In the Loop. with HPC Foodservice PRODUCE UPDATE PRODUCE UPDATE

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1 In the Loop with HPC Foodservice May 9, 2016 Bi-Weekly Newsletter Nutmeg Rd., North South Windsor, CT PRODUCE UPDATE Iceberg Lettuce: Volumes for this week continue to be below budget due to fields coming in early. Most growers have been ahead of schedule since Salinas lettuce harvest started the first week of April. Early harvests combined with the stresses from intense weather issues like high heat, heavy rains and strong PRODUCE UPDATE gusting winds, have had an overall slightly negative impact on quality. The quality should improve as harvests move into newer fields. Markets have been very active due to the increase in demand from Mother s Day. Forecasted markets will continue to be active due to lighter than normal supplies. Romaine Lettuce: Romaine quality has been slightly better than lettuce last week and improving quality should be seen this week out of California. Demand is currently exceeding supplies. There are some occasional quality issues which include fringe burn and light mildew showing in the packs.

2 PRODUCE UPDATE, cont. Rounds- Florida has been experiencing nearly perfect tomato growing weather since Valentine s Day. That has created a bumper central Florida crop in terms of both quality and quantity. Demand is still relatively light but is showing signs of improving. Supply will easily be able to keep pace with demand. FOB prices have fallen to near floor levels and all sizes are the same FOB price which typically does not happen. In the next week or two, we may see the large sized tomatoes be more plentiful than the smaller sized fruit which would lead to an inverted market where the smaller fruit becomes more expensive than the larger fruit. Quality is excellent. Cucumbers- Florida growers continue in full production and supplies are strong. FOB prices for supers continue to see downward pressure. Selects are generally steady with only slight downward pressure. Quality is good. In the western market, product continues to cross at Nogales with good levels. FOB prices remain at near floor levels. Baja has begun to harvest somewhat and FOB prices are expected to remain at low levels. Investing in Service! NEW TRAILERS AT HPC FOODSERVICE! Additional Insulation & Curtains - Helps maintain consistent temperatures! State of the art Multi-Temp Refrigeration systems - Helps maintain consistent temperatures! Air-Ride Suspensions - Reduces product movement/shifting in transit! Auto-Inflate Tire Systems- Minimize down-time due to flat tires! Premium LED interior and exterior lighting - Expedites safe & complete deliveries!

3 In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

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9 COMMODITIES BEEF -Grinds- Grinds have seen the best demand coming into this week and activities for Memorial Day are expected to help improve demand. Loins- Demand has been dull coming into this week and the market has pushed lower as the week has progressed. PSMO s and Strips have seen the bigger impacts this week as the market pushed lower. Rounds- The market for Rounds has pushed lower again this week as production is outpacing demand. Chucks- Demand has been seasonally lighter but packers have been utilizing the extra inventories for grinding and helping to keep inventories more in line than some other cuts. Ribs- Retail demand ahead of Memorial Day has yet to materialize at expected levels and has helped to put downward pressure on the market. The lack of Retail ads combined with strong production are having an impact on the current market. PORK- Bellies- Demand for fresh bellies has been seasonally lighter and helping to put downward pressure on the market. Hams- Market is steady to firmer. Export demand has been improved and helping to move additional inventories. Loins- The loin market has seen upward pressure coming into this week and improved retail advertising is expected to put additional pressure on the market. Butts- Demand is very good both domestically and for export. Ribs- Reports this week varied on current demand for fresh product. Demand has been seasonally strong the past several weeks and push the market higher. POULTRY- CHICKEN- Whole birds and WOGs move at current market levels. Cutting stock WOGs are mixed with some suppliers asking and getting up-money. Boneless breasts have been active for the last week or so, with markets firm. As this week comes to an end and Mother s Day here, the market appears to have steadied for now, even though suppliers appear to be holding firm to current market levels. The same can be said for tenders and whole breasts. Wings are rated about steady to steady and are mixed depending on size. Could possibly see some discounting depending on source on medium sized product. Leg quarters and drumsticks are rated steady to full steady, with both summer grilling season here and export contracts active. All other dark meats are seasonal with markets steady. TURKEY- Demand this week has been fair. Whole birds and consumer sized breasts trade at current market. Tom breast meat and tenders are about steady for both fresh and frozen product, with some product trading at discount. Thigh meat is steady to full steady. Tom whole wings are rated about steady with hen whole wings rated steady at best SEAFOOD- Gulf Shrimp- Prices and availability varies between suppliers ahead of new season fishery openings. Black Tiger Shrimp-The market has seen both ups and downs over the past few days as replacement inventories vary between sellers. The past few days have seen costs overseas push higher and put upward pressure on the market. White Shrimp- The market for product from both Asia and Latin America has moved higher coming into this week. This is due to improved demand and higher raw material costs. King Crab- The market has pushed higher over the past few weeks due to light inventories and an active demand. Snow Crab- New season product from Canada is becoming more available and helping to keep the market in a more unsettled tone. Overall inventories are light for a good to active demand.

