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Niman Ranch Compliant With New Stricter Animal Welfare Laws

 

Beginning Jan. 1, fresh pork sold in California and Massachusetts must be  as the two states’ historic animal welfare laws—Proposition 12 and Question 3—are fully implemented and enforceable. Humane animal care leader Niman Ranch is 100 percent audited, compliant and ready for implementation with available supply of crate-free, Certified Humane fresh pork raised sustainably and without antibiotics by independent family farmers.

“The best resolution the pork industry and consumers can make this new year is to commit to crate-free,” said Chris Oliviero, general manager of Niman Ranch. “For too long, the industry has been hyper focused on efficiency and producing large amounts of cheap meat, while losing sight of the bigger picture. Prop 12 is the right thing for both the animals and farmers, but it needs to be done in a structured manner where pork producers have support and dedicated markets. With full implementation of Prop 12 and Question 3 in the new year, there is market certainty and a clear path forward for the industry.”

While gestation crates are the dominant industry practice today, they are out of touch with consumer expectations on base-level humane animal care. A 2021 poll found that 75 percent of Americans say retailers and restaurants have a responsibility to ensure that gestation crates are not used by suppliers, and 65 percent said they would pay more for pork if the company committed to going crate-free.

First passed in Massachusetts in 2016 with 77 percent of voters in support and in 2018 in California with 63 percent of the vote, it has been a long road to full implementation of these landmark laws. Prop 12 and Question 3 ban the use of gestation crates for pork production on farms in the states as well as the sale of certain fresh pork products that are sourced from farms outside the states that do not meet these gestation crate-free standards. Economists have predicted modest price increases and near-term limited product selections. However, industry experts anticipate that volatility will stabilize over time as compliant supply increases.

Gestation crates are widely considered by animal welfare experts to be inhumane. Barely bigger than their bodies, roughly seven feet by two feet, mother pigs are often kept in these gestation crates from the breeding process through the entirety of their pregnancy, 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days, with no ability to walk, turn around, lay down or fully extend their limbs. Leading humane animal care expert Dr. Temple Grandin compares it to forcing a person to spend months at a time strapped in an airplane seat.

Opponents have fought these laws all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which this past May ruled to uphold Proposition 12 and thus Question 3. Niman Ranch submitted an amicus brief in support of Proposition 12 to the Supreme Court that was cited in the majority decision. Implementation of the laws began in July following the decision; however, an enforcement grace period was allowed for non-compliant product previously purchased to be cleared from shelves and freezers through the end of the year.

With the start of 2024, all products on grocery store shelves and served in restaurants in the states of California and Massachusetts must be gestation crate free and compliant with the laws.

While the bulk of the pork industry has announced they have sufficient supply to fulfill the California and Massachusetts markets, stragglers and some in the industry are making a last-gasp effort to roll back the laws with the proposed Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act (“EATS Act”) and other similar extreme proposals. The overreaching EATS Act would stifle innovation and penalize farmers who have invested in Prop 12 compliance.

Niman Ranch has been a leading voice in support of Proposition 12 and Question 3. The pork brand has always been not just gestation crate free but also prohibits farrowing crates, teeth clipping, tail docking and antibiotic use. Additionally, the brand requires ample space and deep bedding for pigs to be able to root, roam and play. All Niman Ranch farms with sows have had a third-party on-farm audit for Prop 12 compliance, no simple task due to the brand’s large network of small farms—unlike most pork suppliers with large-scale operations.

Niman Ranch partners with more than 500 independent family farmers raising pigs crate free to supply award-winning restaurants, values-driven quick-service chains like Shake Shack, Pret a Manger and Chipotle, e-commerce sites like ButcherBox and brick and mortar grocers including Harris Teeter, Whole Foods Market, Mariano’s, QFC and Natural Grocers.

“Gestation crates never sat right with me,” said Paul Willis, Niman Ranch’s founding hog farmer who launched the pork brand in the 1990s. “These are intelligent animals who I, as a farmer and caretaker, have a responsibility to provide as low stress a life as possible. I owe them that.”

