Darling Ingredients fourth quarter results up 211 percent

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  Darling Ingredients Inc. has reported a fourth quarter 2014 net income of $69.9 million, up 211 percent.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Darling Ingredients Inc. has reported a fourth quarter 2014 net income of $69.9 million, up 211 percent from $22.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.
  Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2014 increased to $1 billion, compared with $447.9 million in the same period of 2013, attributable to newly acquired operations in first quarter of 2014. Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2014 was $39.7 million, compared with $18.5 million for the same period of 2013.
  "Our business continued to experience headwinds in fourth quarter 2014 from globally lower prices for our finished products and a stronger U.S. dollar,” said Randall Stuewe, chairman and CEO.
  "In 2014, we aggressively stepped onto the world stage and launched our new global platform," Stuewe said. "It has been a challenging year in light of the global deflationary pressures we faced, but we successfully executed a significant international integration and are patiently building our platform as the world's leader in creating sustainable food, feed and fuel ingredients for a growing population."
  Also, in recent weeks, Darling announced the appointment of Justinus J.G.M. Sanders to its board of directors. Sanders joined the board as an independent director. Sanders’ appointment will expand the total number of directors to nine. The board of directors has not yet determined the committees of the board to which Sanders will be appointed, if any. 

Mountaire’s proposed office building draws opposition

Mountaire Farms is considering purchasing a parcel of land near Millsboro, Delaware, where it would like to build a new office building. Even though the poultry company says it does not intend to use the land for production or processing purposes, some neighbors are still apprehensive of the plans.
Mountaire Farms had demolished an office building in Selbyville, Delaware, around six months ago, and since that time employees have been working in small rental offices across the county. Mountaire has since filed applications to get conditional use for 58 acres of property for “office facilities to be used by an agricultural related industry,” reported WBOC. The proposed facility could house between 100 and 200 employees.
The property is farmland, which was deeded over to Grace United Methodist Church in 2008 after the death of its owner.
At a recent meeting, approximately 75 neighbors came out to voice their concern with the plan.
"It's been here for years," said Bill Lannon of Millsboro referring to the farmland. "If you take all the farm land away - what's going to happen?”
Lannon speculated that because of the size of the property, it’s very likely that the company would build a poultry plant.
Mike Tirrell, vice president of human resources and business services for Mountaire, said those concerns of a potential poultry plant are unfounded, and added that miscommunication was to blame for much of the opposition.
"The property is currently under review for suitability for this office project," said Tirrell. "There are no new production or manufacturing facilities included."
Another concerned neighbor, Richard Eaton, said his preference would be that the property remain farmland.
"I would prefer it to stay farmland," he said. "If you just look at the beauty, to see a great big administration complex on this back road. That I don't like."

Allen Harim Foods launches new website

Allen Harim Foods -- a leading poultry company based in Seaford, Del., with facilities across the state and in Maryland and North Carolina -- has relaunched its website with an entirely new format and look. The revised Allen Harim Foods website is part of the continuing rebranding initiative for Allen Harim Foods.
The new site features the history of the company, product descriptions and photographs, as well as information about the company’s policies on animal welfare, environmental initiatives and quality control.
“Our new website has been designed to provide a full picture of our company, our philosophy and our products,” said CEO Steve Evans. “There is information about how we operate our facilities as well as our vision of being a good neighbor in the communities in which our more than 1,500 employees work and call home. We hope visitors to the site will enjoy hearing of our rich history and our goal of ‘improving the quality of life and sharing happiness’ with everyone we touch.”
A page on the site that is expected to be of interest to students and other members of the public is an overview of chicken production from breeding, hatching, and grow out, to feed milling and processing. An explanation of in-house testing and other quality assurance measures is included as are answers to frequently asked questions.
Those interested in careers at Allen Harim can apply via the web site and will be able to find a list and description of current job openings by location.
The site was created by a.s.a.p.r. integrated marketing and Two Rider Design, both of Salisbury, Md.

