The makers of Hormel Black Label Bacon, a leader in breakfast meats in America, announced today the launch of Hormel Black Label Breathable Bacon, a first-of-its-kind innovation. Hormel Black Label Breathable Bacon is a revolutionary face mask featuring the latest in pork-scented technology with two-ply multi-fiber cloth to keep the delicious smell of bacon always wrapped around your nose and mouth. 

Eckrich introduces bold new packaging for their Deli collection which will begin rolling out in stores nationwide this month. Through both qualitative and quantitative market research, Eckrich successfully created a design that breathes new energy into the heritage brand with a modern, approachable look, all with its key consumer top of mind. The designs feature a white background and crisp imagery, displaying the product and information in an organized, eye-catching way. The imagery also showcases the product in a prepared fashion, allowing consumers to see easy ways to create an Eckrich meal at home. 

Plumrose USA, a branded packaged meat company and subsidiary of JBS USA, a leading American food company with the second largest pork production footprint in the world, today announced its intention to construct a new, state-of-the-art Italian meats and charcuterie production facility. The estimated $200M greenfield project will be strategically located to efficiently access raw material and leverage synergies with existing corporate assets. The investment is consistent with the company’s long-term strategy to increase its value-added and branded portfolio with innovative, on-trend products.

As healthcare workers across the country continue to face shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), Smithfield Foods is supporting local communities by donating excess face shields to healthcare workers at nursing homes and local hospitals as part of their COVID-19 relief efforts.

Cooper Farms is donating $500 to The Ohio Association of Foodbanks as a part of team member and social media outreach. The company is also donating another 25,200 dozen eggs to foodbanks in Lima and Toledo, to provide much needed protein. This donation comes just weeks after a donation of nearly 6,000 pounds of turkey and two truckloads of eggs to the association.

The makers of Hormel Natural Choice premium lunch meat have launched a new line of slow-smoked products called Natural Choice hardwood smoked lunch meats. These crafted products--smoked in netting over real wood chips for over four hours--include flavors like Applewood Ham, Applewood Turkey with Garlic and Herbs, Pecanwood Ham with Sweet Black Pepper, and Pecanwood Ham with Brown Sugar.

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.

Smithfield Foods will resume pork processing operations in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after being shut down since April 12. Smithfield receiving positive confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the company is in full compliance with all CDC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance. 

Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods, announced it will resume limited production at its Waterloo, Iowa, facility on Thursday, May 7. Team members have been invited to tour the facility Wednesday to view the enhanced safety precautions and protective social distancing measures installed throughout the plant.

Smithfield Foods will suspend operations at its Monmouth, Illinois, facility beginning next week and until further notice after a small portion of its 1,700 employees tested positive for COVID-19. The Monmouth plant represents approximately 3% of U.S. fresh pork supplies and also produces bacon. Employees will be paid during the closure.