Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America has announced its 2026 conference program, featuring some 40 sessions with more than 125 industry speakers. The three-day event runs March 15-17 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, with speakers from companies including Ahold Delhaize USA, Circana, NOAA Fisheries and Whole Foods Market. The conference […]
Category: Meat/Seafood/Poultry
The Shelby Report covers meat, seafood and poultry for grocery retailers nationwide, from protein trends and pricing developments to supplier announcements and meat department merchandising strategies. Updated regularly across our five regional editions.
See more meat and seafood coverage in Focus on Fresh: Meat & Seafood.
Meat Institute Backs USDA Line Speed Rule Changes for Pork, Poultry
The Meat Institute has said the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed rule changes concerning pork and poultry processing rates will increase production and innovation, helping to ease prices for consumers and benefit livestock and poultry producers. “The Meat Institute has supported changes to line speed rules for pork […]
Meat Institute: Meat, Poultry Processors Contribute $57.3B To U.S. Economy
The Meat Institute released an economic study finding that the meat and poultry processing industry contributes $57.3 billion to the U.S. economy and provides nearly 584,000 jobs. The entire meat and poultry industry – including livestock production, animal feed, equipment manufacturing and transportation – contributes $347.7 billion in value to the nation, supporting more than […]
NPPC, NPB Select Pork Leadership Institute Class Of 2026
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the National Pork Board (NPB) has announced the Class of 2026 for the Pork Leadership Institute, selecting 19 people from across the country to participate in the yearlong leadership development program. This year’s class includes: Idaho: Rick Roper Iowa: Ryan Bartachek and Macie Reeb Illinois: Emmalee Haege and […]
IGA, National Pork Board Partner To Drive Pork Category Growth At Retail
The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) has begun a Red Oval Partnership with the National Pork Board (NPB), reinforcing IGA’s commitment to sharing resources with independent grocers to help them better serve shoppers. Through the partnership, the National Pork Board will collaborate with IGA member stores on in-store promotions, shopper marketing initiatives and educational resources featuring […]
Meat Sales Hit Record $112B In 2025, Driven By Millennials, Gen Z
Meat sales reached a record high of $112 billion in 2025, with pound volume increasing 2 percent, according to the 21st annual Power of Meat report released March 2 during the Annual Meat Conference by the Meat Institute and FMI—The Food Industry Association. Millennials and Gen Z were a driving force behind the growth, according […]
USDA Proposes Updates To Line Speed Rules For Poultry, Pork Processors
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced proposed updates to federal line speed regulations in poultry and pork establishments operating under modern inspection systems Feb. 17, aimed at lowering food costs and improving supply chain efficiency while maintaining food safety oversight. The proposed rules would update outdated processing requirements for poultry and pork establishments under modern […]
NPFDA Names Guest As 2025 Member Of The Year
The National Protein and Food Distributors Association (NPFDA) has recognized Judson “Jud” Guest of LAD Truck Lines as the 2025 NPFDA Member of the Year. A supporter of the association for more than 25 years, Guest has gone above and beyond in service to NPFDA. Throughout his involvement, he has willingly volunteered wherever help was […]
Evergood Sausage Co. Celebrates 100th Anniversary
Evergood Sausage Co. marked its 100-year anniversary, celebrating a century of family leadership and old-world craftsmanship while maintaining hardwood-smoking traditions established in 1926. Founded by Bavarian immigrant and master sausage maker Jacob Rauscher in San Francisco’s Mission District, Evergood grew from a neighborhood butchershop into a nationally recognized brand. The company operates from its historic […]
Moo & Oink Celebrates 50th Anniversary In 2026