10 Warm Water Lobster Tails- Inventories on larger sized tails remain more available due to production this season being geared more toward the larger sizes. This has helped to put downward pressure on those sizes over the past several weeks. Smaller sized tails are in more limited supply and inventories vary between suppliers. North American Lobster Tails- Market is unsettled. Inventories on smaller sized are in better supply and putting downward pressure on the market. Larger sized tails are holding mostly steady. The market for lobster meat remains firm due to very limited inventories and a strong demand. Salmon- Demand has improved coming into this week and is putting upward pressure on the market. A strike in Chile is impacting shipments from that region and putting pressure on availability. Cod- Higher raw material costs and smaller catch sizes have helped to keep upward pressure on the market over the past several weeks. The market has held mostly steady coming into this week. Flounder-Inventories are light for current demand. Haddock- Demand has been lighter than expected coming into this week but the market remains unsettled due in part to the strength in the Cod market over the past several weeks. Pollock- Inventories on larger sizes have been in tighter supply due to catches being smaller is size. Demand has been below expectations and helping to keep the market in a more unsettled tone. Domestic Catfish- Market is mostly steady. Tilapia- Market is steady. Swai- Market is unsettled. Lower production numbers and smaller import estimates are helping to keep the market in a more unsettled tone. DAIRY- CHEESE- The CME Block and Barrel markets have both moved lower as this week has progressed. Milk production is strong and helping to keep cheese production strong. Cheese inventories are building with the strong production and exports are lower due to the strong competition from the international markets. This is making more cheese available for domestic customers and putting pressure on the market. BUTTER- The CME Butter market has moved both higher and lower over the past week. Butter production is very active and inventories are building. Butter demand has been good and helping to keep the inventories from building at an even faster pace. Additional cream continues to make its way to ice cream production and will put pressure on availability of cream as we move thru the next several weeks. EGGS- Market soft and retail demand fair. Distributors are generally unaggressive outside of their contractual agreements. Foodservice sales are strong in areas where seasonal business is picking up. Very little change in egg inventories as market is very quiet. SOY- Soy market finally saw some lows after recent April highs as the US is positioned to be more competitive due to weather related crop losses in Argentina and political strife in Brazil. Late week news is pushing market up again due mostly to palm oil and crude movement. FLOUR/WHEAT- Spring wheat futures are higher than a week ago even with early indicators the US will have another huge wheat crop in Weather has been favorable contributing to larger yields. All short position funds could potentially result in higher markets for wheat. All waiting on the winter wheat field work to complete to see bushel counts.

11 Featured Member from our Premier Supplier Network Azar nuts add eye appeal, taste appeal, and sales appeal to your bottom line. They are cost-effective, user-friendly, and convenient, transforming many existing menu items into customer-pleasing, value-added recipes. Plus, convenient packaging options make them easy to use, easy to serve, and easy to store. Featured Items this week! For a complete list of Lyons items stocked at HPC Foodservice, contact your Sales Representative. # lb Pecan Candied Pieces- Large # /15 oz Seedless Raisins # lb Dried Cranberries # /2.37 lb Dry Roasted Peanuts Upcoming HOLIDAYS & NOTEWORTHY EVENTS May- National Barbecue Month May- National Egg Month May - National Hamburger Month May 8th to May 14th- National Nursing Home Week May 9th- National Shrimp Day May 13th- National Apple Pie Day May 16th- National Barbecue Day May 29th- National Brisket Day May 31st- Memorial Day Observed June- National Dairy Month June- National Fruits and Vegetables Month June 4th- National Eggs Benedict Day June 14th- National Strawberry Shortcake Day June 14th- Flag day June 15th- National Lobster Day June 20th- First Day of Summer HPC Foodservice 625 Nutmeg Rd., North South Windsor, CT June 22nd- National Onion Ring Day