Big Food Paybacks to Cafeteria Operators Spark Controversy

Last week, a coalition of farmers, fishermen, and food system activists launched a new campaign that calls on three dominant food service management companies, Aramark, Compass Group, and Sodexo, to increase local and humane food purchasing, invest in racial equity, and reduce their carbon emissions, among other demands. These companies represent 77.5 percent of the food service management industry, or the business of running cafeterias and restaurants for hospitals, schools, stadiums, corporate headquarters, and other institutions.

BlogsClaire KellowaySeptember 13, 20182018, September 2018, Food & Agriculture, Food & Power, Claire Kelloway

Mars Buys Another Veterinary Network, as a Candy-Company Turned Pet Care Giant Furthers its Influence Over Animal Health

Last week, Mars, the company best known for brands like Snickers, Skittles, and Wrigley’s gum, purchased AniCura, a network of 200 animal hospitals spanning seven European countries. On its face, Mars’ acquisition of AniCura might not seem to make business sense. What synergies could possibly exist between making candy bars and taking care of sick dogs and cats? Yet, it turns out the deal is part of a much larger trend in which Big Food companies are cornering the business of both feeding and caring for pets.

BlogsClaire KellowayJuly 21, 20182018, Food & Agriculture, June 2018, Claire Kelloway

Colluding Pork Packers Accused of Pigging Out On Fixed Prices

Since roughly 2009, Americans may have been paying too much for their pork chops, barbeque, hams, and trotters. That’s the claim of two law firms that filed separate class action suits on behalf of consumers and food distributors charging eight major pork packers and an industry data sharing service, Agri Stats, with colluding to manipulate prices.

BlogsOpen MarketsJuly 19, 20182018, September 2018, Food & Agriculture, Food & Power

Bayer-Monsanto Deal Closes as Farmers Warn of Higher Prices and Less Resiliency

On Thursday, Bayer closed its $62.5 billion purchase of Monsanto. This comes roughly a week after the Department of Justice (DOJ) approved the merger, on the condition that the corporations sell off $9 billion worth of assets, including seed divisions, intellectual property, research projects, and more. Yet even after these divestitures, the combined entity will be the largest global seed and agrochemical corporation, and U.S. based field crop growers fear the power of the new combine.

BlogsClaire KellowayJuly 6, 20182018, July 2018, Food & Agriculture, Food & Power, Claire Kelloway

Speech by Open Markets Executive Director Barry Lynn at 5th UNl Global Union

"We are not consumers, as they define us. We are not mere seekers of stuff, as they define us. We are not even merely workers, fighting merely for workers rights, as they define us. We are Citizens, and we seek nothing more, nor less, than a Citizen’s Liberty. Liberty to think freely. To share equally in all rule. To own our own selves absolutely."

BlogsOpen MarketsJune 20, 20182018, June 2018

Antitrust Law: A Current Foe, but Potential Friend, of Workers

Properly applied, antitrust enforcement helps to ensure a balance of power between workers and employers.

BlogsOpen MarketsJune 13, 20182018, June 2018

Remarks of Robert Thomson - Breaking the News Conference - When Irresistibility Becomes Irresponsibility

Read the transcript of News Corp Chief Executive, Robert Thomson's remarks at the Open Markets Institute Conference, Breaking the News: Free Speech & Democracy in the Age of Platform Monopoly.

BlogsOpen MarketsJune 12, 20182018, June 2018

Journalism, Free Speech and the Search and Social Giants

Read the transcript of New York Times CEO, Mark Thompson's remarks at the Open Markets Institute Conference, Breaking the News: Free Speech & Democracy in the Age of Platform Monopoly.

BlogsOpen MarketsJune 12, 20182018, June 2018