[naviga:h3]Coca-Cola’s global volume plunges 25 percent in April[/naviga:h3]

Coca-Cola’s global volume tumbled 25 percent in April as the coronavirus pandemic gripped large swaths of the world population.

Those volumes made up of bottled drinks and the syrups Coke sells to theaters, restaurants, stadiums and music venues were humming early in the year, revealing how fast the virus hobbled human activity and commerce, from mom-and-pop shops to global operators like Coca-Cola Co.

Volume was up 3 percent through February excluding China, and Coke was on track to reach and possibly exceed its financial targets.

But within a month the Tokyo Olympics, of which Coke is a major sponsor, were off. Theaters and restaurants closed in Europe, the Americas and Africa, and billions took shelter in their homes.

Global unit case volumes rose 7 percent in China in January, then it began to slide. The same pattern was repeated first in Europe, and then in North America.

While sales to homes spiked briefly, almost half of Coke’s sales come from movie chains, vending machines, concerts and other events. Almost all of the volume decline to-date in April came from those places.

[naviga:h3]U.S. pork farmers panic as virus ruins hopes for great year [/naviga:h3]

DES MOINES, Iowa — After enduring extended trade disputes and worker shortages, U.S. hog farmers were poised to finally hit it big this year with expectations of climbing prices amid soaring domestic and foreign demand.

Instead, restaurant closures due to the coronavirus have contributed to an estimated $5 billion in losses for the industry, and almost overnight millions of hogs stacking up on farms now have little value. Some farmers have resorted to killing piglets because plunging sales mean there is no room to hold additional animals in increasingly cramped conditions.

COVID-19 has created problems for all meat producers, but pork farmers have been hit especially hard.

They entered this spring in shaky financial condition because tariffs had drastically reduced sales to China and Mexico. Many operations have struggled to get enough workers, in part due to federal immigration policies. Then demand plunged because the virus forced the closure of restaurants, hotels and other businesses that buy about 25 percent of pork, including nearly three-quarters of bacon produced in the U.S.