Latest news with #Rempe
New York Post
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Relief could be coming to lower high meat prices across US: expert
Meat prices remain higher across the country, with staples like steak, chicken, and ground beef still costing significantly more than they did a year ago. But one industry leader believes relief could be coming for shoppers, though not immediately. 'The number of head of cattle in the United States is at a low really not seen since the 1950s,' said Nate Rempe, president and CEO of Omaha Steaks, on 'Mornings with Maria.' 'That supply pressure is really putting a lot of upward pressure on price, especially as demand is still so strong in the U.S.' According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, meat prices have increased year-over-year with steak up 7%, ground beef 10%, chicken nearly 3%, and ham over 4%. Rempe believes the issue goes beyond tariffs and trade policy. 'Supply is a tricky issue. You can't just flip a switch, adjust a tariff,' he said. 'We need to rebuild the herd. And that's [going to] happen over the next roughly 12 months.' The American cattle herd hit historic lows this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The latest USDA report shows a multi-year pattern of decline in the number of cows and heifers. At the same time, new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are complicating the market. 3 The U.S. imports a large amount of meat from Canada and Mexico, two countries affected by recent trade changes. AFP via Getty Images The U.S. imports a large amount of meat from Canada and Mexico, two countries affected by recent trade changes. Despite the uncertainty, Rempe predicts the market may begin to stabilize next year as ranchers focus on growing herds. 'My guess is by Q3 26, we'll kind of start to come out of this,' he said. While acknowledging the short-term strain of tariffs, Rempe also expressed support for efforts to renegotiate trade deals. 3 Meat prices have increased year-over-year with steak up 7%, ground beef 10%, chicken nearly 3%, and ham over 4%. Mornings with Maria / Fox News 'I like exports. I like what it does for the industry and for the country,' he said. 'Foreign buyers tend to pay more for beef. That's good for meat packers and for ranchers… but we do have to balance.' The beef cattle industry supports over a million jobs, Rempe noted, but warned that supply must catch up with demand. 'America loves beef, and you know that's something I definitely love,' he said. 'But we have to have the supply to do that, and we've got some work to do.' Fifth-generation cattle rancher Steve Lucie echoed Rempe's sentiment earlier this year. Speaking on 'America Reports,' Lucie encouraged ranchers to 'remain calm' amid market uncertainty. 'We've been through so many ups and downs in our country, and especially in my industry,' he said. 'Farmers and ranchers every day, we deal with commodity price fluctuation. So, this doesn't bother us.' 3 The latest USDA report shows a multi-year pattern of decline in the number of cows and heifers. Christopher Sadowski Though he acknowledged the tariffs might bring short-term pain, Lucie believes they're a step toward creating a more level playing field for the industry. 'I don't think any of us know what's [going to] happen with these tariffs,' he said. 'But what we do know for a fact is that the American beef industry has been on the short end for a long time.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Rangers veteran was ‘honestly shocked' to see how good a player Matt Rempe is
There weren't a lot of positives for the New York Rangers to take from their trainwreck of a season in 2024-25. But Matt Rempe's growth as an NHL player the second half of the season was most definitely a positive development. Veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan was Rempe's teammate for only six weeks after being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1, but he was really impressed with the towering forward's work ethic, skill and overall improvement. Advertisement 'I was honestly shocked. He's come a long way,' de Haan said on the Cam and Strick podcast. 'And I might get some flack for this if some listeners are going to tell me he's the worst hockey player on planet earth, but he can make a pass, man. I mean, he works hard in practice. He works to get better religiously and it's definitely shown. Like from playing against him to being his teammate, like I was shocked. I mean he can move, too. Straight lines, man, he's f—ing going. He's not slow.' After bursting on the scene as a raw physical force over 17 games and 11 more in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023-24, Rempe worked hard in the offseason to put himself in a spot to contend for regular playing time on the fourth line this season. That didn't quote work out the way he hoped. Rempe was beaten out by another towering (6-foot-6) forward, Adam Edstrom, and played in three of the first 11 games. He was sent to Hartford of the American Hockey League at the start of November and received extended ice time, playing in all game situations including special teams. Advertisement Rempe was called up to play one game with the Rangers between Nov. 1 and Dec. 20, missing most of the worst stretch of their season. Seeking a spark from the popular 22-year-old, the Rangers recalled Rempe during a 4-15-0 stretch. In his first game, Rempe received a major penalty for elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen and was suspended for eight games. That was his second lengthy suspension just 22 games into his NHL career. Things needed to change, and to Rempe's credit, they did upon his return from the suspension. Rempe earned more ice time and responsibility as a lineup regular, playing all but five games (due to injury) from, Jan. 9 until the end of the season. Rempe became a force. Not because he was dropping the gloves, which he did on occasion, but more so with a dynamic all-around game, full of effort, speed, physicality and smart play at both ends of the rink. Advertisement He had three goals and eight points over the final three months of the season, including his first multi-point game, a two-pointer (goal, assist) against the Florida Panthers on April 14. Rempe looked the part of a young player that could be counted on to shift momentum in games in a bottom-six role. 