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Food inflation reshapes animal protein demand across markets

DENVER – The steady increase in prices across most food and beverage categories is straining household budgets and prompting some consumers to shift toward wholesale shopping. Americans are purchasing lower-cost food items, reducing discretionary purchases or buying fewer groceries altogether.According to a recent quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, inflation and shifting consumer purchasing patterns are changing the US food supply chain, reshaping strategies for manufacturers, su...

Agencies agree to expand testing with updated food safety oversight

WASHINGTON — US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) reaffirming their agencies’ shared commitment to protecting consumers from heavy metals and other contaminants in food.For decades, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Environmental Protecti...

Food Lion kicks off annual Summers Without Hunger effort

SALISBURY, NC. —
Hunger-relief platform Food Lion Feeds announced the launch of its annual Summers Without Hunger campaign to help fight childhood hunger. Since 2019, the grocery retail chain’s promotion has helped provide more than 120 million meals to children across 10 states.Summers Without Hunger supports children during a period when access to food can be more difficult. When schools close for the summer, students who rely on school meals for breakfast and lunch often need additional supp...

KFC announces global updates of menus, restaurants and branding

PLANO, TEXAS — Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, is offering its global customer base new options when ordering the iconic fried chicken. KFC is offering diners new ways for them to enjoy its signature flavor by adding boneless menu items designed for dipping and dunking with new sauces that expand product flavors."In an increasingly crowded category, we have a clear opportunity to set the standard for modern chicken in QSR," said Scott Mezvinsky, chief executive officer...

Pilgrim’s Pride invests $75M in Georgia plant, closing Tennessee facility

GREELEY, COLO. —
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. announced plans to expand its poultry processing plant in Ellijay, Ga. Pilgrim’s, a subsidiary of JBS SA, said a $75 million investment in the plant will increase its slaughtering and portioning capacity and facilitate the production of a broader mix of boneless chicken products, specifically to address growing demand from its customers in the quick-service segment. “As consumer demand shifts and our customers grow, we are investing to ensure our operation...

WILDE reinvents the cracker and chip aisles with launch of new chicken-based snacks

LEXINGTON, KY. – Built on all-natural chicken breast, bone broth and real cheese, WILDE's new protein crackers move away from refined grains and added protein powder. With 12 grams of protein per serving, WILDE Protein Crackers offer four times more protein than traditional cheese cracker products.Made to compete with major market brands, WILDE Protein Crackers are the company's first product innovation since launching its protein chips. Real chicken and aged cheese serve as the base ingredients...

Meaty Snacks expands portfolio with salami chips

CALTRANO, ITALY – Salami Chips, a patented crispy snack made from authentic Italian cured meats, is being introduced by Meaty Snacks, a division of Italian cured meat producer Salumificio Sant'Orso S.r.l., to meet growing consumer demand for high-protein, clean-label snacks.The product, which won a Better Future Award in the Snacks Innovation category, debuted at TUTTOFOOD Milan 2025.Salami Chips transform traditional cured meat into a thin, ready-to-eat snack. Each 25-gram pouch contains 59% pr...

Maple Leaf Farms promotes Indiana foods in summer marketing push

LEESBURG, IND. – Maple Leaf Farms, an Indiana-based processor of duck products, launched a promotion to highlight Hoosier culinary delights on social media with its Indiana-Made summer campaign.“2026 marks 50 years of Maple Leaf Farms’ fully cooked roast half duck, which won ‘Coolest Thing Made in Indiana’ in 2022,” said Olivia Tucker Ruddell, director of Marketing. “As we celebrate the half-century mark for this flagship product, we thought it would be a great time to also spotlight other India...

AJ Maloney and the Art of the Bet

AJ Maloney, a senior at Kansas State University, has a routine that intertwines the excitement of sports betting with the rhythm of his academic life. What began as a way to pass time quickly evolved into a complicated mix of entertainment, strategy, and self-discipline."Sports betting occasionally gets in the way of school," AJ admits. "When I’m bored, I look at the odds to see what I can place that evening. Sometimes, I even research in class—checking players' stats, analyzing matchups, and co...

Doug Walker and The Rise of Sports Gambling in America: Impact on College Campuses and Beyond

The rise of legalized sports gambling in the United States has been one of the most significant cultural and economic shifts in the sports industry in recent years. Once relegated to underground bookies and shady deals, sports betting has emerged as a mainstream activity with massive implications for sports organizations, fans, and college campuses.As Doug Walker, a marketing professor at Kansas State University and founder of its Business of Sports and Entertainment program, explains, sports be...