Cold Foods Industry News

RSS

Our meat and poultry plants are experiencing varying levels of production impact, due to the planned implementation of additional worker safety precautions and worker absenteeism. For example, out of an abundance of caution, we have suspended operations at our Columbus Junction, Iowa, pork plant this week due to more than two dozen cases of COVID-19 involving team members at the facility. In an effort to minimize the impact on our overall production, we’re diverting the livestock supply originally scheduled for delivery to Columbus Junction to some of our other pork plants in the region.

Sysco Corporation will kick off a month-long social media campaign, Take Out To Give Back, in conjunction with No Kid Hungry in order to provide healthy and nutritious meals in underserved communities while promoting the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 global pandemic.  

Vortex slide gates, diverters, iris valves and loading spouts are used around the world every day in the production of many vital items, including food, medicine, cleaning agents, medical equipment, toilet paper, tissues, petroleum, batteries and etc. We are currently operating at full capacity at all of our worldwide locations and will continue to do so as long as this guidance remains in place or we are instructed to cease activities by Federal, State, and/or local authorities.

US Foods has donated $2.5 million dollars in food and supplies over the last four weeks to fight hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donations equate to more than 150 semi-truck loads of product. US Foods worked with its longtime partner Feeding America and other local charitable organizations across the country to distribute food such as meat, dairy, and produce and other non-food supplies.

We’re continuing to work on the simultaneous priorities to support you in keeping the fresh produce supply chain moving, and driving financial relief for those most affected by this crisis.

Mountaire Farms is donating more than 44,000 pounds of chicken to employees at Delaware's Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford, and Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury this week. Employees will each get a 10-pound bag of fresh chicken to take home to their families.

New data from research firm IRI (Information Resources Inc.) and BCG (Boston Consulting Group) shows frozen and refrigerated food sales spiking 78.8% and 57.8%, respectively, compared to a year ago, and attributed to COVID-19-related stockpiling by consumers beginning on March 1. The numbers are through the week ending March 15.

Perdue Farms learned that an associate at its Perry, Georgia Cook Plant, who has not been to work for more than a week, has tested positive for COVID-19. They are unable to disclose additional details around this individual in accordance with privacy laws. Upon receiving this notification, the company immediately enacted its pandemic response protocols, which follow strict guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, announced that it has proactively implemented additional safety measures by beginning the installation of protective Plexiglas partitions in all stores. The grocer will also enforce additional social distancing protocols and adhere to stricter store occupancy regulations to further safeguard customers and associates from the spread of COVID-19 in the communities it serves.

As we collectively find ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we at M&M Systems, Carnot Refrigeration, and M&M Refrigeration wanted to inform you that we have been designated as Essential Businesses and will remain open to supply our customers in the food & agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and data management industries, among others.