PMMI, the producer and owner of Pack Expo, and the American Meat Institute (AMI), sponsor and producer of the International Meat, Poultry and Seafood Industry Convention and Exposition, announced a new strategic partnership.

“This partnership is very natural, a great fit. That’s especially true now that we’ve added processing solutions providers to the PMMI membership and the Pack Expo exhibitor base. Clearly, this stronger relationship between AMI and PMMI will be mutually beneficial,” says Charles D. Yuska, president & CEO, PMMI.

While details of activities are in the planning stages, PMMI and AMI are discussing ways to address mutual concerns such as safety standards and issues related to meat packaging and processing. As part of the agreement:
* AMI will participate in PMMI’s Allied Association Program, and will exhibit at PACK EXPO International 2010 (October 31–November 3, 2010; McCormick Place, Chicago), and promote the event and AMI participation to its members.
* PMMI will exhibit in the 2011 AMI International Meat, Poultry & Seafood Convention & Exposition (April 11-13, 2011; McCormick Place, Chicago) and promote its participation to PMMI members.
* To better serve the two groups, PMMI and AMI are also discussing conducting jointly-sponsored programs at their respective events.

“These programs will reinforce our members’ mutual interests and add to the considerable value of both PACK EXPO and AMI Expo,” says Yuska.

J. Patrick Boyle, president & CEO of AMI, added, “PMMI and AMI members’ interests and concerns overlap in many places. Working together, we can accomplish great things for both groups and the industries we all serve.”
“PMMI members make roughly 60 percent of their sales to food manufacturers,” Yuska notes. “So it only makes sense that AMI and PMMI sit down and strategically consider mutual issues. We’re looking forward to working together to better serve our members.”

Source: PMMI

Allen Family Foods sells plant, feed mill

Allen Family Foods says it is selling a Maryland chicken production complex and a Delaware feed mill to Amick Farms LLC.

The companies announced Thursday the signing of an asset purchase agreement that includes the production complex and hatchery in Hurlock, Md. and the feed mill in Delmar, Del. The companies plan to complete the sale by the end of the month.

Allen president and CEO Bob Turley says the company will expand its processing plant in Cordova, Md. Previously, the Seaford-based company said it would expand its Harbeson plant.

Amick says it will continue to operate its South Carolina plant. Its president and CEO, Ben Harrison, says it will increase production at the Hurlock plant.

Source: Washington Examiner

Judge rejects landscaping requirement for JBS Swift pork plant

A judge has thrown out a requirement that JBS Swift pay $137,500 for landscaping on its pork plant in Butchertown, Ky., or elsewhere in the neighborhood as a condition of a plant’s continued operation. Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Fred Cowan ruled Tuesday that the Metro Board of Zoning Adjustment's requirement was "clearly erroneous," reports the Louisville Courier-Journal.

"It is difficult to imagine a more arbitrary exercise of regulatory power," Cowan wrote in his opinion.

JBS had requested the permit to allow construction of an enclosure for its hog unloading chute. The company had already illegally started construction on the project in the fall of 2008.

Zoning board chairwoman Leah Stewart said the cost of the chute expansion project was listed as $500,000 and that JBS said it was 25 percent complete, according to the court ruling. She suggested that $137,500 -- or 25 percent of the cost of the project -- would be an appropriate sum for "nuisance mitigation."

The matter has been remanded back to the zoning board.

Source: Louisville Courier-Journal

A. Dewey Bond, Former AMI VP, dies

A. Dewey Bond, 87, former senior vice president of the American Meat Institute (AMI), passed away on May 25, 2010, in Great Falls, Va., where he had resided for many years.

Bond worked for AMI for more than 30 years and continued his service to the industry as executive secretary for the National Meat Canners Association for almost a decade after his retirement from AMI.

“Dewey was a dedicated individual that always put the association and its members before himself,” said AMI Executive Vice President James H. Hodges. “He leaves a legacy of exemplary service to the industry and will be sorely missed.”

Bond is survived by his wife, Jean Jensen; daughters, Philinda Collins, Laurel Ellzey, Carolyn Bannister and Sylvia Donovan; and 11 grandchildren. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m., at Great Falls Methodist Church, in Virginia, on June 5, 2010. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Source: AMI

Shane's Rib Shack adds 1/2-pound burger

Shane's Rib Shack, a Petrus Brands company, announced its latest menu addition, the Shaniac Burger, a half pound grilled cheeseburger piled high with BBQ pork and topped with creamy coleslaw. Developed personally by Shane Thompson, president and founder of Shane's Rib Shack, the Shaniac Burger is available for a limited time only in all Shane's Rib Shack locations.

"Shane's Rib Shack is always looking for unique food combinations to tempt our customer's taste buds, which for a limited time now includes the Shaniac Burger, a BBQ & Burger masterpiece," says Thompson. "My inspiration behind the Shaniac Burger is simple. I married two of my favorite things together: my love of grilling out hamburgers and smoking BBQ pork, together under one big bun.”

The original shack was founded in 2002, in rural McDonough, Ga. by Shane Thompson, who started the restaurant with his grandfather's secret BBQ sauce. Since becoming a franchised restaurant in 2004, Shane's Rib Shack has grown to become the country's fastest growing fast-casual barbecue concept.

Source: Shane’s Rib Shack