India’s LT Foods has scrapped its planned takeover of Global Green Europe after the Hungarian government blocked the transaction. In a stock exchange disclosure, the owner of the Royal and Daawat basmati rice brands said a 28 January decision by Hungary’s Ministry of National Economy had resulted in the termination of the deal. The Ministry rejected the proposal citing “identified national economic and sectoral risks”, according to the filing. “Accordingly, the proposed transaction stands withdrawn and ...

Core Insights - Altria Group Inc. reported fourth-quarter 2025 results with top-line revenue exceeding estimates but declining year over year, while bottom-line earnings missed expectations and remained flat compared to the previous year [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter were $1.30, flat year over year, and below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.31, influenced by a lower adjusted tax rate and reduced share count, offset by lower adjusted operating companies' income (OCI) [2] - Net revenues totaled $5,846 million, a decline of 2.1% year over year, primarily due to decreased revenues in the smokeable products segment, although it surpassed the consensus estimate of $5,002 million [3] Segment Analysis - **Smokeable Products**: Net revenues fell 2.7% year over year to $5,119 million, driven by reduced shipment volume and increased promotional investments, partially offset by higher pricing. Revenues net of excise taxes decreased 1.1% [4] - Domestic cigarette shipment volumes dropped 7.9%, attributed to industry decline and trade inventory movements, while cigar shipment volumes increased by 4.2% [5] - Adjusted OCI in this segment decreased 2.4% to $2,643 million, impacted by reduced shipment volume and higher costs, with adjusted OCI margins falling 0.8 percentage points to 60.4% [6] - **Oral Tobacco Products**: Net revenues increased 2% to $706 million, driven by higher pricing, although shipment volumes declined by 6.3% due to retail share losses and trade inventory movements [7][8] - Adjusted OCI in this segment decreased 4.6%, influenced by elevated SG&A costs and a decline in shipment volumes, with adjusted OCI margins decreasing 5 percentage points to 64.5% [9] Capital Management - Altria ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $4,474 million and long-term debt of $24,140 million, alongside a total stockholders' deficit of $3,502 million [10] - In Q4 2025, the company repurchased 4.8 million shares for $288 million, and for the full year, it repurchased 17.1 million shares totaling $1 billion, with $1 billion remaining under the share repurchase program [11] Future Outlook - For 2026, Altria expects adjusted EPS in the range of $5.56 to $5.72, indicating year-over-year growth of 2.5% to 5.5% from a base of $5.42 in 2025, with growth anticipated to be weighted towards the second half of the year [12] - The company projects an adjusted effective tax rate of 22.5% to 23.5%, capital expenditures of $300-$375 million, and depreciation and amortization expenses of approximately $225 million [13]

Key Takeaways RFIL has been witnessing enormous recent price gains as U.S. markets begin 2026 in positive territory.BWMX jumped 32.7% in four weeks, backed by a 44.4% expected earnings growth rate for the current year.KRYS shares rose 10.5% in four weeks as Vyjuvek uptake and EU and Japan approvals support sales growth. U.S. stock markets have started 2026 on a positive note. All three major stock indexes are trading in positive territory. The fourth-quarter 2025 earnings season has been projected to remain ...

WILLIAMSTOWN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Violet Foods LLC, a leading manufacturer of pizza sauce, pasta sauce and other tomato products announced today it has acquired the Muir Glen brand of organic tomato products from General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. This acquisition marks a significant expansion for Violet Foods, which owns a portfolio of brands including Sclafani, Fattoria Fresca and Don Pepino -- the #1 pizza sauce brand in the Northeast. By integrating Muir ...

This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter. Private equity firm Brynwood Partners is selling its pizza division, Great Kitchens Food Company, to baked goods maker Rich Products for an undisclosed amount. Great Kitchens was formed in late 2020, and today is one of the leading U.S. manufacturers of private label take-and-bake pizzas. In 2023, it boosted its offerings with the acquisition of the Uno Foods Division from ...

