Company Performance - Legendary Foods' revenue reaches $180 million [1] Entrepreneurial Success - CEO Ron Penna previously sold a protein bar company for $1 billion [1] Product Strategy - The company sells "healthy" versions of typically unhealthy foods like cinnamon rolls, donuts, and chips [1]

Another leadership change comes as the food giant grapples with higher costs, weaker demand and pressure to make healthier products https://t.co/gZzh7QEmXB ...

Group 1 - The consumer is currently facing pressures related to inflation and the job market, which is consistent with broader market trends [1] - The company's category is unique due to the presence of private label products, which have been in long-term decline but typically see a rise during economic uncertainty [1]

People are cooking more meals at home than they were during the pandemic, a trend that food companies said is helping buoy some of their staples at a tumultuous time in the economy https://t.co/DJKrdijFdE ...

Core Insights - The Hershey Company is enhancing its focus on efficiency through its Advancing Automation and Agility (Triple A) transformation program, now expecting $150 million in net savings for the year, an increase from the previous forecast of $125 million, and raising the three-year target to $400 million from $350 million [1][9] Group 1: Cost Management and Efficiency - A key initiative, Smart Complexity, aims to simplify packaging and product assortments, streamline manufacturing, and utilize technology-enabled automation, which is expected to reduce costs and create efficiencies for both the company and its retail partners [2] - Hershey's execution on cost management is ahead of schedule, showing visible improvements in manufacturing and administrative efficiency, indicating confidence in achieving higher productivity than initially anticipated [4] Group 2: Margin Pressures and Recovery Strategies - Hershey's adjusted gross margin decreased by 510 basis points to 38.1% in Q2 2025 due to cocoa inflation and tariffs impacting profitability, with the expanded savings pipeline intended to help offset these pressures and support margin recovery [3] - Management believes that combined pricing actions, procurement strategies, and productivity initiatives could restore over 500 basis points of adjusted gross margin by 2026 [3][9] Group 3: Market Performance and Valuation - Hershey's shares have declined by 2.3% over the past month, underperforming the industry decline of 1.5% and the broader Consumer Staples sector and S&P 500 index growth of 1.7% and 2%, respectively [5] - The company currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 29.09, which is higher than the industry average of 23.49 and the sector's 17.12, indicating a premium valuation relative to peers and reflecting market expectations regarding its business stability [10]

Legendary Foods CEO Ron Penna sold his first protein bar company for $1 billion. His newest flex is selling fitness freaks ‘healthy’ versions of cinnamon rolls, donuts and chips—and now brings in $180 million in revenue. https://t.co/4pBBtRmPfh (Photo: Ethan Pines for Forbes) https://t.co/fMgiESSzLp ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of supply chain finance as a key channel for serving the real economy, with a focus on the "stabilizing and strengthening the chain" policy [1] - The total funding amount through the "e-second supply chain" online platform has exceeded 40 billion yuan this year, targeting critical sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and food [1] Group 1: Supply Chain Finance Innovations - Supply chain finance innovations are driving industrial upgrades, with a notable example being a leading Chinese engineering machinery manufacturer that has partnered with the bank to provide efficient online financing support to over 600 small and medium suppliers, totaling 2.5 billion yuan [2] - The "one credit, shared limit" business model has effectively addressed challenges such as decentralized member units and low credit efficiency [2] Group 2: Agricultural Sector Support - The agricultural supply chain is long and complex, and the bank has introduced a "ticket-chain integration" model to alleviate financing difficulties for small and micro enterprises, ensuring a "T+0" experience for financing applications to fund disbursement [3] - This model enhances the financing capabilities of farmers and improves transaction efficiency while helping core enterprises optimize their financial structures [3] Group 3: Logistics Industry Transformation - In the logistics sector, the bank has enabled a leading automotive logistics company to shorten settlement cycles and reduce financing costs through a non-recourse domestic factoring business [4] - This online service allows carriers to finance immediately upon confirmation of payable freight, thus ensuring timely payments and enhancing operational efficiency [4] Group 4: Inclusive Finance Development - The bank is expanding its inclusive finance coverage by supporting regional specialty industries, exemplified by a food company in Dongguan that benefits from a "dual limit" supply chain business model [5] - This model allows small and micro enterprises to access bank financing at lower costs, with real-time monitoring of fund flows to enhance transparency and reduce risks [5] Group 5: Future Directions - The bank aims to continue focusing on key industries and critical areas to support the optimization and upgrading of supply chains, promoting high-quality development and mutual benefits in the real economy [5]

The Campbell's Co. shares advanced Wednesday when the soup and sauces maker beat profit forecasts as more people bought food to cook at home. https://t.co/XyY0gmg2CB ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company announced plans to split into two separate entities: Global Taste Elevation Co and North American Grocery Co, aiming to improve focus and performance [3][4] - The expected dissynergies from the split are estimated at $300 million, with one-third attributed to cost of goods sold, one-third to technology, and the remainder to sales, marketing, and other SG&A [32][33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Global Taste Elevation business has faced challenges in the U.S., with growth being flat, while outside the U.S., it has seen mid- to high single-digit growth [18][19] - North American Grocery Co is expected to have significant margin opportunities, with a focus on improving efficiencies and expertise in managing commodities and operations [38][40] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. market has been under pressure due to prolonged inflation and changing consumer behavior, leading to a trend of consumers trading down [21][22] - The company is adapting by expanding its product offerings in various price points and channels, including Dollar General, to meet consumer needs [24][25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The separation is intended to reduce complexity and enhance focus, allowing each entity to align resources and expertise with their specific market strategies [7][14] - The company aims to drive growth through targeted investments in brand quality, marketing, and innovation, particularly in emerging markets [15][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the current challenges in the food industry but remains committed to long-term investments in brand quality and consumer value [68][69] - The company is confident that its brand growth system will yield positive results over time, as seen with recent growth in specific product lines like Lunchables and Capri Sun [69][70] Other Important Information - The company emphasizes that the separation is not merely a financial engineering move but a strategic decision to enhance performance through increased focus [60][61] - A separation committee has been established to ensure smooth execution during the transition period [65][66] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why is the separation expected to improve performance? - Management believes that increased focus will lead to better performance and unlock shareholder value, as seen in past initiatives [4][5] Question: How does the split differ from the original Kraft Heinz merger? - Management asserts that the separation is based on current consumer behavior and future growth potential, not merely reversing past decisions [11][12] Question: What are the expected growth rates for the new entities? - Global Taste Elevation is expected to post growth towards the upper end of the 2% to 3% range, while North American Grocery is projected to grow in the low single digits [34][36] Question: Will there be a margin reset for North American Grocery? - Management does not foresee a significant margin reset but acknowledges the need for strategic investments to drive efficiencies [39][42] Question: What investments have been made for sustainable productivity? - The company has focused on operational excellence, with significant investments in manufacturing efficiencies, logistics, and procurement strategies [78][79]

Legendary Foods CEO Ron Penna sold his first protein bar company for $1 billion. His newest flex is selling fitness freaks ‘healthy’ versions of cinnamon rolls, donuts and chips—and now brings in $180 million in revenue. https://t.co/FeKWBbrXWJ (Photo: Ethan Pines for Forbes) https://t.co/N7swRbNufC ...