Beyond Meat has reported that net revenues were down 1.6% year-on-year as the company prepares to cut 4% of its global workforce, according to its latest trading statement.

Founded in 2009, Beyond Meat is a plant-based meat company with products available at approximately 183,000 retail and foodservice outlets in over 90 countries worldwide.

According to the trading report, the company’s net revenues were $147 million, a decrease of 1.6% year-on-year. Gross profit also reported a loss of $6.2 million and net loss was $97.1 million.

The Company is announcing a reduction-in-force affecting approximately 4% of its global workforce. The reduction-in-force is expected to result in total annualised savings of approximately $8 million.

Beyond Meat president and CEO Ethan Brown said that the company’s measures for the remainder of the year, he is “confident [Beyond Meat] will emerge from the current economic climate leaner and stronger, and well positioned for [its] next chapter of growth.”

 

by Food Management Today

UK meat which has been slaughtered without being stunned beforehand should be banned from export.

According to animal welfare charity RSPCA, in recent years the number of animals slaughtered without stunning has been falling – but the proportion of those being exported to other countries has risen.

 

The Scottish Farmer

Thames Valley Cambac’s (TVC) pig marketing summary, for the week concluding August 7, shows that GB and European pig prices saw a positive boost regardless of slowing throughputs and sales.

GB SPP was up 1.58p from a week ago, for a figure of 195.86p; Tribune Spot Bacon was also up by 0.50p week-on-week, for a price of 200.91p.

GB SPP probe prices fell 0.2p, for a weekly figure of 11.0p. As did sterling to Euro prices, for a weekly total of 118.66p – down from 119.06p. Although, prices in sterling were ‘enhanced by a stronger Euro that ended the week up 0.28p at 84.27p’.

In Europe, volumes are running at the levels expected for this time of year, according to TVC, as is the cull sow market. Though France remains an outlier, adding 4.16 eurocents to the previous weeks price, for a weekly total of 193.56 eurocents. The average European price rose by 1.20 eurocents on the previous week, ending at 160.53.

 

by Meghan Taylor / Pig World

Farming groups have warned the industry has had enough of being seen as an ‘easy target’ for Governments seeking to cut emissions levels.

The comments come after the Irish Government introduced a sectoral emissions ceiling for agriculture of 25 per cent by 2030.

Thomas Binns, NFU uplands spokesperson, told Farmers Guardian while the the farming industry was aware of its climate responsibilities, agriculture was often seen by Government and other industries as an ‘easy target’.

He said: “Farming is a very a visible industry regarding the links between ruminants and emissions. And even though some of the information regarding this is now being questioned, the stigma remains. But farmers are now beginning to push back, as we can see in the Netherlands and Italy, and they are right to do so.”

 

Jane Thynne / Farmers Guardian

The annual week-long celebration of UK lamb will be returning next month for an eighth year, with sheep producers set to shine a light on the sustainability of their sector.

Love Lamb Week, running from 1-7 September, aims to remind consumers of the taste and quality that UK lamb brings to the dinner table.

The popular initiative will focus on how lamb is ‘naturally delicious’ and due to the country’s climate and landscape, with plenty of rainfall and grass, the UK is an ideal place to produce lamb sustainably.

As in previous years, the industry-wide initiative is supported by groups such as AHDB, Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales), Quality Meat Scotland and LMC in Northern Ireland, among others.

AHDB Head of Marketing, Carrie McDermid said: “We are delighted to be supporting Love Lamb Week for an eighth year.

“It provides us all with the opportunity to celebrate UK lamb, a family favourite due to its superior taste and quality and shine a light on our world-class food and farming standards.

 

 

by Farming UK / AHDB

Dutch farmers are continuing to protest over the government’s plans to cut emissions, which will see more than half of livestock farmers having to give up or drastically slim down their businesses.  

Recently, farmers in the Netherlands have blockaded food distribution centres and major roads with hundreds of tractors, as well as having gathered outside regional assemblies and ministers’ homes, in protest of governmental plans to cut ammonia, nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide emissions.

