Empire Kosher Poultry introduces new products

Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc., a leading kosher poultry company, has introduced a new brand logo reflecting its natural and organic product values. The logo is concurrent with the launch of new Empire® Kosher deli and grocery products, including the first-ever line of kosher uncured deli meat products that are minimally processed, contain no artificial ingredients, have no added nitrates or nitrites¹, and are made from turkey and chicken that are never administered antibiotics.
Empire operates its own hatchery, humanely-raising its flocks on family farms in accordance with Empire's standards. In addition, the company will introduce a line of kosher, certified organic soups and broths, and a special reduced sodium² chicken broth formulation certified kosher for Passover.

"Empire Kosher brand poultry and deli meat products are on-trend to meet the demands of our loyal consumers who have enjoyed Empire Kosher products for decades, as well as our growing number of millennial consumers," stated Jeffrey N. Brown, CEO of Empire Kosher Poultry. "Consumers can now enjoy new products meeting the high standards for kosher and quality that Empire Kosher delivers in its natural or certified organic products, and we are extending that vision to deli meat products, value-added poultry, and soups and broths to be introduced this year at Kosherfest, the world's largest B2B trade show for the kosher industry.

"We will continue to build upon our very strong brand recognition in the kosher market to expand into new categories, with innovative products combining our expertise in kosher with our knowledge of the natural and organic market, to meet the demands of the growing number of consumers who want both,” he concluded.

Empire Kosher's new deli line-up debuting at Kosherfest includes natural, slow-roasted turkey breast; natural smoked turkey breast; and natural turkey pastrami in both bulk and pre-sliced 7 ounce sizes. The pre-sliced products come in resealable packaging that has a reduced environmental footprint compared to the brand's deli line previously sold in tubs. 

¹ Except naturally occurring from sea salt, celery powder and cherry powder.
² Empire Kosher for Passover Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth with 470 milligrams sodium per 8 fluid ounce serving has 45% less sodium than Swanson® Chicken Broth containing 860 milligrams sodium per serving.

Here’s what happened at IPPE 2015

The 2015 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) was widely attended by members of the poultry, feed and meat industries January 27-29 in Atlanta, Georgia. With an estimated 30,000 registrants and 1,288 exhibitors for the 2015 edition, IPPE remains the world's largest annual poultry, meat and feed industry event of its kind.
Taking place were 25 programs, ranging from a conference on antibiotic use in the meat and poultry industry, to a program on how to export feed and feed ingredients to the United States, to a technical seminar on maximizing the efficiency of the poultry industry conducted entirely in Spanish.
Many organizations and companies used the gathering of industry leaders to organize their own events and programs.
With so many things going on at one time, it would have been difficult to catch everything taking place.
In addition to being an exhibitor, WATT Global Media’s editorial team was active at IPPE 2015, gathering news reports, videos and photographs from IPPE (See the IPPE news page).
Here is a listing of IPPE 2015 coverage you can find on WATTAgNet:
Feeding poultry diet high in DHA can help improve human health
Antibiotic-free chicken now in consumer mainstream
Foster Farms VP: It’s about the process used to reduce Salmonella
Young professionals needed in the poultry industry
Worker safety at processing discussed at IPPE 2015
What are poultry, meat consumers looking for in the future?
APHIS veterinarian provides update on avian influenza
Elanco announces full-value approach to poultry market
Court considers dairy manure waste if not handled properly
NCSU kicks off fundraising drive for new layer research facility
WATTAgNet EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: How Perdue moved toward antibiotic-free chicken
WATTAgNet EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: How feed quality impacts production of antibiotic-free chicken
VIDEO: What are the primary nutrition delivery challenges facing animal agriculture?
VIDEO: Benefits of probiotic use in poultry
VIDEO: Deboning machine processes variety of breast sizes, offers yield, data tracking
VIDEO: How will pending trade agreements impact the US feed industry?
VIDEO: Take a tour of the Poultry History Museum
VIDEO: Rare poultry paintings displayed at IPPE 2015
VIDEO: See how chicken patties are formed
VIDEO: Latest in metal detection and x-ray inspection in poultry
VIDEO: Trends in antibiotic use, poultry welfare
VIDEO: Single-stage incubator unveiled at IPPE 2015
VIDEO: See how poultry is graded, processed
Potters Poultry aviary certified by American Humane Association
IPPE 2015 breaks records for registrants and exhibitors
North American Meat Institute elects first board of directors
Cal-Maine’s Sherman Miller new USPOULTRY chairman
Synergy Agri Group agrees to equip new hatchery with HatchTech
Hard Rock Café Atlanta manager takes home IPPE chili award
Professor Sarge Bilgili receives 2015 Charles Beard Award
Who won the 2015 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award?
Seminar committee receives USPOULTRY Lamplighter Award
Three poultry leaders receive 2015 USPOULTRY Lamplighter Award
USPOULTRY names John Starkey industry Workhorse of the Year
USPOULTRY recognizes American CoolAir, DSM for exhibiting 50 years

