New York | Reuters — The number of corporate employees McDonald’s Corp. plans to lay off this week will tally in the “hundreds,” a source familiar with the burger chain’s thinking said on Monday, as the company moves forward with a previously announced restructuring. The fast-food company is closing its offices “out of respect,” and […] Read more
McDonald’s reported laying off hundreds of corporate employees
Layoffs don't include restaurant-level workers
Made in Alberta food labelling program launched
Reading Time: 2 minutes The province is giving $5 million to the Alberta Food Processors Association to launch and run a Made in Alberta food labelling program. In a news release, the association and the government touted the program as both a way to boost the profile of makers of food products and help keep grocery dollars in the […] Read more
Interest-free cash advances get extra lift in federal budget
Fertilizer diversification, solids non-fat processing also up for funding
Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s latest budget envelope for Canadian farmers up against rising costs of production includes a temporary boost to the interest-free portion of cash advances. Freeland’s 2023 federal budget, released Tuesday, includes $13 million in 2023-24 for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to temporarily increase the interest-free limit for loans under its Advance […] Read more
Food sales grew but margins tightened in 2022, FCC says
Modest further growth expected this year
Food and beverages sales increased in Canada last year, even as margins hit an historic low and consumers chose Canadian less. According to the latest FCC Food and Beverage Report, released Tuesday, sales increased 11 per cent to $156 billion in 2022. These gains came largely from higher export values and strength in the grain […] Read more
Japan lifts last of BSE-era restrictions off Canadian beef
Canadian processed beef regains access to Japan
The last of Japan’s import restrictions on Canadian beef and beef products stemming from the BSE crisis has been lifted, allowing access for Canadian further-processed beef. Canada’s federal agriculture department announced Monday that Japan has reopened to imports of “processed” Canadian beef — just days ahead of a significant reduction in Japan’s tariffs on imports […] Read more
Alberta farmland values up 10 per cent on average
Alberta's increase comes in below a national average that exceeded expectations
Reading Time: 4 minutes Average Alberta farmland values rose 10 per cent in 2022, according to Farm Credit Canada statistics released March 13. That’s less than the 12.8 per cent average for the rest of the country, but it’s the largest increase the province has seen since 2015, when prices rose 11.6 per cent. Last year’s figure follows increases […] Read more
Maple Leaf sees ‘inflection point’ beyond red ink of 2022
Packer books net losses in Q4, full-year
Another of Canada’s major pork and poultry packers has reported significant net losses in its 2022 ledger, but sees “green shoots” suggesting a return to normal pork markets and stable supply chains this year. Maple Leaf Foods on Thursday reported a net loss of $311.89 million on $4.739 billion in gross sales for its fiscal […] Read more
McCain to double Alberta french fry plant capacity
Lethbridge-area plant to more than double staff count
Alberta’s plans to boost its irrigated acres are being met near the starting line with a major french fry producer’s plans to double the capacity of its plant there. McCain Foods announced Monday it will put up $600 million to build two new production lines for frozen french fries and potato specialty goods at its […] Read more
As globalization fades new strategies needed
Don’t expect a return to normal geopolitical conditions — at least not if you think the past several decades were normal. That was Janice Gross Stein’s message March 8, in an opening address to the Canadian Crops Convention. The noted political scientist and founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy […] Read more
Meat lobby says U.S. voluntary label rule could spur trade action
Ottawa to review Washington's proposed 'Product of USA' rule
U.S. meat industry lobbyists say Washington’s proposed new rules governing voluntary ‘Product of USA’ or ‘Made in the USA’ labels would “impose the same standard” as that country’s now-defunct mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law — and frustrate U.S. packers who import Canadian meat or livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Food Safety and […] Read more
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