Chicago-based meat brand Moo & Oink is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 with a yearlong series of special events, new products and retailer celebrations. Shoppers will see a commemorative badge across Moo & Oink packaging, along with in-store sampling events, mascot appearances and displays at participating retailers. “Moo & Oink has always been about […]
Smithfield Foods Plans $1.3B Processing Facility In Sioux Falls, SD
Smithfield Foods has initiated the approval process to build a packaged meats and fresh pork processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, representing a preliminary investment estimate of up to $1.3 billion over the next three years. The facility, subject to permitting and regulatory approvals, will be built in Foundation Park, a 1,000-acre heavy industrial […]
DeltaTrak Introduces FlashLink NOW Real-Time Loggers
Pleasanton, California-based DeltaTrak has introduced a new generation of its FlashLink NOW real-time loggers, giving fresh product suppliers expanded visibility into cold chain conditions as requirements for accepting shipments continue to tighten across the U.S. grocery sector. Inbound shipment requirements increasingly go beyond temperature data alone. When used with the UBQ Network, FlashLink NOW loggers […]
Smithfield Foods To Acquire Nathan’s Famous For $450M
Smithfield Foods has entered into a merger agreement to acquire Nathan’s Famous Inc. for $102 per share in cash, representing an enterprise value of about $450 million. The transaction will secure Smithfield’s rights to the all-beef hot dog brand into perpetuity. The company has held an exclusive license from Nathan’s Famous since March 2014 to […]
Scott & Jon’s Unveils Refreshed Branding, Enhanced Recipes For Frozen Seafood Line
Scott & Jon’s, the Auburn, Maine-based frozen seafood brand founded by brothers Scott and Jon Demers, is unveiling a new brand identity featuring updated packaging, enhanced recipes and refined messaging while staying true to its Maine roots. The refreshed branding is an evolution rather than a complete overhaul, the company said. The updated look, upgraded […]
Smithfield Campaign Aims To Court Younger Consumers, Elevate Pork At Retail
Smithfield is putting a fresh, bolder stake in the ground with its new “We Speak Pork” campaign, an effort designed to reintroduce the category to younger consumers while reinforcing the company’s long-standing authority in pork. Marianne Radley, Smithfield’s managing director of marketing, told The Shelby Report that the campaign emerged after the company evaluated how […]
Mowi ASA Begins Feed Partnership To Lower Costs
Mowi ASA, a producer of farm-raised Atlantic salmon, has entered into a strategic partnership with Skretting/Nutreco in which Mowi will produce feed based on Skretting’s formulations. The partnership is expected to deliver more than $58 million in annualized net cost savings through improvements in feed formulation, procurement and logistics. “Mowi and Skretting are a great […]
Seaboard Foods, Oklahoma Pork Council Donate 160K Pork Servings
Seaboard Foods and the Oklahoma Pork Council (OPC) teamed up to donate more than 40,000 pounds of Prairie Fresh ground pork and sausage to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, providing the equivalent of about 160,000 servings to families facing food insecurity. The donation was made Dec. 10 as part of OPC’s annual Give-A-Ham Challenge. […]
Smithfield Foods Distributes 1K Holiday Hams In Hampton Roads, VA
Smithfield Foods, in collaboration with The Kroger Co., distributed 1,000 free holiday hams and grocery bags filled with side dishes Dec. 16 as part of its Season of Serving event in southeastern Virginia. The effort was held in partnership with the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. “The […]
Survey: Americans Would Choose Beef Over Turkey, Ham For Christmas Dinner
According to new survey data from The Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Redner’s Markets, more than half of Americans who don’t typically serve beef for Christmas dinner (54 percent) say they would consider it, suggesting the dish could be gaining momentum. Already, two out of five Americans (43 percent) serve beef as a main […]
Wilson Family Named Niman Ranch’s 2025 Sustainable Farm Of The Year
Niman Ranch named the Wilson family of Iowa’s Seven W Farm as its 2025 Sustainable Farm of the Year, an honor coinciding with World Soil Health Day. The recognition highlights the family’s leadership in restoring soil health, protecting waterways and demonstrating how small, diversified farms can address the state’s water quality challenges. “The Wilson family […]