'He was playing with confidence at the end of the year,' de Hann noted. 'It was great to see. I loved it. It was awesome.' Related: Braden Schneider is 'built to adapt,' so could be key to Rangers offseason strategy Calvin de Haan's advice to Matt Rempe a Rangers benefit Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Perhaps, de Haan played a small role in Rempe's turnaround. The 13-year NHL veteran had some advice for the 6-foot-8 youngster shortly after arriving from Colorado. Advertisement 'After I got there, I think he was just coming off a suspension and in a week there was another questionable hit in there, and I told him, 'You've got to just stop hitting guys. Just run into them.' There's a difference, trust me. Just run into guys. Don't try and hit them,' de Haan explained. He noticed that Rempe's elbows came up even higher when he attempted to deliver a big check and drive through an opponent. De Haan's advice was that less is more, and a good way to avoid costly penalties and possible suspensions. 'He's huge. He's a gigantic guy. The simple physics alone, he's going into the corner with a guy who's six-feet (tall), he's got six, seven, eight inches on the guy. Simple physics alone, his elbows are up higher,' de Haan noted. 'Just literally run into guys. I know it sounds stupid but …' Perhaps Rempe listened to the advice of de Haan. But there's no question he was more mindful of how and when he delivered his hits the second half of the season. There was far less running around trying to land the game-changing hit, and more focus on remaining physical within the parameters of being a more complete hockey player. Advertisement 'I think he's done a good job becoming the 'Rempire State Building' there. He's a great kid, awesome.' Related Headlines
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
How This 109-Year-Old Company Leverages Mental Well-being to Attract Gen Z
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It is officially the fifth month of the year. The month of freshly bloomed flowers, calling your mom and honoring those who have died while serving in the military. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month—an observance many companies often mark by promoting mental health initiatives to their employees. But that's not really in Omaha Steaks' style. At the Nebraska-based meat-delivery company, employees' mental well-being involves an around-the-clock approach. In January, the company focuses those efforts on burnout. In February, the conversation circles around substance abuse. In March, it's parenting, and in April, it's about financial stress. And in May, Omaha Steaks encourages its employees to reflect on trauma. The rotation goes on. The monthly topic for June is loneliness. July is depression. August grief, September suicide prevention, October stress, November anxiety and December anger—a full calendar year of mental health topics. "Mental wellness and mental well-being is just as important, if not arguably more important, than physical well-being," Nate Rempe, the president and CEO of Omaha Steaks, told Newsweek. For the second year in a row, Omaha Steaks appeared on Newsweek's ranking of America's Greatest Workplaces for Mental Well-being 2025, achieving 4.5 stars this year. The company received 4 stars last year. The list, published in partnership with data firm Plant-A, was determined through an assessment of publicly accessible data, interviews with human resource professionals and large-scale confidential online surveys conducted among employees. The study incorporated more than 400,000 employee interviews and over 4.9 million comprehensive company reviews. Plant-A's research found that 81 percent of employees believe mental well-being is important or very important to their overall job satisfaction. Companies that scored well on mental health were also more likely to be recommended to others. Omaha Steaks' 12 Months of Mental Wellbeing Omaha Steaks' 12 Months of Mental Wellbeing Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty When it comes to wellness, Rempe said most of the conversation remains focused on physical health: We're constantly being reminded to get enough sleep, exercise, follow a healthy diet, take our vitamins, schedule routine visits with our doctors and so on. But what we're not considering, Rempe said, is the "compounding effect" that many Americans feel due to increasing levels of pressure, adversity, fatigue and anxiety—both in their personal and professional lives. "If employers don't take [mental health] serious and help their team members get the well-being resources they need... puzzle pieces start to miss, and the performance of teams start to degrade," he told Newsweek. As part of Omaha Steaks' effort to provide mental health resources to its employees, the company recently increased the number of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) visits—which include free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals