Food Inflation The Open Markets Institute, which is notably funded by several “anonymous” donors and liberal foundations, obtained a guest editorial in the New York Times in which they blame agribusiness concentration for higher grocery prices. This is their schtick and it is politically popular even though it has failed under decades of scrutiny by multiple antitrust investigations focused specifically on consumer welfare. But the authors go further, stating, “The entire U.S. food system is remarkably consolidated, exploitative and fragile.” That whole storyline is shattered by actual consumer behavior. Most Americans choose to buy food from major food processors sold at large retailers specifically because it has c...
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.