The company said it plans to increase marketing spending and nimbly manage its portfolio of brands. As a result, consumers might see less variety on shelves as companies focus on churning out the most in-demand products, said Geoff Freeman, CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, an industry trade group. Kraft says production at the plant was initially halted while they investigated, but has since resumed. Sales of Heinz vinegar have been robust, perhaps because people are using it not only to cook but also to make cleaning solutions. Last year, the company slashed the value of its Oscar Meyer and Kraft brands and took a $474 million impairment charge because of the falling value of brands like Maxwell House, Lunchables, Velveeta and Cool Whip. But companies are being careful about safety and “most people are showing up,” he said. The company has shifted employees from its food service production lines, where demand has dropped drastically because of mandated temporary restaurant closures, to the lines making products sold in grocery stores.. Its planned rollouts of new products are being put on hold at some retailers that want to focus on core staples. Still, many food production employees are worried about going to work, especially at meat processing plants where they stand close together, O’Toole said. Gibbs, the plant manager in Champaign for two years, said it has taken some time for employees to get used to distancing. Year-over-year sales of rice, beans and pasta more than tripled during the week that ended March 21, according to Nielsen. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. The coronavirus pandemic has delivered a shock to tens of millions of people in rich countries around the world: Suddenly, they can't buy the food they want, when they want. Oreo-maker Mondelez International, which is trying to hire 1,000 workers, is offering a temporary $2 per hour raise through May 2. Food manufacturers are faced with the dual challenge of keeping retail shelves full while also ensuring their workers stay healthy — and motivated to keep showing up despite fears of COVID-19. Other consequences depend on how long COVID-19 upends peoples lives. Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com. New way to get a Cinnabon fix:Cinnabon frozen cinnamon buns, chicken sandwich now available at Walmart, coming soon to Target, Safeway, Yuengling expansion:Yuengling, America's oldest brewer, is expanding west thanks to a partnership with Molson Coors. The Food and Drug Administration relaxed labeling rules to remove some of the hurdles. The recall included the 22 string cheese products on this list , distributed … About 750 employees at those plants will transfer to Lactalis Group. Chicago-based Conagra Brands, whose broad portfolio includes Healthy Choice, Slim Jim, Chef Boyardee and a big frozen foods business, raised its guidance for the year after seeing a significant bump in sales that it expects to continue through at least April. Nov 13, 2020 - Explore Patti MacLean-Marshall's board "Kraft Recipes", followed by 355 people on Pinterest. PepsiCo temporarily closed a Frito-Lay plant in California as a precaution after several employees showed symptoms, and halted several production lines at a Quaker Oats plant in Iowa when a worker there tested positive. ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (substitute 1 tablespoon parsley … Some employees don’t feel comfortable despite the safety measures, Gibbs said. Because people are consuming every meal at home, demand is up across categories, he said. Kraft Heinz, co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, said demand for numerous products, from ketchup to Kool-Aid, has been up sharply since pandemic fears sent consumers into a stockpiling frenzy. Explore a wide variety of My Food and Family recipes today. kraft singles american cheese slices, 12 oz (16 slices) For over 100 years, Kraft Singles has made the family-favorite American cheese. Bob O’Toole, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1546, said the concerns he hears most from workers are about finding child care amid school closures. But elsewhere, “We have to remind people from time to time that you can’t stand on top of each other,” said Gibbs, 67. Easy Baked Parmesan Meatballs. 1 pound ground beef. “These people are living paycheck to paycheck.”. ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, grated. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. But to him, keeping the factory running through the pandemic is a duty. And the lean, efficient supply chains companies have adopted to save money also are being reconsidered as manufacturers weigh the benefits of redundancies in the event of an emergency, Fereday said. What to make of Kraft's string cheese shortage. If the coronavirus has brought much of world to a standstill, you wouldn’t know it inside the huge Kraft Heinz factory in Champaign, where production lines are running around the clock to meet surging demand for the company’s legacy brands. Some long-term impacts on the food industry are starting to show. Kroger, the nation’s largest grocery chain and the owner of Mariano’s, reported a 30% jump in March sales at stores open at least a year. Fresh meat sales doubled and oranges, dense with immunity-boosting vitamin C, grew 57%. Kraft Heinz is in the midst of a turnaround plan.Miguel Patricio, KHC's CEO, took the reins of the company in July 2019. Some of the largest companies have announced production increases by as much as 40% to keep up with demand, it said. “We can’t make enough mac and cheese right now,” said Dilton “Dee” Gibbs, plant manager at the facility that makes half of the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese sold in the U.S., as well as A-1 steak sauce, mayonnaise and salad dressings. Shifting production from food service to retail involves different packaging and distribution channels. China relaxes GMO checks … Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Snacks are now seeing the fastest daily sales growth, he said. “People are revisiting brands they haven’t touched in a while.”. Kraft wants you to wake up and smell the mac and cheese. “There will be no shortage of product,” Freeman said. Kraft Heinz already sold its natural cheese business in Canada last year for $1.2 billion. Cheez Whiz Original Plain Cheese Dip (15 oz Jar) ... RITZ Original Crackers and Easy Cheese Cheddar … “We can’t make enough mac and cheese right now,” said Dilton “Dee” Gibbs, plant manager at the facility that makes half of the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese sold in the U.S., as well … The sale is expected to close in the first half of next year, the companies said. Only premium quality, real milk is used to prepare these delicious cheese slices. More challenges lie ahead given stretched supplies of sanitation and personal protective equipment, which are important for food production, Freeman said. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. One of the biggest unknowns food manufacturers are bracing for is what happens if employees contract COVID-19. “We should be proud that we’re supporting the country now.”. The packaged food giant, along with many of its peers, has had to ramp up production amid an abrupt reversal in consumer trends. . Kraft Heinz announces deal to sell its natural cheese business Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that it is selling its natural cheese business – including its Cracker Barrel and Breakstone's brands – to French dairy company Lactalis Group as part of a larger restructuring.