Brazil’s Marfrig buys Keystone Foods of the US
Brazil’s Marfrig Alimentos has acquired
Keystone Foods of the US, a company
with global presence and operations
in the development, production and
distribution of poultry, beef, fish, pork
and other products for the foodservice
channel. The acquisition makes Marfrig
a leading supplier to the McDonald’s
Corporation, Campbell’s, Subway,
ConAgra, Yum Brands and Chipotle.
Keystone Foods, the US’ largest
privately held meat products company,
is headquartered in West Conshohocken,
Pennsylvania, and serves more than
28,000 restaurants in 13 countries. In
2009, the company operated with
12,900 employees in 54 units, and had
net revenues of $6.4 billion on its food
production and distribution businesses.
Marfrig is acquiring the business
for $1.26 billion (on an Enterprise Value
basis) and the closing of the transaction
is subject to customary conditions
applicable to similar transactions,
including approval by anti-trust
authorities.
Report urges sustainable
agriculture systems
A new report from the National Research
Council on sustainable agriculture systems
concludes that policies need to look beyond
low cost and high production. The report,
“Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in
the 21st Century,” outlines four goals:
➤ Satisfy human food, fibre and feed
requirements, and contribute to biofuels
needs
➤ Enhance environmental quality and the
resource base
➤ Maintain economic viability of agriculture
➤ Improve the quality of life for farmers, farm
workers and society
FDA asks farmers to
curb antibiotic use
Calling it a public health issue, the Food and
Drug Administration has asked farmers to
stop using antibiotics on animals to promote
growth. A report in the Washington Post
said the agency is concerned that overuse is
endangering people’s lives by helping create
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