Chesterfield Poultry, based in Thorne, South Yorkshire, has taken a major step forward in its operations by transitioning from relying on Food Standards Agency (FSA) meat inspectors to creating its own team of Plant Inspection Assistants (PIAs).

This move marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to quality and safety in poultry production.

The transition was made possible after Chesterfield Poultry’s team successfully completed the FDQ Level 2 Award for Proficiency in Poultry Meat Inspection, specialising in the Broilers and Hens pathway. The qualification ensures that staff have the technical expertise required to carry out poultry meat inspections with the highest standards of accuracy and efficiency.

Following a final assessment by the Food Standards Agency’s Official Veterinarian (FSA OV), Chesterfield Poultry’s newly trained team received FSA authorisation to perform post-mortem inspection duties. The transition was supported by the FDQ-accredited Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) and their lead assessor, Dr. Craig Kirby.

Mihaela Otter, Technical Manager at Chesterfield Poultry, who led the project, expressed her pride in the team’s achievements. “With a rigorous qualification like this, it was vital to choose learners with strong knowledge and understanding before beginning the course with AIMS. When the team reached the assessment stage with Dr. Kirby, I was confident their dedication would ensure success. I am incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished,” she said.

Chesterfield Poultry Director Nadeem Iqbal also highlighted the significance of the initiative, both for the company and its workforce. “This journey has been immensely rewarding. It has given our top employees the opportunity to showcase their skills and contribute to the high-quality poultry production at our Thorne plant. Thanks to Mihaela’s leadership and the support from FDQ and AIMS, we are confident that our products meet the highest inspection standards and are safe for consumers,” he said.

With this move, Chesterfield Poultry not only strengthens its internal capabilities but also ensures that its products continue to meet rigorous food safety standards, giving consumers confidence in the quality of their poultry products.

A significant shift in the Brazilian meat industry has emerged as major companies begin to suspend their supply to Carrefour and its subsidiaries in Brazil. This move comes as a direct response to the French retailer’s recent announcement of a boycott on Mercosur meat products.

The decision to halt meat supply was initiated on Friday, November 22, 2024. It follows a statement made by Carrefour’s global CEO, Alexandre Bompard, on Wednesday. Bompard declared a boycott on meat from Mercosur countries, citing solidarity with French agricultural interests.

This retaliation could significantly impact Carrefour’s operations. The company’s Brazilian unit contributes 17% of global revenues and 51% of net profits. A loss of 2-5% of Brazilian customers could cost Carrefour $315-788 million in revenue.

Industry sources reveal that 30% of Carrefour’s Brazilian units are already experiencing supply disruptions. The impact is primarily affecting beef products, with a growing number of poultry suppliers joining the movement. No interruptions in pork deliveries have been reported so far.

Richard Mann | The Rio Times

Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard announced this week that his company would not be selling meat imported from the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) in a move to prevent the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union from pulling through. France’s largest supermarket planned on suspending meat imports from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay “in solidarity with the agricultural sector.”

In a letter to French farmers’ union leader Arnaud Rousseau, Bompard said he hoped to “inspire other players in the agri-food sector” as the European country rises as a stalwart against the commerce treaty between the two blocs whereas other European powers such as Germany advocate eliminating the need for consensus among members to move on with the initiative.

“Carrefour wants to act alongside the agricultural sector and today undertakes not to sell meat from Mercosur,” the letter assured. “We hope to inspire other actors in the agri-food sector and to encourage a broader solidarity movement,” it added.

MercoPress

Summary of Prices for Week Ending 16 November

Cattle

• The GB overall all-prime deadweight cattle price rose to 522.1p/kg, amid reduced kill numbers.
• Steers at R4L averaged 536p/kg (+5.7p), while R4L heifers reached 534p/kg (+6.2p). Young bulls saw the largest increase, up 7.1p to 509p/kg.
• Estimated prime cattle slaughter fell by 1,600 head (-4.6%), marking a four-week decline, suggesting the autumn kill peak has passed.
• Cow prices increased to 352p/kg (+4.6p), despite a slight rise in slaughter to 12,200 head (+100).
• Retail spend on beef rose 2.5% year-on-year, driven by higher average prices. Supplies are expected to tighten further in 2025.

