Brimming WITH potential.

The article reports on the progress of Smithfield Packing Co.'s case-ready program for packaging of pork. Smithfield's case-ready was introduced in the early 1990s. Although establishing a solid case-ready program has taken years, the future holds the promise of the success Smithfield's case-ready architects envisioned in 1990s. Some major retail partners have signed on to sell Smithfield case-ready pork. This is a very significant step in the industry's evolution of case-ready volume improvement. It is no secret that, while case-ready product is considered ideal in terms of food-safety and out-of- stock solutions at retail, the concept has not lived up to expectations for the industry in general.