Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Kellogg Co. said Monday it would reorganize its North American division and explore a sale of its cookies and fruit snacks units, which include brands such as Keebler and Stretch Island, as it sharpens focus on its core businesses. Like other packaged food makers, Kellogg has struggled to boost sales as consumers shift […] Read more
Kellogg explores sale of cookie, fruit snack businesses
EU clear to start talks to increase U.S. beef imports
Reading Time: < 1 minute Brussels | Reuters — European Union countries agreed on Friday to allow negotiations to start with Washington on increasing U.S. beef imports into Europe, in a move that could ease transatlantic trade tensions. The Commission, which negotiates on behalf of the 28 EU nations, said it would open formal talks in the coming days on […] Read more
Scotland identifies ‘classical’ BSE case
Reading Time: 2 minutes London | Reuters — Scotland’s government said on Thursday that a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) had been discovered on a farm in Aberdeenshire, the first in Britain since 2015. A quarantine area has been put in place around the farm while inspectors try to identify the origin of the disease. “I have activated […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures drop on plentiful supplies, demand concerns
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures fell on Friday, pressured by ample supplies and rising concerns about demand amid weakness in global equities markets, traders said. Flat cash markets also cast a bearish tone on the markets. Cash cattle have traded at $111/cwt for five weeks in a row (all figures US$). Most-active CME […] Read more
Fearful of swine fever, France to put up fence on Belgian border
Reading Time: < 1 minute Strasbourg, France | Reuters — France will put up fencing along its border with Belgium to prevent wild boars spreading African swine fever, a virulent livestock disease that could disrupt Europe’s pig industry. France has been on alert for African swine fever since Belgium detected the virus last month among wild boars a few kilometres […] Read more
Vietnam could halt imports of wheat containing thistle seed
Reading Time: 2 minutes Hanoi | Reuters — Vietnam might halt imports of wheat cargoes containing cirsium arvense, or thistle seed, while suggesting local importers should seek supplies from Kazakhstan, Australia and Argentina, local media reported on Thursday. Wheat importer Vietnam, whose main suppliers include Russia, Australia and Canada, has been battling with imported wheat contaminated with thistle seed […] Read more
Altria reported seeking stake in cannabis firm Aphria
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Marlboro maker Altria Group is in talks for a stake in Canadian cannabis producer Aphria Inc., the Globe and Mail reported on Wednesday, citing multiple sources. The details of Richmond, Virginia-based Altria’s investment are still being finalized, though it has expressed interest in buying a minority stake in Aphria with the intention of […] Read more
Walmart Canada exploring possible sale of cannabis-based products
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Walmart’s Canadian unit said Tuesday it is exploring the possibility of selling cannabis-based products, but has no immediate plans to get into the business. Walmart is the first major retailer to show an interest in being a part of Canada’s burgeoning marijuana industry, as other big U.S. companies, mainly in the alcohol and […] Read more
Fund raises stake in Bunge, reportedly pushing for change
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Hedge fund D.E. Shaw and Co. has raised its stake in Bunge and was working with Continental Grain to make operational improvements at the grain trader, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Bunge’s shares were up 2.5 per cent at US$70.64 on Monday. The firms, which together own […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog, cattle contracts end mixed
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures were mostly lower on Thursday, with deferred contracts setting back on a round of profit-taking. The front-month October hogs contract ended slightly higher, but closed below session peaks, in thin trading. Live cattle contracts followed a similar pattern to the hogs, with the front-month contract […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
