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Diestel Family Ranch, sustainably raising turkeys since 1949, is acquiring Willie Bird Turkeys, a like-minded family farm that has become known around the world for its high-quality poultry. The company’s fresh free-range natural and organic turkeys, plus award-winning smoked holiday and year-round products, will be sold by Diestel under the well-loved Willie Bird brand. From extraordinarily juicy and tasty turkeys for Thanksgiving, to maple-wood smoked chicken and duck, Willie’s products are smooth, mild-flavored, and a delight to the most discriminate palate.

Conveyco Technologies, one of the premier order fulfillment and distribution center systems integrators in North America, announces their strategic partnership with Geek+, a global provider of smart logistics solutions that utilizes advanced robotics and artificial intelligence technologies, to help support organizations across North America. According to Interact Analysis, Geek+ is the No. 1 supplier of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in the world with 10% market share.

Mountaire Farms, the country’s sixth-largest chicken processor, has dozens of $2,500 scholarships available for the children and grandchildren of employees, poultry growers, and grain producers. The deadline to apply has been extended to June 15, 2020.

Golden State Foods (GSF), one of the largest diversified suppliers to the foodservice and retail industries, is pleased to announce the promotion of Chad Buechel to president of KanPak U.S. From the GSF subsidiary's headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Chad will be responsible for all aspects of KanPak's U.S. business, including its production of more than 18 million gallons of dairy products each year.

US Foods launched its latest COVID-19 online operator resource, the US Foods Restaurant Reopening Blueprint. The Restaurant Reopening Blueprint provides operators with a how-to for putting key COVID-19 guidelines into practice as they plan reopening efforts. The Restaurant Reopening Blueprint is informed by interviews with key stakeholders such as diners, restaurant staff and US Foods consultants and chefs. Interviews were also conducted with operators and diners in China to understand what learnings might be applicable for U.S. restaurant operations.

Flowers Foods, producer of Nature’s Own, Dave’s Killer Bread, Wonder, Tastykake, and other bakery foods, reported financial results for the company’s 16-week first quarter ended April 18, 2020. Sales increased 6.8% to $1.349 billion, including an estimated 6.5% to 7.5% increase attributable to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales for the same 16-week period in 2019 were 1.263 billion.

Smithfield Culinary, the foodservice unit of Smithfield Foods, the nation’s leading pork processor, has donated $25,000 to the Ferdinand Metz American Culinary Federation (ACF) Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to chefs, culinarians, and foodservice workers across America who are experiencing hardship in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raley’s announced the addition of Jennifer (Jen) Warner to the organization’s Executive Leadership Team in the role of Chief Administrative Officer. Prior to joining Raley’s, Warner served as Vice President of Legal at Columbia Sportswear Company, Chief Developmental Officer at AsheWorks Inc., and Global Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel, Americas at XPO Logistics. 

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