Core Insights - Conagra Brands (CAG) is a well-known company with a strong presence in kitchens, offering products such as frozen meals, snacks, and pantry staples [1] Company Overview - Conagra Brands specializes in frozen meals, snacks, and pantry staples, making it a staple in many households [1] Investment Analysis - The article emphasizes the importance of fundamental research and long-term investment theses in evaluating companies like Conagra Brands [1]

Core Insights - Post Holdings, Inc. released its 2025 Sustainability report, highlighting its enterprise-wide approach to sustainability across four strategic pillars: Sourcing, Operations, People, and Products [1] Group 1: Sustainability Progress - In fiscal year 2025, Post Holdings maintained steady progress in sustainability efforts [1] - The company received positive recognition from leading rankings and media organizations [4] - Post Holdings continued to outperform health and safety industry rates for food manufacturing companies [4] Group 2: Operational Highlights - The company focused on producing high-quality and safe products while advancing responsible sourcing [4] - Post achieved further reductions in environmental intensity across operations, packaging, and transportation [4] - Tools and technical assistance were provided to key suppliers, and the HowGood platform was fully activated to evaluate global ingredient sourcing and product footprints [4] Group 3: Community Engagement - Post Holdings supported local communities with financial contributions, volunteer time, and donations of over 10 million pounds of food [4]

Core Insights - Armanino Foods of Distinction, Inc. has appointed Andrew Leonard as Chief Financial Officer, effective January 5, 2026, to support the company's growth phase [1][5] Company Overview - Armanino Foods is a leading producer and marketer of premium frozen Italian and specialty foods, serving retail, foodservice, and industrial customers across North America and select international markets [6] - The company is known for its top-selling Basil Pesto and offers a variety of sauces and stuffed pasta dishes, produced in a facility with rigorous quality systems [6] Leadership Experience - Andrew Leonard has over 25 years of experience in operational and strategic finance, capital markets, and mergers & acquisitions [2] - Prior to joining Armanino, Leonard served as Vice President of Finance for Pallidus, where he established financial frameworks to support growth [3] - He has held senior finance leadership roles at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, culminating in Vice President of Finance & Business Unit CFO [3] Strategic Importance - Leonard's combination of operational finance leadership and capital markets expertise is seen as crucial for Armanino's current growth trajectory [5] - The CEO of Armanino emphasized that Leonard's experience in manufacturing and public-company finance will strengthen the leadership team as they execute their long-term value creation strategy [5] - Leonard expressed enthusiasm about joining Armanino, highlighting the company's strong market position and disciplined operating model as a foundation for future growth [5]

Core Insights - General Mills reported a decline in second-quarter profit and sales as the company implements price cuts to attract consumers affected by inflation [1] Financial Performance - The company experienced lower profit and sales figures in the second quarter [1] - Price cuts are being utilized as a strategy to draw in inflation-weary consumers [1]