and follow-up services to enhance employee well-being—from five to eight sessions a month. Since upping the number of EAP visits in 2024, the company has reported a 170 percent increase in sessions used. Rempe said these resources have also resulted in stronger retention rates and reports of higher resilience, job satisfaction and happiness in the workplace. "We spend more time at work than we spend time with our family," he said. "Employers need to recognize that to have robust, dedicated, bought-in, vested team members, the company needs to provide a space where they can feel happy and healthy." Nowhere is the concept understood as deeply as Omaha Steaks, a company that has been passed down through five generations of the Simon family over 109 years. However, much like America's definition of "family" has changed, so has the company's. In 2020, Rempe, who jokes that he's an adopted Simon, became the first person outside the Simon family to serve as the company's president. When Rempe ascended into his current role, he was on a mission to focus on themes "you might say were associated with this next generation of CEOs in America." Those include leadership, connection and transparency—values he said are necessary for corporate leaders to connect with a younger workforce. "These are the things [Gen Z workers] value, and we've invested significant time and money in making those things important," he said. "It doesn't really matter so much what the job is, what matters more is the culture that surrounds the job." Rempe said every job can be exciting, but what differentiates workplaces for younger Americans is a company "that believes team members can do more than they think they can," one that can "elevate them and inspire them." That's precisely what he believes drives "Gen Z to want to work at Omaha Steaks." Omaha Steaks also appeared on Newsweek's ranking of America's Greatest Workplaces for Gen Z 2025. The company received five stars, the highest available ranking. The list was published Tuesday in partnership with Plant-A. Nate Rempe, the CEO and president of Omaha Steaks, is the first person outside of the Simon family to lead the company since the Nebraska-based business began more than 100 years ago. Nate Rempe, the CEO and president of Omaha Steaks, is the first person outside of the Simon family to lead the company since the Nebraska-based business began more than 100 years ago. Omaha Steaks "Employers that offer mental health services are not only providing an immensely valuable benefit to Gen Z, they are also benefiting the employer through greater Gen Z engagement and retention," Jason Dorsey, a Gen Z researcher and generational expert at the Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK), told Newsweek. Research conducted at CGK, an Austin, Texas-based firm that provides generational insights to business leaders, shows that mental health work policies are extremely important to Gen Z employees. In their 2025 State of Gen Z national study, CGK found that nearly three-quarters, 73 percent, of Gen Z believe there to be a mental health crisis in today's workforce. "We consistently see that Gen Z values mental health work policies more than any other generation in the workforce today," Dorsey said. "We expect this trend to grow in importance as Gen Z becomes a larger part of the workforce every day." As part of an effort to appeal to a younger workforce, Rempe has become a familiar face on Omaha Steak's TikTok account, which boasts 22.3K followers. "I did a challenge where I tried to eat six of [our new smash burgers]," Rempe laughed. "That's super fun. A food company is a total blast to work at—and that's not to say that we don't have challenges like every other business, but again—having a healthy workforce and a culture that cares about people is what America's businesses need to attract and retain talent in the future, no matter where you are in the country." Rempe said it's not enough for employers to just provide services where employees can see an outside professional. They also need to support those initiatives with internal resources. At Omaha Steaks, those supporting components include "lunch and learns" that seek to socialize and normalize discussions about mental health. Plant-A's data shows that only 65 percent of U.S. employees feel comfortable discussing mental health concerns with their managers. Discomfort in discussing mental health in the workplace is particularly low among women and young adults. Omaha Steaks' webinars also make a concerted effort to address the anxieties and stresses specifically experienced by younger employees who might be having kids for the first time and learning to juggle working with less sleep or more financial obligations. But the real key to a company's mental well-being policy is to practice what you preach. Rempe recognized that in order to create a workplace that values mental health, he and other leaders at Omaha Steaks need to lead by example. When he sends emails on the weekends, he makes a point to note that while he chooses to do that on his own time, there's no pressure for his staff to do the same and respond outside their working hours. He said Omaha Steaks encourages team members to take time off and have succession plans to avoid feeling paralyzed by the thought of leaving their desks. "It is certainly a comprehensive approach that doesn't just require awareness and resources, but also requires modeling from leadership," Rempe said. "That's something that I think every company should be thinking about. "As a leader, the behaviors that you exhibit set a standard and an expectation in the culture in which you operate."