Sheep

• GB new season lamb prices climbed to 649p/kg, a 23p rise week-on-week and 59p higher than 2023.
• Weekly lamb slaughter increased by 5% to 224,300 head, although year-to-date figures remain down 8% compared to 2023.
• Retail lamb sales grew 6.8% year-on-year, with roasting cuts driving demand. Export trade also supported prices.

Market Overview
Both cattle and sheep markets report strong trade, underpinned by robust demand, tightening supply, and retail growth in both beef and lamb.

AHDB

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices Update: Latest Figures and Trends

Throughput

There were 38,791 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants last week, a reduction of just over 1,500 head from the previous week. This uplift is primarily due to an increase in the cow kill when compared to the previous week.

Prime cattle throughput YTD is currently on par with the same period last year at 1,559,351 head although a notable tightening in prime cattle availability is expected as we move into the final quarter of the year. A contraction in cattle numbers on the ground and a lively export trade have contributed to this outlook with numbers expected to remain tight for much of 2025.

Average carcase weights also continue to trend below previous years with the combination of a challenging grass growing season and a growing dairy influence on the prime cattle kill playing a role in the decline. The downward trend in average carcase weights is expected to continue in the short to medium term with calf registrations to suckler cows continuing to decline, while the number of beef sired calves produced from the dairy herd continues to increase.

Prices

There was a lift in the steady base quotes at Irish meat plants this week in response to tighter supplies and an expected increase in retail and foodservice demand for the Christmas period. In general, producers were offered a base price of €5.10/kg for steers with reports of up to €5.20/kg available.

Starting quotes for heifers are in the region of €5.20/kg this week with similar room for negotiation being reported. The trade for young bulls was also described as steady, with prices of between €5.35/kg and €5.40/kg on-offer for R grading animals under 24 months of age.

The cow trade remains relatively steady, with well-fleshed O+ grading suckler cows being offered prices of €4.65-4.75/kg, while prices for O grading dairy cows generally range from €4.55-4.65/kg.

A significant proportion of the cow kill have achieved a conformation score of P in recent months and the prices available for these animals vary significantly based on grade, weight and quality.

For the week ending 10th November 2024, the average price paid by Irish beef processors for R3 increased slightly by 6c/kg to be at €5.20/kg. This remained 60c/kg ahead the corresponding week in 2023 when the R3 steer price was €4.60/kg. Note that reported prices exclude VAT but include all bonus payments such as in-spec bonus, breed-based producer groups etc.

EU and UK prices

Across the EU, the average reported price for R3 grading young bulls was €5.44//kg (excluding VAT) for the week ending 10th November, 2024. This is 49c higher than Week 45 of last year when prices averaged €4.89/kg for this category.

In the UK, tighter cattle supplies and firm demand have meant deadweight beef prices have continued to firm. This week the average UK R3 steer price increased by 3c/kg to €6.16/kg.

Bord Bia

Ben Lynch | BBC News

German meat producer Tönnies Group will rebrand as Premium Food Group starting next year.

This change reflects the company’s evolution from a meat processor to a broader food manufacturer.

The Tönnies brand will now be exclusively associated with the meat production business unit, while the new Premium Food Group name will represent the entire company.

The rebranding will include replacing the Tönnies signage on the cold storage facility at the company’s headquarters in Rheda-Wiedenbrück with the new PFG logo.

Tönnies shareholder Maximilian Tönnies explained that this structural transformation process began years ago and aims to position the company for the future. He emphasized that the goal is to enable business areas to make decisions faster and act more independently, with each area operating as its own company.

Original story by Just Food