General Mills beat quarterly sales estimates on Wednesday, as more consumers ate at home than dined out, boosting demand for the Cheerios maker's pantry staples and breakfast cereals. ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Reported net sales for Q2 were $4.9 billion, down 7%, with a 6-point headwind from divestitures and acquisitions; organic net sales were down 1% [24] - Adjusted operating profit was $848 million, down 20% in constant currency, primarily due to lower volume and higher input costs [25] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share totaled $1.10, down 21% in constant currency [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America Retail organic net sales were down 3%, driven by unfavorable price mix, but organic volume growth modestly outpaced Nielsen measured retail volume growth [26] - North America Pet segment net sales were up 11%, with organic net sales up 1%, driven by favorable price mix [27] - North America Foodservice organic net sales were flat, with growth in frozen baked goods and cereal offset by a decline in bakery flour [28] - International segment organic net sales were up 4%, driven by growth in Brazil, China, India, and North Asia [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In North America Retail, the company held or grew pound share in eight of its top 10 U.S. categories, with Nielsen measured pounds up 1% in Q2 [8][26] - The North America Pet segment saw mid-single-digit growth in cat feeding, while dog feeding results were mixed [16][27] - The international business held or grew dollar share in 54% of priority businesses, led by Häagen-Dazs and Nature Valley [29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on investing to strengthen brand remarkability to restore organic sales growth [3] - Key priorities include returning North America Retail to volume growth, accelerating North America Pet growth, and driving efficiencies to fund investments [5][6] - The Remarkable Experience Framework guides brand investment decisions, focusing on product, packaging, brand communications, omnichannel execution, and value [6][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a change in consumer behavior, with lower and middle-income consumers making more purchases on promotion due to economic pressures [9] - The company expects to drive further improvement in organic sales growth in the second half of fiscal 2026, reaffirming its fiscal guidance [4][33] - Management anticipates Q3 operating profit to be down more than previously expected, but expects strong profit growth in Q4 [33] Other Important Information - The adjusted gross margin was 34.8% of net sales, down 150 basis points due to higher input costs [30] - The adjusted effective tax rate was 23.3%, up from 20.1% a year ago, due to unfavorable earnings mix [31] - Capital investments in the first half totaled $253 million, with $659 million paid in dividends [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for organic net sales in the second half? - The company expects improved organic net sales in the second half, driven by the expanded impact of remarkability investments [33] Question: How is the company addressing the challenges in the North America Retail segment? - The company is focused on returning North America Retail to volume growth by investing in remarkable experiences [5] Question: What are the plans for the North America Pet segment? - The company plans to strengthen the core Blue Buffalo business while driving growth through new product launches and expanded distribution [16][18]

Britain's competition regulator has cleared the proposed 1.2-billion-pound ($1.61 billion) merger between convenience food manufacturers Greencore and Bakkavor on Wednesday, scrapping an in-depth probe into the companies. ...

General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) is a leading global food company known for its wide range of products, including cereals, snacks, and pet foods. The company operates in a competitive market with rivals like Kellogg's and Nestlé. Recently, General Mills has experienced fluctuations in its consensus price target, reflecting changing analyst expectations. General Mills is set to announce its second-quarter earnings results on December 17. Analyst Christopher Growe from Stifel Nicolaus has set a price target of ...

Group 1: Overview of Layoffs - Layoffs across manufacturing, logistics, and transportation sectors are increasing, affecting over 4,200 workers nationwide in recent weeks [1] - Job losses are occurring in food manufacturing, automotive and EV supply chains, trailer production, ports, warehousing, and automated fulfillment networks, indicating ongoing strain in industrial employment [1] Group 2: Specific Company Layoffs - Ford Motor Co. will lay off all 1,600 employees at its electric vehicle battery plant in Glendale, Kentucky, as it shifts focus to manufacturing batteries for data centers and utilities [2][4] - Franklin Foods will permanently close its Casa Grande cream cheese manufacturing facility in Arizona, resulting in 83 layoffs due to an expected sale of the company [3] - Michigan Sugar Co. will close a warehouse facility in Findlay, Ohio, affecting four logistics workers due to loss of rail service and obsolete equipment [5] Group 3: Regional Layoff Trends - Texas has seen over 500 job losses in manufacturing and logistics, driven by distribution center closures and electronics manufacturing shutdowns [3] - Pennsylvania is experiencing significant industrial layoffs, with Great Dane planning to cut approximately 164 jobs at its Elysburg plant due to weak freight demand [6] - S&S Activewear is closing a distribution center in Texas, affecting 146 workers, and another center in York County, eliminating 128 jobs [7][8]

This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: J&J Snack Foods is initiating a business transformation with an initial focus on consolidating its manufacturing network, according to its Q4 2025 earnings call last month. As part of the plan, the company said it is closing three production facilities by the end of Q1 2026, including sites in Atlanta; Holly Ridge, North Carolina; and Colto ...