July 2025 Newsletter
Salmonella Concerns Prompt Major Recall of Salami, Cacciatore Across Canada
On July 17, 2025, Canadian manufacturer Marini Foods Ltd. significantly expanded its voluntary recall of salami and cacciatore products across 13 brands—including Rea, Longos, Cosmo’s, and Marini Salumi—due to potential Salmonella contamination. Coordinated with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the recall now covers over 65 products, with previous phases linked to a national outbreak that has resulted in 87 illnesses and nine hospitalizations. Affected regions include Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. Cases were often tied to deli-sliced meats or prepared sandwiches.
Marini emphasized its commitment to product safety, announcing process improvements to prevent recurrence. The CFIA warned that distribution reached multiple provinces, so more illnesses could be unreported. Food safety stakeholders and protein buyers should remain alert and review deli sourcing protocols. For processors, this case underscores the importance of robust traceability, recall readiness, and quality assurance, especially when distributing across retail and foodservice channels in North America.
Source: Supermarket Perimeter l July 16
Smithfield’s Fast- Growing Hogs Could Reshape Pork Supply
Source: FoodMarket l July 29
Lamb’s Global Footprint Grows—Despite Volume Dip
Australian lamb exports hit a record A$4 billion in FY 2024–25, up 14% YoY despite a slight volume dip. Key growth came from the U.S., Canada, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the UK—where new trade deals are fueling increased demand. The UK alone surged +44%, with chilled lamb gaining popularity in foodservice. Meanwhile, China’s volume declined (-9%) as consumers favored more affordable mutton. With expanded chilled access and longer shelf life in the Middle East, Australian lamb is diversifying markets to support long-term supply and price resilience across global retail and food manufacturing channels.
Source: EuroMeat News l July 28
Legacy Meat Distributors Unite as SFS Acquires R&R Provision
Schiff’s Food Service (SFS), a family-owned distributor based in Taylor, PA, has acquired R&R Provision of Easton, PA, further expanding its footprint in theLehigh Valley. The acquisition includes R&R’s facilities, branding, and full staff, with plans to grow the team. Both companies operate USDA-inspected meat processing operations and are members of Uni-Pro Foodservice. With a service area covering Northern NJ, Eastern PA, and Southern NY, SFS aims to integrate R&R’s retail and online platforms into its growing network. This move marks SFS’s fourth acquisition since 2021, reinforcing its position as a key player in regional foodservice distribution.
Source: Meat + Poultry l July 10
Carl Buddig Launches YUMBO to Shake Up the Meat Stick Aisle
Carl Buddig & Co. has launched YUMBO, a bold new meat snack brand featuring 2-oz individually wrapped sausage sticks in flavors like Original, Hot & Spicy, and Honey Brown Sugar Turkey. Produced by Old Wisconsin Sausage, YUMBO is backed by the edgy “Meat for Real Meatheads” campaign, developed with Havas Chicago, aiming to challenge meat snacking stereotypes and appeal to a diverse, younger audience. Products are now available online and in major retailers such as Amazon, Meijer, Wawa, and 7-Eleven. The launch includes a humorous mockumentary and social- first content across Hulu, YouTube, TikTok, and more, running through October 2025.
Source: Meat+Poultry l July 15
Younger Steers Take the Lead as Aussie Cattle Processing Hits Historic Highs
Australia processed nearly 8.8 million cattle in FY2024–25—the second highest volume in over four decades. Notably, younger cattle, including vealer and yearling steers, now represent a growing share of processor throughput, driven by drought-related destocking in
southern states. Grown steers made up just 59% of processed animals in Q2—the lowest since 2019. Meanwhile, northern states leveraged better pasture conditions to grow lighter cattle, often sourced from the south. This shift may slightly reduce average carcase weights. However, industry investments in genetics, feedlot utilization, and productivity improvements are expected to help maintain strong overall beef output.
Source: Meat & Livestock Australia l July 7
Grassland Goats Scales Up: A Model for Vertical Integration & Traceability
From humble beginnings in 2018, Brian and Keeleigh Allport turned Grassland Goats into a vertically integrated premium goatmeat enterprise. Now handling up to 1,000 goats weekly, their business spans 15,000–20,000 head at peak. In-house logistics, halal compliance, and paperless traceability (via eNVD) allow efficient, transparent fulfillment. While goats drive revenue, they maintain beef and lamb operations. Their adoption of digital systems and rigorous supply protocols offers key lessons for processors and buyers seeking resilient sourcing, traceable inventory, and agile fulfillment models across domestic and export markets.
Source: Meat & Livestock Australia l July 4
Beef Confidence and Clarity: Rastelli’s Retail Advantage
Retail beef shoppers in 2025 prioritize value, consistency, and convenience, says Rastelli Foods President Ray Rastelli Jr. The company’s Preferred Net Weight Cut Steak Program eliminates random weight variability, enabling price clarity and easier store promotions. Value steaks and ground beef are in demand, with budget-conscious consumers stretching proteins through portioning and batch cooking. Rastelli’s Ready in Minutes marinated beef line— featuring Korean BBQ strips and Steakhouse sirloins—offers flavorful, fast-cooking options. These innovations give retailers a smart, profitable beef set that resonates with today’s shopper expectations: transparency, premium quality, and time-saving versatility
across meal occasions.
Source: Supermarket Perimeter l July 22
Expana’s New Knuckle Forecast Sharpens Beef Pricing Strategy
Expana has added a forecast for the 167A 4 Round, Knuckle, Peeled beef cut—filling a key gap in red meat pricing insight for supply chain stakeholders. This lean, exercise-developed cut plays a critical role in protein planning and contract pricing. Though prices have trended upward since late 2022, Expana analysts project a Q4 pullback due to seasonal peaks, even as tight cattle inventories and lower imports keep long-term prices high. Expana’s models use historic data, supply-demand analysis, and cost inputs like feed and transport, helping food manufacturers and distributors better manage risk and sharpen pricing strategies across their beef programs.
Source: FoodMarket l July 14
AAMP Highlights Urgent Immigration Compliance Needs for Processors
At the 2025 AAMP Convention, immigration attorneys warned meat processors to prepare for heightened enforcement under the Trump administration. Small processors aren’t immune—one tip can trigger costly ICE investigations. Experts advised I-9 audits, training on document red flags, and setting rapid-response protocols. E-Verify helps but doesn’t replace compliance. AAMP also urged Congress to delay ICE raids and pursue reform. With penalties ranging from paperwork fines to criminal charges, proactive immigration compliance is now mission-critical for meat industry operators.
Source: Meat + Poultry l July 25
