Quick Take — JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, has appointed a new CEO

Wesley Batista Filho (pictured below), aged 34, is set to take up the role at the global food conglomerate in January, the São Paulo-based group announced on Monday
Batista Filho, who currently heads the company’s US division, is the son of former JBS CEO Wesley Batista and the grandson of its founder, José Batista Sobrinho. JBS’s US unit is the largest in terms of sales…

In Italy, it owns Rigamonti and King’s Group, which, through the King’s and Principe brands, operates in more than 20 countries and is the market leader in the production of Prosciutto di San Daniele PDO. The group also produces Prosciutto di Parma D.O.P., GranSpeck and Prosciutto Veneto D.O.P.

The share price of JBS, which is listed in the United States,fell by 5.8 per cent on Monday. …

On Monday, JBS reported a net loss of $102 million for the second quarter. Its revenue rose by 14 per cent to $23.9 billion.

JBS has long been criticised for its environmental policy.

Written on 13 August, updated on 15 August 2026

Quick Take — US: how consumer spending has changed over the last two years

In 2024, beef purchases accounted for a third of all meat purchases. This year, shoppers have bought far less: just 20 per cent of the total.

The amount of chicken they bought has increased: from 41.9 per cent to 47.5 per cent in 2026.

The average shop spend has also risen because shoppers have shifted towards membership-based discount stores (such as Sam’s Club – which is owned by Walmart – or Costco, for example): in 2024, the average shop spend was $66.13, compared with $72.31 this year

The New York Times

Below: beef from Costco.

Quick Take — The 6 best bresaolas from the supermarket

… How to recognise good bresaola

A high-quality bresaola generally has a uniform red colour, with possible slight variations depending on the cut and the curing process. The slices should be firm, springy and tender to the bite, without being dry, sticky or stringy.

On the nose, the aroma should be delicate, with notesof matured meat and well-integrated spices. On the palate, the savouriness should complement the flavour of the meat without overpowering it. Less impressive examples, on the other hand, tend to have overpowering aromas, a texture that is either too moist or too dry, and an excess of salt that masks all other nuances…

The top 6 are: Conad, Salumificio Panzeri, Flli. Beretta, Ghiotto, Consilia and Rigamonti (JBS).

Quick Take — France: drought causes a ‘plunge’ in crop production: ‘even with irrigation, the young plants did not survive’

Cauliflower, peas and salad crops are suffering from a lack of water and successive heatwaves. The sector is describing the situation as a ‘disaster’, particularly across the whole of western France, whilst the ability to sow crops for subsequent seasons is also being hampered.

Vegetables are not the only crops affected: the maize harvest is also expected to fall sharply (by 30 per cent), whilst poultry farms were hit hard by high mortality rates during the heatwave at the end of June…  milk production, one of the sectors hardest hit by climate change this year, according to the Minister for Agriculture…

Below: a scorched maize cob in Albiate

The European agricultural lobby, Copa-Cogeca, opposes reforms on pesticides, intensive farming and animal welfare

… The same method was used to defend public funding for the promotion of red and processed meat. When the Commission considered excluding these products from programmes in line with the European plan against cancer, Copa-Cogeca engaged with certain Commissioners, the wine and spirits organisations, and national associations. The restrictions were first watered down and then dropped altogether. The comment in the internal documents is succinct: “The lobbying has paid off.”