Market Data expanded to include more poultry, pig, feed and data sources

Market Data poultry production statistics have been expanded.

The Market Data section of WATTAgNet has been expanded to include a much broader range of key indicators for the worldwide poultry, feed and pig markets. Market Data was launched in 2011 to give WATTAgNet.com users quick access to statistics impacting the U.S. poultry market. It has been popular with users of the site, and additional U.S. and international statistics will broaden its appeal.
It has been expanded to include:



• Expanded U.S. poultry statistics, including turkey production numbers.
• International poultry statistics.
• U.S. and international pig production numbers.
• In depth worldwide poultry data from the annual WATT Executive Guide to World Poultry Trends.
• Listings of leading poultry, pig and feed companies, both U.S. and internationally.
• More statistics to come.


Access to the Market Data section of WATTAgNet.com requires registration. Registration is FREE and can be completed in less than a minute. Comments on these expanded features are welcome, and can be directed to bplantz@wattnet.net. 

Grain prices top poultry issue for 2011/12, says survey group

A WATT-Rennier Poultry Confidence Index survey poll (take the new survey) shows that 82% of respondents identified ‘grain prices’ as the top issue for the U.S. poultry industry for the remainder of 2011 and early 2012 (see chart). The regulatory environment, the general economy and bird health/diseases were essentially tied as the third-most important issue.
The dominance of grain prices is not a surprise given its importance on costs and profitability and sustained, historically-high grain prices. Protein supply and demand was selected by nearly 50% of the respondent as this factor heavily impacts profitability in a commodity-like market.
Although grain prices have been high for several years, this issue’s importance has jumped tremendously since May 2010 (see graph). Bird health/disease has also increased in importance over this time, but to a lesser extent. The export market and the general economy have substantially declined in importance over this same time period.
Be part of the survey!
Join the Poultry Confidence Index panel and receive advance reports of survey results. Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B9HH3RJ 

See poultry panel presentations from National Chicken Council conference

NCC Industry Outlook Panel for 2012: Don Jackson, Bill Andersen, Mike Helgeson, Mark Kaminsky and Clint Rivers.

At the National Chicken Council 57th Annual Conference October 5, in Washington, D.C., a panel of senior executives from U.S. chicken processing companies gave an overall optimistic outlook for the industry, addressing current agricultural, public affairs, legislative, regulatory, political, economic and world trade issues.
This valuable presentation from the NCC Industry Outlook Panel is available as a series of six videos. Simply login or signup as a user on http://www.wattagnet.com/ to access the videos, click on the links below and catch all that happened at the industry panel discussion. This video presentation is sponsored by: Pfizer Animal Health Global Poultry
Part 1: Assessment of chicken industry economics
Discussion of how to characterize the year 2011, and the condition of the chicken industry.
Part 2: Poultry companies' international competition, customer channels
Discussion of international competition for US poultry companies, which customer channel has been hardest by the economic downturn and introducing new products to the market.
Part 3: Chicken industry profit forecast and capital expenditures
Discussion of potential capital expenditures, profitability forecasts and economic cycles in the poultry industry.
Part 4: Will beef companies enter the chicken industry? . . . and more
Discussion of whether beef companies will enter the chicken business, good news for the chicken industry in 2012, relations with Russia and retailer margins.
Part 5: Prices of competing proteins, broiler weights, external factors
Discussion of the price of competing proteins, such as chicken and beef, broiler weights and external factors potentially driving the future of the industry.
Part 6: Risks: Grain price volatility, poultry product recalls and adjusting supply
Discussion of volatility in grain prices, poultry product recalls and adjusting supply in the chicken industry.
Don Jackson, president and CEO, JBS USA, moderated the discussion, and the panelists included:

• Bill Andersen, senior vice president, Keystone Foods
• Mike Helgeson, CEO, GNP Company
• Mark Kaminsky, COO and CFO, Koch Foods
• Clint Rivers, senior vice president, Operations, Perdue Farms

Pakistan poultry meat consumption up 239% from 2000

Pakistan's poultry meat consumption has grown by 239% since 1999/2000, from 322 million tons to 767 million tons in 2010/2011, according to experts.
These numbers equate to just 0.7% of global poultry production, but represent an infrastructure exceeding Rs300 billion (US$3.41 billion) and an annual commercial turnover of Rs40 billion (US$454.5 million). Pakistan has a total of 105 hatcheries that produce 820 million broiler chicks annually, as well as the capacity for the production of 8.69 billion commercial eggs and 3.74 million rural eggs.
Numbers are growing, but according to Pakistan Poultry Association former chairman Abdul Basit, there is a need to increase poultry production further to become more competitive in the global market.

Smartphone usage at 68% in poultry industry survey group

The U.S. poultry industry has not only adopted smartphones for email, texting and web surfing but also is heavily engaged in social media websites, based on a survey of the WATT-Rennier Poultry Confidence Index panel.
Following are highlights of the survey conducted in August:

• Sixty-eight percent of PCI respondents use a smartphone, with Blackberry usage at 30% leading other smartphones.
• Thirty-two percent of respondents do not use a smartphone.
• Business email tops the smartphone usage purposes at 91%, while 77% of respondents use smartphones for business texting.
• Thirty-nine percent of respondents use smartphones to track pricing data, and 32% use smartphones to access social media.
• Leading social websites included LinkedIn (97%) and AnimalAgNet.com (91%).

Smartphone usage is expanding
Smartphones have revolutionized the way consumers and business professionals use phones, and poultry industry members are no exception, according to the survey. Only a short time ago we used cell phones solely to make calls. That is no longer the case. The smartphone has put a mini-computer in your pocket or purse.
Today, poultry industry people use smartphones to read their email, edit reports, look up market data, research a topic and much more. Apps – which first appeared with the iPhone – have allowed us to access and process information like never before. You can now buy items on eBay, find restaurants or post to your Twitter account. Marketers have jumped on the bandwagon to provide apps that inform and engage their target consumers.
Blackberry was the most-preferred operating system followed by iPhone.
As a researcher, I’m always interested in learning more about the habits and practices of those I engage with on a regular basis. In addition, allied suppliers can benefit from knowing how to best reach and engage their customers. With this objective, we recently asked our panel from the WATT-Rennier Poultry Confidence Index to tell us about their primary business phone.

Blackberry tops in usage among PCI group
Blackberry was the most-preferred operating system followed by iPhone. Google’s Android was a distant third. Almost one-third of these respondents said they did not have a smartphone. This seems high to me, although I lack any comparative data from other industries.
This dependence on the Blackberry is not unusual given it has been touted as a secure phone for business. However, if the poultry industry follows recent consumer trends as predicted by eMarketer, we may expect Blackberry to give way to Android in the near future.

