Smithfield Foods Inc. announced that it has closed its previously announced underwritten registered public offering of 21,660,649 shares of its common stock at $13.85 per share. In connection with the offering, the company has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,249,097 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. Morgan Stanley, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Barclays Capital, and J.P. Morgan are the joint bookrunning managers of the offering.

The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, with a goal of continuing to strengthen its balance sheet, which may include the retirement of debt.
The offering was made pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14, 2007. A prospectus supplement relating to the offering has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department, (866) 718-1649 or by e-mail at prospectus@morganstanley.com, or from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Prospectus Department, 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004, (866) 471-2526 (telephone), (212) 902-9316 (fax) or by email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.


Source: Smithfield Foods Inc.



Morton's Steakhouse, Allen Brothers team up for new catalog service

Morton's Restaurant Group Inc. announced today the launch of its new "Morton's The Steakhouse At Home" catalog and Web site,www.mortons.allenbrothers.com, featuring Morton's steaks and seafood, in partnership with the famed Chicago steakhouse purveyor Allen Brothers.

Steak lovers and beef connoisseurs can now enjoy the perfection of a Morton's steak, at home. A selection of juicy, superbly marbled New York strip steaks, generous 24 oz. porterhouses, thick-cut ribeye steaks, Morton's filets, domestic lamb chops, cold water West Australian lobster tails and colossal shrimp are all available for order. In addition to its world famous steaks and seafood, Morton's gift items, including Morton's The Cookbook, Morton's Steak Bible, the iconic Morton's Pewter Pig Lamp, custom-crafted Morton's steak knives and Morton's Grilling and Cajun Seasonings are available to order by phone, online, mail or fax. To request a "Morton's The Steakhouse At Home" catalog, please call 800-260-0111 or order online at www.mortons.allenbrothers.com.

"Morton's and Allen Brothers, two brands with the highest level of quality and consistency, have a shared Chicago heritage and a longstanding relationship dating back three generations," said Thomas J. Baldwin, chairman and CEO of Morton's Restaurant Group Inc. "We're extremely proud to feature our Morton's prime aged beef and seafood selections, available from our steakhouses to your home, in this new exclusive premium catalog and website with Allen Brothers. These offerings include many of Morton's most popular menu items from our 77 Morton's steakhouses throughout the world."

"When you order from Allen Brothers or dine in a Morton's steakhouse, you take part in a lifestyle that includes the best food and the best times shared with business associates, friends and family," said Todd Hatoff, president of Allen Brothers. "Morton's at Home makes it even easier to enjoy this special experience."


Source: Morton's Restaurant Group Inc.



U.S. pork supply up, poultry down

A slowing of pork exports due to the H1N1 panic has led to an increase in domestic supply, and consumers bought enough pork products due to the low prices to prevent a larger buildup. The chicken supply, however, declined from a year ago.

A USDA report showed a record 517.9 million pounds of frozen pork were stored in U.S. warehouses, the fourth straight month that there was a record for pork supply. However, Rich Nelson, an analyst with Allendale Inc., told Reuters that consumers are asking for pork, and haven't switched back from pork to beef. "U.S. consumer demand, for all the tonnage we're shoving on them, is not doing too bad," he said.

The USDA reported that 642.25 million poulds of chicken were in storage, down 6 percent from July and 15 percent from last August. The fact that poultry supplies have dropped is a sign that exports continue, despite notifications from China and Russia that they may slow down purchases.

"That is good news that the inventory is dropping. Maybe finally the (production) cuts are having some affect," said Paul Aho, economist with the consulting firm Poultry Perspective.


Source: Reuters



AMI honors nine plants for environmental achievements

Nine meat and poultry plants will soon receive American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) Environmental Achievement Awards. These biennial awards are presented to member companies that go beyond environmental compliance by designing and successfully implementing an innovative plant upgrade, environmental program or outreach initiative.

This year's award winners, in five categories, are:
Advances in Environmental Technology
First Place: John Morrell & Co. - Sioux Falls, S.D.

Environmental Outreach to the Public
First Place: Sara Lee Food and Beverage - Claryville, Ky.
Second Place: Farmland Foods, Inc. - Monmouth, Ill.

Environmental Training Programs
First Place: Hormel Foods Corporation - Austin, Minn.
Sara Lee Food and Beverage - Claryville, Ky.
Second Place: Curly's Foods, Inc. - Sioux City, Iowa

Pollution Prevention
First Place: Sara Lee Food and Beverage - New London, Wis.
Second Place: Equity Group Ohio Division, LLC - North Baltimore, Ohio

Resource Conservation
First Place: Smithfield Packing Company, Inc. - Tar Heel, N.C.
Second Place: Equity Group Georgia Division, LLC - Camilla, Ga.

Award winners will be honored on Oct. 28, 2009, during AMI's International Meat, Poultry & Seafood Convention & Exposition, part of Worldwide Food Expo in Chicago, Ill.


Source: AMI



Domino's expands sandwich line

Last year Domino's Pizza introduced its new line of hot oven-baked sandwiches, resulting in more than 35 million sandwiches sold in the past year, and over $185 million in sales. The chain has recently unveiled four new additions to its line, all served on artisan Italian bread and baked until a golden brown. Domino's newest Oven Baked Sandwiches include:

  --  Italian Sausage and Peppers: sliced Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, green peppers and banana peppers, onion, provolone cheese and tomato basil marinara.
  --  Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese: all white meat chicken breast, blue cheese, hot sauce, onions, cheddar and provolone cheese.
  --  Sweet and Spicy Chicken Habanero: all white meat chicken breast, sweet mango habanero sauce, pineapple, jalapenos, provolone and cheddar cheese.
  --  Mediterranean Veggie: roasted red peppers, banana peppers, feta, American and provolone cheese, spinach, onion and diced tomatoes.


Source: Domino's Pizza