Calendar

Midwest Poultry Federation Conference
March 17 - March 19, 2009
St. Paul, Minn.

1 0th Annual Thermal Processing of Ready-to-Eat Meat Products Short Course
March 31, - April 2, 2009
Columbus, Ohio

SIAL Montreal 2009
April 1 - April 3, 2009
Montreal, Quebec 

Podcasts

The Global Marketplace
"2008 Export Results"
By Erin Daley, U.S. Meat Export Federation

Labor Issues
"Understanding EFCA"
By Jacob M. Monty, managing partner, Monty Partners LLP

Plant Design and Process Efficiency
"Pacing Lines"
By John E. Johnson, managing director, Epsilon Industries

The Global Marketplace
"2008 Wrap, 2009 Outlook"
By Erin Daley, U.S. Meat Export Federation 

Sourcebook

Search the 2008 edition

Tune In!

This week

Smithfield posts $103.1 million loss in third quarter

Smithfield Foods announced today that it had a net loss of $103.1 million, or 73 cents per share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. For the nine months of the year, the company has seen losses of $164 million, compared to a gain of $137 million last year. Yet in spite of the numbers, the company is optimistic about its performance.

A Young Perspective: Plausibility + probability = certainty

Barbara Young, editor-in-chief, wants to know why worry over the next major meat recall has seemingly taken hold of the minds of many in the industry. Read Barbara's perspective through her blog and share your thoughts on this intriguing observation.

Enter the 4th Annual HREVOLUTION Awards

The 2009 HREVOLUTION Awards celebrate the valuable contributions of Human Resources professionals to the success of their companies. Questions about the awards should be directed to Andy Hanacek, executive editor of The National Provisioner, at (847) 405-4011. Or click above to read the rules and enter.

Past Winners: Read about the 2008 HREVOLUTION Awards winners. pdf

Independent Processor 2009 Top 100

Gleeson Constructors, L.L.C, specializes in the design and construction of food processing facilities, freezers, cold storage facilities and distribution centers nationwide. The company can handle all phases of building projects, from construction and production layout, to engineering, building details, plumbing, electrical and refrigeration.

2009 Annual Sausage Report:

Hope springs eternal
While many industries have incurred losses through a tough 2008, the statistics - at the least - point to a steady incline in the sausage and hot dog markets.

Retail Trends: Closing the gap
Consumers are turning to grocery take-out as a less expensive way to eat out and still save time.

Food Safety: Micro matters
Pathogen detection remains a critical component of meat and poultry processors' food-safety programs.

Final Word: Spinach, peppers, peanuts; what's next?
I have some questions: What is the matter with some food processors out there? Are these companies so driven by the bottom line that food safety has gone completely out the window? Do companies think that no one will catch them when they cut corners or outright ignore food-safety and quality issues?

Daily Price Points
Commodity information found in The National Provisioner Daily Price Points web feature is provided by Urner Barry, a publisher specializing in the timely, accurate, and unbiased reporting of market news to clients in the poultry, egg, meat, seafood, and related segments of the food industry.

MeatProcessingXchange
The 5th annual MeatProcessingXchange (MPX) is a unique event designed specifically for senior-level, operations, engineering and plant management from the meat and poultry industry, offering highly-efficient, focused, private meetings with leading vendors selected because their customized solutions fulfill your anticipated capital needs and strategic initiatives. Check out what your peers are saying about MPX.