How poultry industry people use smartphones
It’s not only important to understand what smartphones the poultry industry uses, but how they are using them. Nine of 10 smartphone users sent and received business email on these devices with texting (both business and personal), personal email and web surfing were also listed as common activities. The tracking of financial and pricing data, as well as accessing social networks, were also common smartphone uses.
Although not restricted to smartphone usage, nearly every respondent said they used or accessed LinkedIn at least once a month. A high percentage also visited a number of other social websites like WATT’s Animal AgNet, Google+, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. These online gathering places would seem to be an ideal place to reach the poultry industry.
It’s clear that the poultry industry has adopted smartphones for common practices like email, texting and web surfing. Furthermore, usage of social media websites – whether on the phone or computer – has been readily accepted. It will be important to track this usage over time to see how habits and usage change.
Click here to participate in the Poultry Confidence Index panel and receive advance reports of survey results, or simply copy the following link into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2ZT9LXR

Poultry ready-to-cook weight down 2% in April

The average live weight of chickens in April came to 5.63 pounds per bird.

Poultry certified wholesome during April 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.48 billion pounds, down 2% from the amount certified in April 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The March 2011 revised certified total at 3.87 billion pounds, was up 4% from March 2010.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during April was 4.60 billion pounds, down 2% from 4.71 billion pounds during the same time in 2010. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.95 billion pounds, down 3%, while mature chickens, at 66.3 million pounds, were up 2% from 2010 numbers.
Turkey inspections totaled 571 million pounds, up 1% from April 2010. Ducks totaled 13.4 million pounds, down slightly.
Young chickens slaughtered during April 2011 averaged 5.76 pounds per bird, up 1% from the same time in 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.63 pounds per bird, up 5%. Turkeys slaughtered during April 2011 averaged 30 pounds per bird, up 1% from April 2010.

Energy study may give broiler farmers alternative to propane heating

A collaborative heat recovery ventilation study aims to provide broiler farmers with a more energy-efficient way to heat their broiler houses in the winter months.
The study focuses on heat loss through broiler house fan ventilation systems and the potential ways of recovering that heat and using it to complement the existing systems. It is spearheaded by the Crowder College Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology Center and was taken on as a result of rising fuel costs and farmers' desires to find an alternative heating fuel to propane. As an added benefit, a successful solution would reduce broiler farms' carbon footprints, according to those involved in the study.
The project began in October 2010, and the first trial ran from January through March 2011. The second trial began in March and is expected to end in May.
Evaluation of the data and findings will be submitted for publication after the completion of the second trial.

US poultry exports up 15% in February

U.S. broiler (including paws) exports in January-February since 1990. (Source: USDA/FAS GATS database)

February exports of U.S. poultry meat increased by more than 15% in quantity and nearly 18% in value over the same month in 2010, according to trade data released by the Foreign Agricultural Service.
Export quantity of all poultry meat in February reached 290,261 metric tons with a value of $338.7 million. Cumulative January-February poultry export quantity rose by 11% to 554,769 metric tons, while value increased by 13% to $648.5 million over combined totals for the two months in 2010. U.S. turkey exports set a record for both quantity and value in February (24,123 metric tons valued at $41.5 million, up 37% and 35%, respectively) and the export value of U.S. chicken paws (26,045 metric tons valued at $39.6 million; up 30% and 25% from 2010) was also a record for February.
Broilers
For broiler meat (excluding chicken paws), February shipments totaled 233,112 metric tons valued at $245.5 million, up 12% and 14% over February 2010 despite declines in exports to several markets, including Vietnam, China, Cuba, Angola and Congo. U.S. exporters increased shipments to numerous other markets, including Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea and Iraq, which helped to drive the overall increase.
The export value of U.S. chicken paws in February was the highest ever recorded. Of total paw exports, 90% (23,492 metric tons) were shipped to Hong Kong, an increase of 56%, while 8% landed in mainland China, down 32% from February 2010.
Turkeys
Both quantity and value were records for February, thanks to increased shipments to Mexico, China and Taiwan. Exports to Mexico — the top U.S. turkey market — climbed to 13,672 metric tons valued at $26.1 million, up 44% and 40% from 2010 numbers. Shipments to China, the second leading market, reached 3,711 metric tons at $3.8 million, up 134% and 143%, respectively. Exports to other important export markets such as Taiwan, Canada, Bahamas and Jamaica also increased significantly.
Table eggs
For table eggs, exports for February 2011 were 3.82 million dozen, valued at $3.211 million, down 10% and 7% from 2010 numbers. The decrease is mainly attributable to decreased shipments to Canada, the U.A.E. and Israel. Increased shipments to other export markets such as Hong Kong, Mexico and the EU-27 helped boost the total.
Egg products
For U.S. processed egg products, February exports were 3,014 metric tons at $7.763 million, down 15% and 25% from February 2010, attributable to declines in shipments to several key markets, including the EU. Exports to Japan, the top export market for U.S. egg products, increased 76% to $3.865 million, accounting for 46% of U.S. total export value of egg product for the month.

