The Checkout: Biden Announces Meat and Poultry Action Plan; Whole Foods Launches Resolutions Renovator

Welcome to The Checkout: an express lane for the weekly news you need to know, always 10 items or less.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Action Plan

This week President Biden announced his administration’s action plan for a “fairer, more competitive, and more resilient meat and poultry supply chain.” The Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Action Plan, which has received bipartisan support in congress and was developed using insights from key industry stakeholders, will support the expansion of independent processor capacities. The plan will use $1 billion of funds allocated for the American Rescue Plan and builds off an Executive Order from July 2021 that aims to create a fairer, more resilient, and more dynamic economy.

The four-part plan aims to expand and diversify meat and poultry processing capacities; allow producers the opportunity to own their facilities; raise the bar on worker health, safety, training, and wages; and prompt state, tribal, and private co-investment. The goal is to ultimately generate better earnings for producers as well as more options at affordable prices for consumers.

“Even as consumers are paying more and more for their meat, cattle producers are making less while large packers dominate with record profits,” said Iowa congresswoman Cindy Axne in a tweet. “I’ve heard it consistently from Iowa cattlemen: we need more competition and transparency in the market. President Biden and [Secretary Tom Vilsack]’s announcement today will go a long way in providing more market opportunities and fairness for cattle producers in Iowa and across the country.”

At the heart of the plan is an emphasis on expanding independent processing capacities and strengthening protections for independent farms. To achieve these goals, the plans also include a range of grants to support independent processors, issued by the USDA.

“Farmers and ranchers are being driven out of business — sometimes businesses that have been around for generations,” President Biden said during a meeting at the White House, announcing the plan. “It strikes at their dignity, their respect and the family legacy so many of them carried for generations after generation.”

Whole Foods Announces Resolutions Renovator Competition

Whole Foods Market kicked off the New Year by partnering with three wellness-oriented “motivators” – plant-based recipe developer Radhi Devlukia-Shetty, Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby and New York Times bestselling author Gabby Bernstein – and launching a daily giveaway competition to help consumer set “attainable affirmations and intentions” throughout January.

Participants first decide if they want to focus on either their mind, body or “spirit” and from there, receive a daily set of questions from Devlukia-Shetty, Rigsby or Bernstein. Once the questions are answered, the user’s daily affirmation is revealed and the participant is entered into the daily sweepstakes for a chance to win a curated “Well-Being Bundle.”

“At the top of the year, when many of us are setting new goals, the most important thing to remember is to root them in joy and love for yourself,” Rigsby said in a press release. “Our goal with Whole Foods Market’s Resolution Renovator is to move away from potentially stressful New Year’s resolutions in favor of motivational intentions that allow ourselves some much-needed grace.”

25 participants will win the sweepstakes each day and the giveaways will run through January 26. At the end of the competition, three of the daily winners will be selected and sent a “personalized, inspiring video message” from one of the motivators.

Conagra Looks to Gen Z and Millennials for Future Innovation

Conagra reported its second quarter FY22 financial results this week, highlighting the impacts of both a younger (Gen Z and Millennial) base and consumers’ emphasis on at-home dining. According to Conagra, its frozen foods segment saw the greatest increase in household penetration and repeat purchases this quarter, despite also seeing the most significant price increases.

During a call with investors, Conagra President and CEO Sean Connolly emphasized that younger consumers aim to get the most value out of each purchase and said the company found these consumers tend to choose national brands and premium products versus private label alternatives.

“The data suggests that Millennials are more likely to earn less than their parents,” Connolly stated on the call. “We believe this means that these savvy consumers will look to stretch their food dollars further even as they age. The data also shows that younger consumers are already eating more at home.”

The company emphasized the opportunity it sees in frozen, reporting the success of its recently launched Bird’s Eye Stir Fry Veggies and Sauces line which was one of the top ten selling frozen vegetable products last year, according to IRI data. Across its three segments, the company’s net sales (+5.3%) and household penetration (+59%) are trending upward on a two-year stacked basis.