existing RFS levels given support of the Midwest agricultural sector to the 2016 election outcome and subsequently reinforced by Administration assurances to Corn-State legislators in early January 2017.

A wild card will be the influence of the incoming EPA Administrator and the Secretary of Energy, both of whom favor the oil and refining industries of their home states. Both officials have historically opposed the RFS. Business associates of the President-elect have recently commented negatively on the system of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) which affect the profitability of many domestic refineries. For 2017, USDA raised diversion of corn to ethanol by 50 million bushels to 5,500 million bushels or 33.5 percent of the harvest.

What Goes on at Hampton Creek?

Josh Tetrick co-founder of the company, originally styled as Beyond Eggs in 2011, together with Josh Balk of the Humane Society of the United States, announced that three executives including the chief technology officer, the vice president of research and development and the vice president of business development had been dismissed. 

At issue are the attempts of one of the parties to contact a member of the Board to arrange a meeting.  In the article citing the opinions of Tetrick, a claim is made that the trio were attempting to “engage in a coup meant to take control from its co-founder and hand it to investors.”

The article is somewhat lacking in journalistic probity in that none of the three ex-executives were interviewed and that Tetrick in his inimitable way was allowed to implant his spin on the situation.

Tech and food start-ups and other fledging companies do not display the degree of executive turnover and frequency of adverse publicity as Hampton Creek which should sound a note of caution to institutional and private shareholders.

To date the company has only marketed an egg-free mayonnaise.  The commercial acceptability of this product was questioned when it was revealed that the company had employed sham customers to buy back product from supermarket shelves creating the impression of consumer demand.

Readers may review past postings relating to Hampton Creek by entering the company name in the SEARCH block.

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