Police in Kansas City are trying to track 34,000 pounds of frozen chicken that was stolen from Simmons Foods in Arkansas and ended up in Missouri. The chicken was valued at $60,000.

Simmons officials used a tracking device on the stolen trailer to locate it, and police found it and five other trailers that were believed to be stolen. One was reported stolen from an Oklahoma chicken processing plant, and another contained snack foods, according to the Kansas City Star. Most of the food had already been removed.

“There’s a lot of chicken out there,” said Sgt. Keith Ericsson, who is supervising the investigation. “There is a public safety concern because we don’t know how it is being transported or kept. It’s not being regulated.” He said he was concerned that the stolen food might end up in “mom and pop” grocery stores.

A man who apparently lived in a trailer on the industrial property where the stolen trailers were found has been questioned by the police, but no arrests have been made.

Source: Kansas City Star

Wisconsin meat processors may get assistance from state

Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture is taking steps to help local meat processors expand and take advantage of rules that will eventually allow state-inspected facilities sell beyond state borders. Rod Nilsestuen, the department’s secretary, spoke to processors in western Wisconsin to talk about how they can expand and take advantage of rules by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will allow them to sell meat to other states.

"Now that we can break out of those state lines, we have an opportunity for those main street businesses to expand, to create jobs and to grow," Nilsestuen said. The laws for state-inspeccted facilities selling beyond state borders are currently being written by the USDA. He said there is an investment tax credit available to help small meat processors expand, and that the department is putting together an innovation center to help businesses break into other markets.

Source: WQOQ, Eau Claire

Kahiki Foods hires former Tyson, ConAgra exec to run foodservice division

Kahiki Foods Inc. announced it has appointed Don Blumenthal as Vice President of its Foodservice Division. Blumenthal will be responsible for leading foodservice sales and go-to-market initiatives for the restaurant-quality Asian frozen foods company.

"We are committed to expanding our foodservice channel at an accelerated pace," said Tim Tsao, Kahiki's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Don's proven track record in this channel makes him the perfect individual to lead this initiative. He has my full confidence and the full support of all Kahiki associates."

Blumenthal has spent 27 years in the Foodservice Industry, serving as vice president of marketing for Tyson Foods Inc., vice president and general manager for ConAgra Frozen Foods, and most recently, principal of Top Line Success Inc., a Foodservice Industry sales and marketing consultancy.

"I consider myself privileged to have the opportunity to lead the foodservice division for a fashion-forward company like Kahiki Foods," stated Blumenthal. "Kahiki is passionate about quality and extremely committed to all employees, customers and to the industry they serve."

Last year Kahiki charted new record-highs in overall sales, year-over-year growth and output per direct labor hour. The company was selected in March as the recipient of Refrigerated and Frozen Foods magazine's "Food Plant of the Year" Award for its outstanding commitment to quality, safety and consistency.

Source: Kahiki Foods Inc.