Reuters — Restaurant Brands International, owner of the Burger King and Tim Hortons fast food chains, is nearing a deal to acquire Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, people familiar with the matter said Monday. The deal, which will likely value Popeyes at more than US$1.7 billion, is a bet by Oakville, Ont.-based Restaurant Brands that it can […] Read more
Tim Hortons owner reported near deal to buy Popeyes
China bird flu deaths surge in what could be worst season ever
Beijing | Reuters — As many as 79 people died from H7N9 bird flu in China last month, the government said, stoking worries that the spread of the virus this season could be the worst on record. January’s fatalities were up to four times higher than the same month in past years, and brought the […] Read more
Pizza chains expand antibiotic-free meat market
Canadian pizza chains Pizza Nova and Pizza Pizza are both staking out further space in the chain dining market for meats from livestock raised without antibiotics. Toronto-based Pizza Pizza on Jan. 23 announced it would source all chicken products on its menu from birds raised without the use of antibiotics, effective immediately. The company’s pledge […] Read more
Tyson reveals subpoena linked to alleged price fixing
Reuters — Tyson Foods disclosed on Monday it has received a subpoena from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission following allegations it conspired with rivals for years to fix chicken prices. The chicken sector, which is dominated by a handful of large meat companies, has come under increased scrutiny over the past year as customers […] Read more
Proliferation of bird flu outbreaks raises pandemic risk
London | Reuters — The global spread of bird flu and the number of viral strains currently circulating and causing infections have reached unprecedented levels, raising the risk of a potential human outbreak, according to disease experts. Multiple outbreaks have been reported in poultry farms and wild flocks across Europe, Africa and Asia in the […] Read more
McDonald’s, A+W roll out all-day breakfast for Canada
Burger chains McDonald’s and A+W expect to dial up their demand for Canadian eggs as they offer all-day breakfasts alongside their beef and chicken wares across the country, starting next month. Toronto-based A+W announced Thursday it would be “the first national burger chain to offer all-day breakfast at its restaurants” coast-to-coast starting Feb. 27, after […] Read more
USDA finds bird flu in Montana wild duck
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday it had detected a type of bird flu in a wild duck in central Montana that appeared to match one of the strains found during an outbreak of the disease in 2014 and 2015 that led to the deaths of millions of chickens. […] Read more
Tim’s, Burger King to cut some antibiotics from chicken supply
The parent of fast-food chains Tim Hortons and Burger King plans to end the use of certain medically important antibiotics in its Canadian chicken supply chain in 2018. Restaurant Brands International (RBI) in late December announced the new policy on its website, saying it “will work with our supply chain partners to support and implement […] Read more
Nestle pledges cage-free eggs for Canadian wares
The Canadian arm of Swiss food processing giant Nestle has promised to shift its egg supply to “cage-free” sources by 2025. Nestle Canada, whose products using eggs include some of its Lean Cuisine meals and Real Dairy desserts, said Wednesday it was “dedicated to working with Canadian farmers to make this transition.” The Canadian business […] Read more
Free workshops on small-flock biosecurity
Workshops to be held in Red Deer on Jan. 14 and Whitecourt on Jan. 28
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture is holding free biosecurity workshops with practical strategies for small flocks. Hands-on activities, producer/owner participation, and guest speakers will discuss common small-flock challenges to help keep multi-generational poultry flocks healthy. Workshops will be held in Red Deer (Peavey Mart Head Office) on Jan. 14 and Whitecourt (Holiday Inn Express) on Jan. 28. To […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