US chicken consumption increases in 2010 after three-year decline

in 2010, chicken consumption increased for the first time since 2006, by 2.5 pounds to 83.6 pounds per person.

Per-capita consumption of chicken in the U.S. is increasing again after three years of decline driven by the economic recession, reduced domestic availability due to exports and increased feed costs, according to Bernard Leonard, chairman of the National Chicken Council.
“As the economy continues to recover, total sales this year at restaurants are expected to increase 3% to 4% (unadjusted for inflation) and flat to 1% if you take inflation into consideration,” said Leonard. “Chicken will share in that improvement along with other meats.” The demand for chicken at home is also expected to continue to be strong, said Leonard, citing research showing that chicken was the most popular choice for dinner at home in 2010. “We expect to continue to build on that level of popularity,” he said.
Consumption per capita of chicken dropped in 2007, 2008 and 2009, with consumers eating less chicken than they did the year before — a consumption drop for three years in a row is unprecedented. “That had never happened before since the U.S. Department of Agriculture started keeping records for broiler consumption in 1935,” said Leonard. “The combined loss for those three years was 6.7 pounds.”  But in 2010, consumption increased 2.5 pounds to 83.6 pounds per person.
Consumption of red meat, on the other hand, has declined over a longer term, with consumption dropping from 141 pounds per capita in the 1970s to a projected 106.4 pounds in 2011. That would leave red meat consumption at its lowest point since 1935, when it was about 102 pounds per person, said Leonard. “We have a long-term trend of increased consumption of chicken and a long-term trend of reduced consumption of red meat, and both categories took a hit during the last few years."

WATT Online Animal Forum live April 6, available archived through July 6

The WATT Online Animal Forum: Feeding the Globe, an event focused on helping animal agriculture executives meet the challenges of feeding the world's growing population, is live on April 6 and will be available in archived format through July 6.
The forum runs live on April 6 from 0800 to 1700 CST (1400 to 2300 GMT) with a mix of live webinars, networking opportunities and information on products and services from major industry suppliers. Over 1,200 people from 100 countries have registered to attend.
Registrants who want to access the archived version of the event after April 6 may do so using their registration login credentials. If you are not registered, but would like to access the archived version of the event, you will need to register to receive login information at http://www.wattevents.com/.

The WATT Online Animal Forum - Feeding the Globe opens tomorrow

The WATT Online Animal Forum: Feeding the Globe opens tomorrow,Wednesday, April 6. Hundreds of poultry, pig and feed industry professionals will log on to attend this convenient online event featuring five educational sessions on the important topic of feeding the globe.
Remember, even if your schedule is busy on April 6, 08.00 to 17.00 hrs CDT (-5 GMT)
 you can enter and leave the online forum as your schedule allows. Plus, registrants will be able to log on and view the five educational sessions any time through July 6, 2011.
Over 800 professionals have already registered to attend. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn and network with your peers from the comfort of your home or office!
WATT’s latest Online Animal Forum features one day of live educational webinars, a virtual sponsor centre with exhibits by top industry suppliers, and networking opportunities with colleagues. As always, the Online Animal Forum is free-to-attend and can be accessed from any Internet-based computer in your home or office. Enter and leave the virtual event as your schedule allows.
*Attend all five webinars created specifically to address the challenges of feeding the globe:
Innovations from R&D in animal agriculture by Dr. Leo den Hartog, Director R&D and Quality Affairs, Nutreco, Netherlands
*What animal breeding can contribute by Dr. Pieter Knap, Manager of Genetic Strategy, Genus/PIC International, Germany
*Directions to better feed utilization by Stefaan Van Dyck, Director of Research and Development, Kemin AgriFoods, Worldwide
*World feed ingredients outlook - impacts of China, Energy (Ethanol) and Speculation by Tim Brusnahan, Richard A. Brock & Associates, Inc., USA
*The Role of Eggs in Meeting World Food Needs by Dr. Simon Shane, Editor, Egg Industry, USA
For more information, visit www.WATTevents.com.

