Industrywide Animal-Welfare Guidelines Issued
welfare were released last week by the Food Marketing Institute and the National Council of Chain Restaurants. The industrywide guidelines, under development for two years, cover laying hens, dairy, cattle, swine, poultry and beef. The outline is "based on science" and seeks to provide consistency across the U.S. retail sector, according to FMI officials. The initiative includes establishment of an ongoing advisory panel of independent animal-welfare experts. Animal rights groups had been targeting large retailers they said lacked comprehensive welfare standards regarding the conduct of their protein suppliers.
Spartan Cancels $200 MILLION Debt Offering
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Retailer and wholesaler Spartan Stores here last week said it canceled its previously planned $200 million offering of 10-year senior subordinated notes, saying "conditions are not favorable for a successful placement of these debt securities at this time."