Niman Ranch is a community of over 600 independent family farmers and ranchers who raise pork, beef and lamb traditionally, humanely and sustainably to deliver the Finest-Tasting Meat in the World. Niman Ranch is the largest farmer and rancher network in North America to be Certified Humane®. The protein of choice for America’s most celebrated chefs, Niman Ranch is also the premier option for discerning home cooks looking for meats Raised with Care®, with no antibiotics or added hormones—ever. Follow Niman Ranch on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

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S Korean Favorite EGGDROP to Open Stores in Philippines

EGGDROP, Korea’s premium Korean egg sandwich brand by Golden Hind Co., Ltd, announced the opening of its second global store in the Philippines following Bangkok, Thailand.

EGGDROP’s entry into the Philippines follows a 10-store agreement in Thailand, the brand’s first country of global expansion. It completes a multi-franchise agreement to open five stores in the Philippines.

EGGDROP will launch two stores in the Philippines in the first half of 2024, followed by three additional stores in the second half of the year in key locations.

EGGDROP’s entry into the Philippine market is part of Golden Hind’s aggressive overseas expansion strategy, which aims to provide Filipino consumers with a new gastronomic experience that is both delicious and healthy.

Starting with its first store in 2017 and completing the opening of 298th stores in South Korea (as of November), EGGDROP has achieved sustained sales growth in a short time thanks to its sensational product design, healthy and delicious “egg food” concept, and Instagrammable food and package design.

Building on this growth in Korea, EGGDROP has recently received franchise inquiries from more than 30 countries around the world, including the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and India.

“We are very excited to announce EGGDROP’s second international expansion,” said Youngwoo Noh, CEO of Golden Hind. “We look forward to providing a fun experience for consumers in the Philippines,” said Mr. Noh. “In addition to Thailand and the Philippines, EGGDROP is actively seeking master franchise partners in other countries such as the U.S. and Japan to strengthen the brand’s presence globally.”

EGGDROP is a premium egg sandwich brand inspired by “complete food” eggs which cook a healthy meal around scrambled eggs made with 1 grade eggs and fresh ingredients.

Golden Hind is a young and innovative company that advocates “Food Venture” as a restaurant franchise corporation established in 2017 in Seoul. Currently, EGGDROP is the leading business and incubating various other brands.

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Movie Chain Launches AMC Cinema Sweets Private Label

AMC Theatres, the largest theatrical exhibitor in the United States and the world,  announced that beginning this week and for the first time in its 103 year history, an all-new line of AMC-branded premium gourmet chocolate candies – AMC Cinema Sweets – is available to moviegoers at AMC concession stands throughout the United States.

The launch of AMC Cinema Sweets follows more than a year of study and close collaboration with top confectioners to create premium gourmet chocolate candies that will delight guests and complement the other delicious snacks AMC offers as part of a superior movie-going experience — all at competitive price points.

These new delectable premium gourmet chocolate candy varieties are among the most sought-after flavors that guests order when enjoying a movie, including Milk Chocolate Covered Pretzels with a Dark Chocolate Drizzle, Milk Chocolate Covered Almonds, Milk Chocolate Covered Raisins and Milk Chocolate Covered Peanuts.

“We spent the last year in research and development ensuring that AMC Cinema Sweets, carrying the AMC name, are candies we are proud of, and just as important – really delicious snacks that our guests will enjoy and seek out when they come to the movies,” said Hank Green, vice president, food & beverage, AMC. “The launch of AMC Cinema Sweets – these four premium gourmet candies, with more on the way – are another way that AMC consistently makes movies better — and makes the movie-going experience even sweeter.”

The new premium gourmet candy varieties are available at all AMC theater locations across the United States, with plans to roll out additional varieties in 2024.

AMC is the largest movie exhibition company in the United States, the largest in Europe and the largest throughout the world with approximately 900 theaters and 10,000 screens across the globe. AMC has propelled innovation in the exhibition industry by: deploying its Signature power-recliner seats; delivering enhanced food and beverage choices; generating greater guest engagement through its loyalty and subscription programs, website, and mobile apps; offering premium large format experiences and playing a wide variety of content including the latest Hollywood releases and independent programming.

In addition, in 2023 AMC launched AMC Theatres Distribution with the highly successful releases of Taylor Swift The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce. AMC Theatres Distribution expects to release more concert films with the world’s leading musical artists in the years ahead. For more information, visit www.amctheatres.com.

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