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Food Lion President Meg Ham to Retire in May

Meg Ham will retire as Food Lion president.

Ahold Delhaize USA has announced that Meg Ham, president of Food Lion, plans to retire on May 2, after more than 35 years with the organization. She has been at the helm of Food Lion for more than a decade and has been part of the brand’s unprecedented growth, grounded in Food Lion’s heritage of customer service and convenient locations. A successor for Ham will be announced before year-end.

“Meg has been an outstanding leader at Ahold Delhaize USA and has led Food Lion during one of the brand’s most exciting times as it repositioned itself to better serve customers, while staying true to its core attributes of low prices and convenient locations,” said JJ Fleeman, CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA. “Under Meg’s leadership, the brand has experienced tremendous growth, all while remaining true to its purpose of nourishing the towns and cities Food Lion serves. Not only did the Food Lion business thrive, but under Meg’s leadership the brand is on track to deliver 1.5 billion meals by 2025 through its Food Lion Feeds hunger-relief platform. She has been a strong leader for the brand, with a remarkable passion for building strong customer and associate experiences, and we wish her all the best as she transitions to retirement.”

Ham added, “While I am looking forward to retirement, Food Lion and Hannaford have been places that I have called home for more than 35 years. I am incredibly grateful to the associates who I have had the opportunity to work alongside every day, to our customers who put their trust in us to nourish their families and to our community partners who work tirelessly every day to feed those who are hungry in our local communities. Throughout my career, I have strived to operate as a humble teacher and a proud learner, and I have cherished the opportunity to learn from the great people I have worked with, and learned from, over the years.”

Food Lion is an omnichannel grocery retailer committed to nourishing its neighbors. More than 82,000 associates across more than 1,100 stores deliver an easy, fresh and affordable shopping experience throughout 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. With a focus on hunger relief, the grocer is a pioneer in food rescue. In 2014, Food Lion Feeds was created and has since donated more than 1.2 billion meals to those who are food insecure. The retailer has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Founded and based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit foodlion.com.

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands that also includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands – Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. When considered together, the companies of Ahold Delhaize USA comprise the largest grocery retail group on the East Coast and the fourth largest grocery retail group in the nation, serving millions of omnichannel customers each week. For more information, visit www.adusa.com.

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Santa Paws Milk & Cookie Box for Dogs on the Nice List

The Honest Kitchen, leading provider of high-quality, human grade pet food, on a mission to put pets on the path to good health through good food, is excited to announce its limited-edition holiday offering for canine companions: Santa Paws Milk & Cookie Box. A heartwarming gift that both pups and their owners will enjoy, this holiday gift box gives four-legged family members the opportunity to participate in a quintessential holiday tradition – leaving out Milk & Cookies for Santa Paws.

Firm believers that pets deserve to be treated like family, The Honest Kitchen’s Santa Paws Milk & Cookie Box is a special gift to lovingly spoil your pups with this holiday season. Beautifully wrapped in ready-to-gift packaging, this jolly box includes:

  • Blueberry & Vanilla Goat’s Milk N’ Cookies – These best-selling, small-batch and slow-cooked treats are packed with probiotics from rich goat’s milk to support digestive health. Made with wholesome ingredients including juicy blueberries and sweet vanilla, the cookies are whole grain, wheat-free, and void of artificial ingredients.
  • Instant Goat’s Milk with Probiotics – Made from highly digestible, dehydrated goat’s milk and 1.25 billion active probiotics and digestive supplements, the Instant Goat’s Milk supports pets’ digestion, immune system, and overall well-being.
  • Treat-Shaped Toy – Perfect for playful pups, this toy will keep them happy and pre-occupied during festive gatherings.
  • Waggo Treat Jar – Fill this gorgeous, red-glazed treat jar with the Blueberry & Vanilla Goat’s Milk N’ Cookies. A gift for pets and their owners, this jar sits beautifully on countertops.

“At The Honest Kitchen, we believe pets are just as important as human family members, and they deserve to take part in our fun, festive traditions too,” said Lucy Postins, Founder and Chief Integrity Officer at The Honest Kitchen. “This holiday season, we’re thrilled to offer pet owners a unique way to bond with their pup as they excitedly unwrap the Santa Paws Milk & Cookie Box, and enjoy a classic holiday treat. We understand how stressful holiday shopping can be. That’s why, to make gift-giving a breeze, we’ve beautifully wrapped our Santa Paws Milk & Cookie Box and filled it with treats and a toy, so you can check shopping for your canine companion off your list!”

The Honest Kitchen’s Santa Paws Cookie Box is priced at $59.99 (20% off retail value). Available now, visit www.thehonestkitchen.com to purchase the Santa Paws Cookie Box while supplies last.

To learn more about The Honest Kitchen, and to shop the brand’s full line of human-grade, high-quality pet food, visit www.thehonestkitchen.com.

Founded in 2002 by Lucy Postins, The Honest Kitchen is a leading provider of human grade pet food made with real, whole food ingredients. Committed to transparency and quality, the company offers a wide range of complete and balanced meals, toppers, supplements and treats designed to nourish pets with the same care and attention as healthy, homemade meals. With a mission to put pets on the path to good health through good food, The Honest Kitchen remains dedicated to delivering balanced nutrition and great taste crafted from the same ingredients you’d serve on your own table. For more information, please visit www.thehonestkitchen.com.

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US Agricultural Exports in ’25 Forecast at $170B

U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal year 2025 are forecast at $170 billion, up $500 million from the August forecast. This projection is primarily driven by increases in livestock and dairy exports.

Beef exports are projected $400 million higher to $8.8 billion as higher volumes offset lower unit values. Dairy exports are raised $300 million to $8.4 billion based on increased U.S. price competitiveness for a number of products.

Overall livestock, poultry, and dairy exports are forecast to increase by $700 million to $39.3 billion. Grain and feed exports are forecast at $36.5 billion, up $200 million from the August forecast, as higher exports of corn and sorghum more than offset moderately lower wheat and feed and fodder exports.

Horticultural exports are projected at $41.7 billion, up $200 million from August due to increases in fresh and processed fruit and vegetable exports. Oilseed and product exports are projected at $33.5 billion, down

$500 million due to lower soybean and peanut volumes. Cotton exports are forecast down $200 million to $4.3 billion due to lower volumes. The forecast for ethanol exports is lowered by $100
million to $4.2 billion, as falling export unit values offset slightly higher volumes.

Exports to Mexico, the top U.S. agricultural market, are forecast $700 million higher from the August projection to $29.9 billion, driven by continued robust demand for a range of products.

The export forecast for Canada is $300 million higher to a record $29.2 billion, supported by a strong economic outlook. Agricultural exports to China are forecast at $23.3 billion, down $700
million from the August projection.

U.S. agricultural imports in FY 2025 are forecast at $215.5 billion, up $3.5 billion from the August projection, led by increases in horticultural as well as sugar and tropical product imports.

The forecasts in this report are based on policies in effect at the time of the Nov. 8 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates release. Click here for the full report.

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