Poultry production accounts for $3 billion of Delaware agricultural output

According to a University of Delaware report, Delaware's poultry production accounts for $3 billion of the state's $8 billion-a-year agriculture industry.
The Delaware poultry industry itself employs 13,000 people. The report found that there are fewer farmers in Delaware, but existing farms are getting larger and more productive — the average size of a farm in Delaware is 200 acres.
The report updates facts and figures last collected in the 1980s, said state officials.

Watch the latest videos from the 2011 IPE/IFE show

See the latest videos from the 2011 International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo, the world's premier show for the poultry and feed industries. This year's show is in Atlanta, Jan. 26-28. Check back often, new videos are added daily.

Sanderson Farms' planned poultry processing plant meets with opposition

Sanderson Farms has plans to open a new poultry processing plant in North Carolina — a decision that has resulted in considerable debate.
Those on the "pro" side point out the jobs a new plant would bring to the area. "A lot of people are out of work," said resident Garland Deaver. Roughly 400 jobs are expected to be initially available once the processing facility opens. Up to 1,100 total jobs are possible.
The "con" side, which includes the Wilson City Council, has environmental concerns. The City Council had allocated $1 million to fight the plant and has threatened to cut off Wilson's water supply if the county allows the build. But Bob Billingsley, Sanderson Farms' director of development, said there has been confusion regarding the poultry plant's spray fields. "It is not the same thing as a hog operation," he said. "We'll have a $12 million water treatment plant under permit limits from the state of North Carolina." The fields are set to become a hay operation.

'Benefits of Modern Poultry Production' program at 2011 International Poultry Expo to discuss modern agriculture

"Benefits of Modern Poultry Production," educational session will take place during the 2011 International Poultry Expo Jan. 26 through 28 in Atlanta, Ga.
The session, hosted by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, will feature two prominent agriculture advocates: Matt Lohr, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and Trent Loos, commentator, author and rancher. Their focus will be on a response to activist groups and communicating the value and achievements of modern agriculture. “Modern farming practices and advances in technology continue to enhance the American farmer’s ability to produce safe and affordable food while caring for their animals and protecting the environment," said program chairman Pete Martin of Mar-Jac Poultry. "This program will focus on the benefits of today’s food production practices and why we must continue to tell our story.”
Additional education programs at the Expo will include the Poultry Market Intelligence Forum, Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit, Hatchery-Breeder Clinic, Salmonella and Campylobacter Reduction Conference and other issue-specific workshops.

Poultry must adjust to stalled foodservice business

What’s the number one thing consumers are doing with poultry today that they weren’t doing 12 months ago? It’s no secret that they are cooking and preparing more meals at home, but this change was already under way before the recession and is likely to continue in the future.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food in 2009 dropped into negative territory for the first time in a decade as consumers searched for new, convenient foods at cheaper prices and found them more often in supermarkets than foodservice outlets.
Amid all of the volatility in the marketplace, however, the big story is that eating patterns have changed in America, with the growth in eating away from home stalling in the past decade and declining, according to Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst and vice president, The NPD Group.

Foodservice usage peaked in 2001 
“Restaurant eating reached a high of 211 meals per person per year in the past decade, and that number has not increased,” Balzer told listeners at the National Chicken Council annual meeting. The real story is U.S. consumers have reached a peak in their use of foodservice.
“It was last year that everybody started talking about the decline in foodservice demand because the one-year decline was so great. Around nine fewer meals per person were consumed in restaurants last year, which is a dramatic one-year change. The truth is this country has reached a peak in its use of foodservice,” Balzer said.
“This is not just a trend of the past three years but a structural change over 10 years,” he said. Meals per person purchased annually at restaurants in the U.S. grew steadily from 168 in 1984 to 211 in 2001. That number has since declined, falling to a low of 195 in 2010.