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Rempe shows growth, Pärssinen's quest for consistency, more: Rangers takeaways
SUNRISE, Fla. — A game-tying goal against a defending Stanley Cup champion normally elicits some sort of celebration. Not for the Rangers this year, or at least not now that they are eliminated from playoff contention. After Mika Zibanejad fed J.T. Miller for a second-period goal, the two went through the post-goal motions. They fist bumped and met their teammates for a huddle, but there weren't whoops or grins or much excitement at all. The same happened when Vincent Trocheck scored the game-winning goal on the penalty kill in the third period. Advertisement It's hard to find much joy these days around the Rangers. That's the price of a lost season. 'Pretty high,' Igor Shesterkin said Sunday when asked about his disappointment level. 'Ten out of ten.' New York managed to compartmentalize its frustration and win 5-3 against a Panthers team that rested a full middle-six line and was without injured star Matthew Tkachuk. It was a solid effort against a good (albeit undermanned) team, but it came too late to make a difference on this season. Still, there's plenty to examine, whether topics related to next year or looking back at this one. Here are takeaways from the South Florida trip. Seeing Chris Kreider, a winger with more than 300 goals, on a line with Matt Rempe early in the season would have been a complete shock. Nowadays, it hardly warranted a second look. Kreider has struggled mightily in what could be his final season with New York, but he and his linemates put together a good night Monday. 'We were making plays, skating well,' Rempe said. Rempe, taking a shift with the third line, cleaned up a K'Andre Miller rebound in the first. Kreider picked up a secondary assist while out with J.T. Miller and Zibanejad in the second, and then the whole line came together for an insurance goal late in the third. Rempe drove toward Sergei Bobrovsky, and though he lost control of the puck nearing the net, it went right to Kreider. Kreider fed Jonny Brodzinski, who scored New York's fifth goal of the night. In total, the Rangers had 62.54 percent of the expected goal share with the trio on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick. The 22-year-old Rempe played one of his most noticeable games of the season, earning 12:26 of ice time. Coach Peter Laviolette called his growth over the course of the season 'visible for everybody.' Advertisement 'He's attacking the ice now with the puck from our end,' Laviolette said. 'He's getting it with a little bit of speed underneath and before our blue line. He's attacking the neutral zone, he's going at the net, he's making plays, he's going through defenders. He played a heckuva game tonight.' Rempe is part of the team's future. But given Chris Drury's trade memo in November and the way the season has gone since, Kreider — the team's longest-tenured player — might not be, even though he has two seasons left on his contract. That means Monday could have been his final road game with the Rangers, and his assists could have been two of his final points with the club. 'Obviously he's been a huge mentor to me,' Rempe said. 'It was really fun playing (on a line) with him.' Before the trade deadline, Rangers acquired Juuso Pärssinen in the package for Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey. The 24-year-old center did not show much early in his Rangers tenure and was in and out of the lineup, but he has five points in his past three games. He picked up an assist on Rempe's first-period goal, then redirected a K'Andre Miller point shot past Bobrovsky in the second. 'Trying to make plays, be a solid center because that's the spot I want to play on,' he said after the game. Pärssinen has finished seasons strong before. He had 20 points in the final 29 games of 2022-23. But he has yet to find consistency at the NHL level. That will be a test going into next year. 'That's the biggest thing I'm working on and I'm trying to work on in the summer, too: consistency,' he said. 'Those are the conversations that we've had,' Laviolette added. 'You see (his impact) at times. Becoming consistent with that, and I've noticed it the last three games that he's been in here. He's on the puck, he's making plays, he's being responsible defensively.' Advertisement Pärssinen will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, so he could be back with the Rangers organization next year. He said after the game he'd like to be. 'It's been great,' he said. 