The wider Dutch community is also showing its support for the faming sector, by hanging the Dutch flag upside down along roads, bridges and buildings within the Netherlands. While the Polish government and Donald Trump have also stood in support of Dutch farmers.

The latest protests come as authorities announced a radical plan to reduce intensive farming, with a 30 to 50% reduction in livestock numbers across the Netherlands, in a bid to meet environmental targets by 2030.

Rudi Buis, a spokesman for the Dutch agriculture ministry, said to the BBC: “It’s necessary to improve the nature, for our health, for clean air, water, soil and also for the agriculture because we need biodiversity…if we want some economic activity in the future, we also have to improve our nature.”

 

By Meghan Taylor / Pig World

AHDB Pork’s weekly pig prices, slaughter data and commentary for Great Britain

 

Pig World / AHDB

The latest HMRC figures show that the UK’s pork exports to the USA, between January and April of this year, nearly doubled on 2021 figures; making the US the third largest export market for UK pork.  

In the first four months of 2022, UK pork exports to the USA were worth almost £11.6 million, rising from £6.3m in 2021. Pork export volumes also rose by 60%, with shipments to the US up from 2,202t to 3,484t.

AHDB’s senior export manager for the Americas, Susana Morris, said: “America has become an increasingly valuable market for UK red meat, particularly pork, with exports rising month-on-month this year, and strong domestic demand is expected to persist.”

She added that the high quality and competitive prices of UK pork is driving the demand in the US, as well as the UK’s strong food safety credentials – which continue to be highly regarded in overseas markets.

“Also, the UK’s success in reducing antibiotic usage in the pork sector has helped differentiate our products and is highly regarded by consumers in America. All of this is helping to grow our pork exports in this hugely important market,” Ms Morris noted.

 

by Meghan Taylor / Pig World

A Food Standards Agency (FSA) consultation is looking at changing the rules around the sale of meat during a religious festival.

Qurbani is a religious practice that takes place during Eid al-Adha. Some Muslims prefer to collect meat and offal shortly after slaughter as this signifies the beginning of the festival. Eid-al-Adha is a four-day Islamic holiday but the exact date varies year to year.

Because products cannot complete normal chilling processes before leaving the slaughterhouse during the holiday, there could be greater growth of pathogens, with the potential to increase risk of illness.

Industry representatives asked the FSA to look at alternative options for the supply of Qurbani meat and offal during Eid al-Adha and the existing rules. In Qurbani, one share of the animal is given to charity, another is kept at home, and a third is given to relatives or friends. Slaughterhouses are currently allowed to supply meat that does not adhere to the regulations as long as certain mitigation steps are followed.

The agency is seeking comments on whether changes should be introduced to the chilling requirements of Qurbani meat and offal supplied from slaughterhouses in England and Wales during Eid al-Adha. Comments are open until Sept. 11, 2022.

Rebecca Sudworth, FSA director of policy, said Qurbani meat should be available to people that wish to prepare and consume it.

“This consultation and our dialogue with authorities in the Muslim community broadens the discussion to ensure that this practice can continue, whilst providing for highest food safety and hygiene standards possible to protect consumers,” she said.

 

 

By Joe Whitworth / Food Safety News

In the week ending 3^rd August, the GB NSL liveweight SQQ dropped slightly to average 243.88p/kg, down 4.36p from last week. Reports indicate that well covered animals were still commanding plenty of interest and the best prices, but lighter, less-finished animals weighed on averages.

Throughput was estimated at 80,759 head for the week (NSL + OSL), down 19% on last week following the drop in trade the week before, and 21% down on the same week last year.

An estimated 48,344 cull ewes were sold at auction, 1% up on the same week last year, with prices averaging £90.17/head.

The GB deadweight NSL SQQ lost 48p on the previous week to average 574.5p/kg in the week ending 30^th July. Despite this drop, prices are still running at 9p above last year, and 113.9p above the 5-year average. An estimated 184,600 lambs were processed during the week, up 10% on last week. This is however still 18% back when compared with the same week last year.

 

 

by Charlotte Forkes-Rees / AHDB