Number of women in workforce no longer rising 
The reason foodservice usage has declined in the past 10 years, Balzer said, involves women’s participation in the workforce. Since the 1950s, the percentage of women in the workforce climbed steadily, until the 2000s when there was a 1.6% decline. So ended a trend that had helped drive decades of increases in eating meals outside the home.

Sandwiches are foodservice's ‘hot category’ 
Breakfast, however, is a bright spot for the foodservice industry, according to Balzer.
“Breakfast is the one bright spot, even though it is the least likely meal at foodservice,” he said. Of all meals purchased at restaurants, the number of breakfast meals rose from 25 per person in 2000 to 32 in 2010. That compares to 65 meals purchased for lunch and 57 for supper in 2010.
Burgers for breakfast are a growing trend, he said, and traditional breakfast ingredients are also rising in importance on sandwich menus.
“Americans are eating more sandwiches for breakfast. They are taking the eggs, bacon and other ingredients and putting them together,” he said.

Three things most important to consumers 
Balzer presented points which may be helpful in developing marketing plans for chicken products:

• Consumers continue to prefer foods that are new, convenient and less expensive.
• Sandwiches prepared and eaten in the home are the number one meal consumed.
• Frozen food items are a growing category for in-home food preparation.
• Sandwiches and burgers at breakfast are a growth category in foodservice.
• Deals are playing an important role in triggering eating out.

“If you want people to eat more chicken, this country will change its eating behavior for these three things: new items, more convenience and cheaper food,” he said.

Middle East’s largest poultry slaughterhouse opens

Investors in Iran have opened the largest poultry slaughter facility in the Middle East and the fourth largest in the world, Tehran Times reported. It has a production capacity of 10,000 birds per hour. The facility was 70% privately financed and cost about $40M.

Experts: poultry industry set to rebound in 2010

The coming year will be a profitable one for U.S. broiler producers as the economy continues its recovery from recession, according to a panel of economists who spoke at the Poultry Market Intelligence Forum held during the 2010 International Poultry Expo in Atlanta, Ga. The forum was a joint effort of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the National Poultry & Food Distributors Association.
Paul Aho of Poultry Perspective said that he expects U.S. bulk leg quarter prices will be lower in the first half of 2010 than they were in the same period in 2009. In the second half of the year, he expects leg quarter prices to exceed year-before levels and end at around $0.10 per pound higher than at the close of 2009. He said that trade difficulties with Russia will create a drag on leg quarters early in 2009, but he expects some resolution to the dispute and that Russia will buy U.S. leg quarters in 2010. Boneless skinless breast meat prices should be higher in the U.S. throughout 2010 than in 2009, according to Aho.
Mike Donohue of Agri Stats said that “2010 should be a good year for the industry” in terms of profitability.
He said that live performance in 2009 was outstanding and credited a number of factors for the long upward trend, including improvements in bird genetics and in on-farm equipment and housing. Average livability for the U.S. industry was more than 96% in 2009, up 1.5% from 20 years ago. Improved flock health has also resulted in a roughly two-thirds reduction in the rate of field condemnations at the processing plant over the same period.
Donohue explained that some of 2009’s outstanding live broiler performance can be attributed to increased downtime between broiler flocks, which was a result of production cutbacks.
The range between the best and poorest performing companies in terms of feed cost per live pound of broiler has increased from around $0.05 per pound in 2005 to $0.11 per pound in 2009. Donohue said that this increased spread results from the costs of grain purchasing positions, logistics of moving grain and differences in bird performance.
Subsidized corn-based ethanol production in the U.S. continues to cost the U.S. broiler, turkey and egg industries billions of dollars, according to Donohue. Based on Agri Stats data, he estimated that U.S. poultry producers have spent $18.5 billion more for corn over the last two-and-a-half years than they would have in the absence of ethanol mandates, subsidies and tariffs.