Pilgrim's Pride Corp. has introduced a redesigned, consumer-friendly website featuring an expanded recipe section from some of America's best chefs, valuable coupons and updated information about the second-largest chicken company in the U.S.

The new website (www.pilgrims.com) is the latest phase of Pilgrim's ongoing rebranding campaign. Last fall Pilgrim's introduced new consumer packaging on its case-ready meats as part of a nationwide plan to reposition the company's brand with consumers and customers.

Visitors to the website will immediately notice the fresh, updated design and graphics. The previous logo featuring the familiar Pilgrim hat has been replaced with a modern image of a chicken in red with "Pilgrim's" written in blue beneath the bird. The site is aimed primarily at consumers, who said they wanted the site to highlight products, coupons and recipes. The site features a chef-inspired recipe section – including Daisy Martinez, host of "Viva Daisy!" on the Food Network – so that families can easily prepare restaurant-quality meals at home.

The website also highlights updated information and photos of the company's products, including nutrition information, cooking instructions and recipe ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition, there are updated links for investors, media, job seekers and customers.

The next step in the company's rebranding campaign is planned for April, when Pilgrim's will introduce new packaging for its core line of 13 products, ranging from breast strips and nuggets to wings and popcorn chicken. By spring, all of Pilgrim's packaging will exhibit a fresh, consistent look across the retail meat case, with designs that highlight its new tag line – All About Great Taste – with colorful product shots and appealing graphics. The retail brand re-launch will be supported by an extensive marketing campaign including new point-of-sale materials, coupons and trade promotions. A comprehensive media plan will follow as the company seeks to quickly build awareness of the new brand.

"It's an exciting time to be a part of changing history at Pilgrim's, and we have enjoyed working with our customers to evolve our brand," said Jerry Wilson, executive vice president of sales and marketing. "They can see that we are a new company with a new attitude and new lineup of innovative products that consumers want. We have a full pipeline of new products that will be introduced throughout the year in response to the valuable insights we are gaining from consumers around the country."

Source: Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.

Beef patties recalled due to Listeria concerns

United Food Group LLC, a Vernon, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 7,875 pounds of ready-to-eat Angus beef patties that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.

The products subject to recall include 22.5-pound cases of “Fully Cooked Black Angus Ground Beef Steak Patties,” with each case containing 75 individual 4.8-ounce patties. Each package bears the establishment number “EST. 31835” inside the USDA mark of inspection, a use-by date of “10-11-2011,” and is marked with either “LINE #31 or LINE #32.” The product subject to recall was produced on Oct. 11, 2010, and shipped to a single distributor in Calif. for further distribution to institutional users.

It should be noted that this product has been used and is no longer available in commerce. The company discovered, while conducting a year-end inventory, that the implicated product placed on hold was inadvertently shipped into commerce. As a result, the company conducted a recall and has retrieved and destroyed any remaining product from commerce.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of the product.

Source: FSIS

NAMP Meat Buyer's Guide now available in Spanish

NAMP has launched a new English-Spanish version of Meat Buyer’s Guide – the most comprehensive meat and poultry identification manual available. It is designed for Hispanic users in the U.S. and Canada, as well as the Mexican meat industry.

The new book features side-by-side Spanish translations of the English text in the latest edition of the Guide NAMP issued last March. In a major strategic initiative, the scope of the new edition goes beyond the U.S. and Canada to include new information about federal government regulations in Mexico – in keeping with NAMP’s mission as a North American association.

NAMP partnered with the U.S. Meat Export Council (USMEF) on the project. USMEF contracted with a translation company last spring to produce the translations, which then were reviewed by USMEF staff in Mexico City. The NAMP staff and the printer, Unique Active (UA), conducted additional editing and proofing. The printer also worked with NAMP to alter the layout of the guide so that both languages were included, while minimizing the size and weight of the new guide.

NAMP and USMEF will launch the new edition in Mexico at the Expo Carne trade show in Monterrey, Feb. 2 – 4. The book is endorsed by two major meat industry associations in Mexico: Consejo Mexicano de la Carne (CoMeCarne), and Asociacién Nacional de Establecimientos TIF, A.C. (ANTIF).

Orders may be placed through the NAMP Web site: www.namp.com. Copies also may be ordered at its toll-free sales line +1 800.932.0617 and by e-mail at namp@urnerbarry.com.

Source: NAMP

AMI names legislative affairs senior director

The American Meat Institute announced that Capitol Hill and U.S. Department of Agriculture veteran Brandon Beshears has joined AMI as senior director of legislative affairs. In his position, Beshears will report to AMI Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Mike Brown.

Previously, Beshears served two years as a member of the minority professional staff for the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. In that position, he was responsible for a diverse portfolio of issues including livestock, dairy, poultry, aquaculture, marketing orders and specialty crops. Beshears has additional agricultural policy experience, having served as a confidential assistant for marketing and regulatory programs within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition, Beshears has served as national director of sportsmen and agriculture outreach at the Republican National Committee and as a legislative assistant at the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action.

“Brandon’s extensive experience in legislative and agriculture policy will be a tremendous asset to our legislative affairs team as we build on our proud record of providing our members with highly effective representation on Capitol Hill,” said AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle.

Source: AMI