Zacky Farms selling poultry company assets to family trust

Zacky Farms, a vertically integrated poultry company, is selling all of its assets to the Robert D. Zacky and Lillian D. Zacky Family Trust. The company conducted a Chapter 11 auction for the assets and the family trust was the successful bidder.
As part of the transaction, the trust will retain substantially all of Zacky Farms employees, which amounts to more than 1,000 jobs. The auction results were announced at a hearing of the bankruptcy court on January 18.
The sale is subject to approval by the bankruptcy court at a final hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. on January 28. Terms of the financing require the sale to close by January 31.
"We are extremely pleased that the Zacky Trust was the successful bidder whereby the operations and jobs of Zacky Farms are preserved,” said Keith Cooper, chief restructuring officer of Zacky Farms. “Further, this result confirms the commitment of Lillian Zacky and Scott Zacky to the continued operation and turnaround of Zacky Farms.
“I would like to personally thank all of the employees, customers, growers and vendors who have stood by Zacky Farms over the past three and-a-half months and have supported Zacky Farms during this challenging process," said Cooper. "This is a great day for Zacky Farms and the Zacky family of employees because it is now possible for Sam and Bob Zacky's legacy to continue with the third and fourth generations of the Zacky Family dedicated to the future of this company.”
On October 8, 2012, Zacky Farms filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento, and has continued to operate as debtor in possession. 

Poultry companies say other polluters ignored in case

According to reports of Oklahoma's ongoing federal lawsuit against 11 Arkansas poultry companies, an attorney for the defendants claims that there are 20 possible pollution sources for the watershed area the companies are accused of damaging.
The companies contend Oklahoma has not investigated other potential polluters such as storm water, cattle operations or power plants in the region.

World's Top Poultry Cos. Database now online

Compiled by WATT editors of Poultry International, WATT PoultryUSA and Industria Avicola, the World's Top Poultry Company Database includes company names, locations, production volumes, products offered and markets served. You can sort by region or nation, or do a search for a specific company.
Search the top companies database here, or view the October issue of Poultry International to see the report.

Potential jurors for Illinois River lawsuit to answer questionnaire

Poultry companies named in the Illinois river watershed pollution case have prepared a list of 66 questions for potential jurors, including whether they eat organic food or know who Attorney General Drew Edmondson is, according to new reports.
Oklahoma will get a jury trial, to begin in September, based on a ruling from U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell.
The 12 poultry companies being sued by the state, including Tyson, wanted a bench trial.
Court documents show the poultry companies and the state agreed upon allowing a questionnaire when screening for jurors, in the case of a jury trial.
The questions also include where the potential jurors work and their level of education.

Employees sue Columbia Farms for donning/doffing pay

Ten former employees of the Columbia Farms plant in Greenville, S.C. have filed a lawsuit against the company for refusing to pay overtime, according to a Myfox8.com report.
The workers accused Columbia Farms of not paying them for donning and doffing time, which added 60-75 minutes to their shifts.
The chicken processing plant, a House of Raeford, North Carolina, subsidiary, said it did not believe workers needed to be paid for donning and doffing.

Pilgrim's on track for bankruptcy exit

Pilgrim's Pride reported an operating profit of $16.74 million in May after one of $13.92 million in April. The company is not planning any further cuts in production after reducing output 9-10% earlier this year, a Reuters report said.
Pilgrim's Pride is still on track for exiting bankruptcy later this year, according to CEO Don Jackson.

Cameco recalls under-processed meat and poultry products

New Jersey-based Cameco Inc. has issued a Class 1 recall of about 79,312 pounds of various fully cooked, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products because they may contain under-processed ham after contacting surfaces of equipment, according to a report by the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The products were produced on May 29 and June 1 and were distributed in Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
The recalled products include cooked ham and turkey products, sold under the Appleton, Bridgford, CV Clear Value, Dean's, El Primero, Fas √ Chek, Food Club, IGA, Lay's Classic Meats, Meijer, Mrs. Stratton's, Pro's Ranch, Red Osgood, Quality Meats, Thank You by Cameco and Valu Time.

