This is the reason Tyson and other packing companys fought the COOL program so hard. I like to know which country the meat I eat comes from.
J.
> Tyson International President Rick Greubel told analysts the company has set
> a goal to increase international sales from $3 billion in 2007 to $5 billion
> by 2010.
>
> In Brazil, Greubel said Tyson has signed a letter of intent to buy a
> mid-sized, vertically integrated poultry business, which he would not name. Tyson
> hopes to complete the deal by the end of calendar year 2007.
>
> In China, Tyson has reached preliminary agreements for two joint-venture
> poultry operations. Greubel said the company expects to complete both
> transactions during fiscal 2008, which ends Sept. 29, 2008.
>
> In Mexico, Tyson is exploring ways to significantly increase production at
> its chicken processing operations and expand sales throughout Mexico and
> Central America through its Tyson de Mexico subsidiary.
>
> Bond told the analysts that the deals, while accretive, would likely have
> little impact on 2008 results.
>
> Value-added strategy
>
> To mitigate uncertainty and an expected $300 million increase in yearly
> grain expenses in the chicken segment, Bond said Tyson has reined in costs and is
> pushing ahead with initiatives to add higher-margin, value-added products.
>
> "From an innovation perspective, we are the leader," Bond said. "We're going
> to increase our new products sales pounds, in prepared foods, in chicken
> [and] in beef." He added that some 200 new products have been either launched or
> are being tested as a result of the company's 100,000-sq.-ft. research and
> development facility, the Discovery Center, which opened earlier this year.
>
> Tyson executives also said the company will continue to raise some prices on
> chicken products, instituting staggered increases as foodservice and retail
> contracts come up for renewal.