'We're treated very well here. … The boys have been very good to me. It's been a good month and a half or so.' The Finnish forward didn't have a flawless game Monday. He made a bad turnover in the defensive zone late in the third period, leading for an extended shift for Florida's top line. Still, he finished with a team-best 66.23 percent expected goals rate, according to Natural Stat Trick. Laviolette said he wanted to see what the Rangers' young players can bring in the final two games now that the team is eliminated from playoff contention. That meant Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann drew back into the lineup, both playing in the top-six forward group. Perreault played more than 16 minutes, a sharp increase from his first three games, when he played under 14. Othmann played 12:34. Despite the emphasis on youth, 22-year-old Brett Berard came out of the lineup. Laviolette also stuck with a veteran-heavy top power-play unit, sending out Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck. Perreault got on the second power play unit, but Othmann did not. Matthew Robertson drew in on defense, making his NHL debut. The 24-year-old, a 2019 second-round pick, has 25 points in 60 AHL games this season. He got a call up with Braden Schneider out for the end of the season with an upper-body injury. His parents were able to make the trip to Florida from their home in Edmonton, and his girlfriend also came to the game. 'There's a lot of emotions going on just stepping out on the ice wearing the jersey,' Robertson said. 'A lot of emotions and a lot of nerves. I was just very excited. Proud of my family and everyone who's helped me get here.' Advertisement Robertson had an eventful first NHL period. He started the game with Fox and early in his first shift, one-timed a pass from J.T. Miller on net — 'He made a heckuva shot,' Laviolette said — but Sergei Bobrovsky made the save. Robertson sullied the shift a bit by committing a bad icing before leaving the ice, but it didn't end up biting the Rangers. He also made a poor decision pinching on Sam Reinhart late in the period. The Panthers winger blew past him for a two-on-one with Carter Verhaeghe. He beat Quick with his shot, but it hit the crossbar. Overall, though, Laviolette liked his game. 'He was really good,' the coach said. 'He played really well down in Hartford so getting him up in some games was good.' 'I was a little nervous, but the guys are super welcoming,' Robertson added. 'Very positive. Made it a lot of fun.' Laviolette said he spoke with Calvin de Haan after the defenseman expressed frustration Sunday at his lack of playing time with the Rangers. 'I've had conversations with him the whole time,' the coach said before the Panthers' game. 'I get it. We had a good chat yesterday. He's frustrated he's not playing. All players want to play.' Multiple players have publicly expressed frustration at scratches this season. Kaapo Kakko said 'I think it's easy to pick the young guy and put him out' after a scratch in December, then was traded shortly after. Zac Jones and Jimmy Vesey were both downcast in midseason interviews with various publications after long stretches of scratches. 'Some of the players have expressed it because they want to play,' Laviolette said. 'I understand that. You don't want players sitting out being perfectly fine.' With de Haan specifically, Laviolette said, 'there were plenty of conversations before that just to talk about why.' Communication, in the coach's eyes, has been there. (Top photo of Matt Rempe, Chris Kreider and Jonny Brodzinski: Sam Navarro / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
It's now Matt Rempe Against The World Including Referees
Among the most astonishing feats in hockey history, we have the never-ending Saga Of Matt Rempe – Again. (Enough of Rempy, already, no?) Truly, it's impossible to get rid of this guy although the nobel Hockey News columnist Ken Campbell wouldn't mind it too much if that would happen. But it won't because: A. Rempe occasionally hurts people on the other teams with gazoonta hits. Rangers fans love that. B. Even when he doesn't hurt people, he gets penalized. C. The New York Post – with America's biggest sports section – loves him, and so does The Maven. D. Whether you like him or not, The Remper-In-Chief gives honest interviews. Sometimes even sweet ones. E. He doesn't score much but he fights a lot. So, what's the latest Rempe Rumpus all about. Why another big deal out of nothing? The entire village of Rangerville is up in arms – elbows, too – because it claims that he's being penalized not for something he's done wrong but because he's Matt Rempe. Just the other night a foe blindsided Rempe. It looked like the human torpedo hit Matt amidships; except that this time the iceberg went down and Rempe sailed on, oblivious and unhurt. But no; that's not the end of the story. The ref whistled off the Ranger for something like "interference" while the torpedo skated to his bench. Only this time this "Refs Out To Get Rempe" rampage got out of hand as if any player who scores once in a blue moon should be the object of any refs missafection. To his credit, Rempe shrugs off the shenanigans and insists he will continue playing his hard-hitting, hard-skating and rare scoring business and that's that. (Plus, the ref apologized for his bad call.) As for the redoubtable Rempe, remember we're talking about a guy whose major league career includes 48 NHL games; three goals, five assists, eight points and 123 penalty minutes. And they love him just the same. Sometimes he gets more publicity than Connor McDavid. And guess what? They'll meet tomorrow night at The Garden!
