Reuters — McDonald’s said Wednesday it plans to cut the number of items on its U.S. menus and use fewer ingredients in food as it moves to speed up service, bolster sales and offer consumers personalized options to compete better with Subway and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Mike Andres, the company’s U.S. president, said starting in […] Read more
McDonald’s to pare U.S. menus, ingredient lists
ICE weekly outlook: Canola up, watching beans
CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts posted solid gains during the week ended Wednesday, despite the release of a relatively bearish Statistics Canada production report during the period. StatsCan pegged the country’s 2014-15 canola crop at 15.5 million tonnes — about 1.5 million tonnes above earlier guesses and well above average pre-report trade […] Read more
Tim Hortons shareholders approve Burger King deal
Stockholders in Canada’s emblematic Tim Hortons coffee-and-donut chain have voted their shares in favour of U.S. fast-food chain Burger King’s marriage proposal. A special THI shareholders’ meeting held Tuesday at the company’s Oakville, Ont. headquarters saw the proposal receive about 99.2 per cent approval in votes cast. The two firms announced Tuesday their combined new […] Read more
CGC producer protection being revamped, may include feed mills
The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is considering adding feed mills to its producer protection program, as part of an overhaul of the program proposed in the federal government’s Bill C-48. C-48, dubbed the Modernization of Canada’s Grain Industry Act, got its first reading Tuesday in the House of Commons. Adding feed mills to the mix […] Read more
Strong hog sector facing uncertain 2015
CNS Canada — Western Canadian hog farmers are facing an uncertain future from a marketing perspective heading into 2015, with a number of factors on both the supply and demand sides of the equation that could swing prices one way or the other. “After a very profitable 2014… we’re at pivot point,” said Tyler Fulton, […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat drops as fears fade about Russian export limits
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell two per cent on Tuesday as Russia denied it was discussing grain export restrictions, while soybean futures rose for the fifth consecutive session on strong export demand. Corn futures advanced as traders adjusted positions ahead of a monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture report on Wednesday. The wheat […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle break losing streak
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday on short-covering, ending five straight losing sessions, led by bearish fundamentals, traders said. December live cattle closed 0.95 cent per pound higher at 162.4 cents, and February was at 163.05 cents, up 1.175 cents (all figures US$). Investors who had recently […] Read more
UAE-Egypt alliance expands to desert wheat venture
Abu Dhabi/Cairo | Reuters — Egypt and two companies from its strong backer United Arab Emirates have embarked on an ambitious plan to grow wheat in the desert that could boost the Cairo government’s credibility if successful. Egypt, the world’s biggest wheat importer, has long aspired to become self-sufficient in its staple food through various […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans top one-week high, corn retreats from gains
Chicago | Reuters — Concerns about tight U.S. soy supplies drove soybean futures to their highest level in more than a week on Monday, while corn futures retreated for the first time in four sessions. Wheat rose on technical and fund-driven buying. Soybeans advanced on strong demand for soymeal and expectations that the U.S. Department […] Read more
Prairie CWRS wheat bids edge down
CNS Canada — Average cash bids for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat moved lower during the week ended Friday, despite a firmer tone in U.S. futures as basis levels slipped slightly. In Manitoba, the average CWRS price declined to C$234 per tonne, from $236 the previous week. Average losses of $1 to $5 per […] Read more