Enforcement-oriented OSHA back with appetite for fines

“OSHA is back! The best advice I can give you is get ready,” Larry Stine of Wimberly & Lawson told listeners at the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Hilton Head Island, S.C.Stine said the Occupational Health & Safety Administration, with Jordan Barab appointed as acting OSHA chief, is back with a renewed mandate for aggressive enforcement.
OSHA has a big budget and an even bigger appetite not only for fines, but also for stiff monetary penalties that far exceed their their non-punitive stance, Stine said.“Remember those ergonomics standards that the Clinton administration published on their way out the door, and that the the Bush Administration canceled during its first weeks in office?
Get ready, they’re coming back. As a matter of fact, that’s the best advice I can give you: Get ready!"Among other advice, Stine said companies should plan ahead and be prepared for OSHA visits. He also advised companies to correct conditions before inspectors enter the premises.

Tyson Foods settles artificial inflation lawsuit with donation

Tyson Foods Inc. has agreed to donate fresh poultry to Illinois food banks in order to settle an eight-year-long lawsuit claiming the company artificially inflated the retail weight of its poultry, as reported in The Associated Press.
The company, which has denied any wrongdoing, agreed to resolve the matter out of court to avoid additional costs related to the lawsuit.
The case began in 2001 when three individuals claimed that Tyson artificially inflated the weight of poultry products sold between 1997 and 2003 through a cold-water immersion chilling process that resulted in absorption and retention of water under the birds' skin and muscle tissues.
Due to a lack of customers providing proof of their previous purchases, the company agreed to donate the unclaimed compensation funds in the form of 1.7 million pounds of fresh poultry to the Illinois Food Bank Association, according to the article.
Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson was quoted, "We are pleased the outcome will help feed thousands of those in need."

Pilgrim’s rejects bid for El Dorado plant

A bid for the Pilgrim's Pride El Dorado, Ark., plant was rejected by the company May 27, according to an article from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Pilgrim's Pride rejected the bid because of being too low, according to El Dorado Mayor Mike Dumas, although the bid amount was kept confidential. However, El Dorado Poultry, the company who made the bid, has not given up on buying the plant despite the rejection.
Judge Michael Lynn, of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Texas, ordered Pilgrim's Pride to offer the plants for sale through a bid process after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, despite the company's intention to keep the plants.
Upon learning of the rejected bid, the judge suggested going back to mediation with the companies interested in the plant.
"We will keep working with our potential investors toward this deal," said Matt DeCample, spokesman for Gov. Mike Beebe.
The next scheduled hearing for the El Dorado plant bid is June 16, Dumas said.

Willow Brook cuts deal in watershed litter suit

Willow Brook Foods Inc., one of the eight poultry companies being sued over alleged poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River watershed, agreed with Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson to pay $120,000 in order exempt itself from the lawsuit, according to an article by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
The federal court must approve the agreement before it goes into effect.
Willow Brook ended its operations in the Illinois River watershed last year before the company transitioned to a refrigeration business, now known as Cold Zone Inc.
"The very bottom line is Cold Zone was no longer involved in the business so continuing to be involved in this litigation didn't have any practical advantages to Cold Zone," said Frank Evans, an attorney representing the company.

Pilgrim’s signs agreement to sell Farmerville complex

Pilgrim's Pride Corp. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its chicken complex in Farmerville, La., to Foster Farms for $80 million, subject to a price adjustment for associated inventory and other reimbursements.
Completion of the transaction is contingent upon customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Improvements Act and approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The transaction is also subject to Foster Farms' receipt of $40 million from the state of Louisiana in order to fund a portion of the purchase price. The sale is expected to be completed within 30 days.
The Louisiana legislature voted on May 7, 2009, to approve the use of government funds to subsidize the purchase of the Farmerville complex by Foster. The agreement between Foster and the state call for Louisiana to provide $40 million toward the purchase of the complex and $10 million, which will be matched by Foster, for capital improvements.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court has approved procedures for the sale of the Farmerville complex assets. The sale will be completed via an auction in accordance with Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Court set 12 p.m. CST, May 15, 2009, as the deadline for the submission of qualified bid packages and scheduled an auction for 10 a.m., May 18. At that time, the company will sell its assets to Foster Farms or another qualified bidder, if such bidder makes the highest and best offer for the assets. A hearing to approve the sale has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m., May 19.
The Farmerville complex includes a processing facility, a cook plant, two hatcheries, a feed mill, a protein conversion plant and any associated inventory.