Food-focused private equity platform Power Sustainable Lios has acquired Crofter’s Organic, a Canada-based organic jams, jellies and fruit spreads producer. The deal includes co-investments from Farm Credit Canada (FCC), BMO Capital Partners and the Latka family, which founded Crofter’s, according to a statement from Lios yesterday (22 Janaury). Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Crofter's Organic CEO Tim Jax said: “Partnering with Lios, FCC, and BMO Capital Partners enables us to a ...

Core Viewpoint - The FDA has upgraded the recall of Gregory's Foods cookie products to Class I due to the potential presence of undeclared peanuts, posing serious health risks to individuals with peanut allergies [1][5][2]. Group 1: Recall Details - The initial recall involved 2-pound 8.5-ounce packages of "Bag Full of Cookies" White Chocolate Macadamia Nut frozen cookie dough, which were mistakenly filled with Monster Cookie Dough containing peanuts [1]. - The recall now affects over 300 cases, with each case containing six bags, and the products have a best by date of December 6, 2026 [5]. Group 2: Health Risks - The FDA indicated that individuals with peanut allergies face a risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume the affected products [2]. - A Class I recall signifies a "reasonable probability" that exposure to the product could lead to serious adverse health consequences or death [5]. Group 3: Product Identification - The Monster Cookies frozen dough is distinguishable by visible chocolate chips and colored candy-coated pieces, unlike the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut frozen cookie dough [7]. - The affected products were sold in retail grocery stores across Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin [7]. Group 4: Consumer Guidance - Customers are advised not to consume the recalled products and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund [10]. - The FDA noted that the issue was isolated to specific units from one day's production and has since been corrected [10].

Core Insights - Service Corporation International (SCI) demonstrated stable performance in Q3 2025, supported by a steady operating model, effective pricing strategies, cost control, and a balanced business mix [1] Funeral Segment Performance - The funeral segment provided a consistent earnings base, with comparable core funeral services declining by 3.5% year over year, but offset by a 3% increase in the comparable core funeral average [2] - Non-funeral home average revenue per service increased by 13.4%, benefiting from pricing actions and higher-value preneed contracts maturing from the backlog, which helped mitigate the impact of lower service volumes on overall revenues and gross profit [2] Cemetery Operations - Cemetery operations contributed significantly to stability, with comparable cemetery revenues rising nearly 7%, driven by a 9.6% increase in cemetery preneed sales production [3] - Higher property sales and growth in recognized merchandise and services revenue led to a $18 million increase in cemetery gross profit, with operating margins expanding to 34% [3] Cost Management - Cost discipline was a key aspect of SCI's stability, with corporate general and administrative expenses declining year over year and fixed costs managed below inflation, increasing approximately 1.4% during the quarter [4] - These cost management efforts helped preserve operating income despite elevated selling and labor costs [4] Capital Allocation - SCI invested $140 million in Q3 2025 across maintenance capital, cemetery development, growth projects, and acquisitions, with $86 million allocated to maintaining and improving existing locations [5] - This balanced investment approach aims to sustain service quality, operational efficiency, and long-term consistency [5] Stock Performance - SCI's disciplined execution and diversified revenue streams contributed to a 6.4% increase in shares over the past six months, outperforming the industry's growth of 5.9% [6]

With a market cap of $13.5 billion, Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) is a nearly 135-year-old American multinational food company. Headquartered in Austin, Minnesota, the company is a global branded food manufacturer, processor, and distributor with a presence in more than 80 countries. The company produces a wide range of meat and grocery products, including fresh and refrigerated items such as bacon, sausages, hams and prepared proteins, as well as shelf-stable foods like canned luncheon meats, snacks, nut ...

Core Viewpoint - Royal Bank of Canada and other banks have initiated a $1.25 billion loan package to finance the acquisition of TreeHouse Foods by Investindustrial, indicating a trend towards increased leveraged buyout financings in 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - TreeHouse Foods and Investindustrial agreed on an acquisition with a total enterprise value of $2.9 billion [3]. - The financing package includes a seven-year term loan of $1.25 billion and an additional $550 million of secured debt [2]. - The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, after which TreeHouse Foods will become a private company [5]. Group 2: Strategic Positioning - TreeHouse Foods aims to become a leader in private brand snacking and beverages, focusing on categories with attractive long-term prospects [4]. - The acquisition is expected to provide immediate cash value to shareholders at a substantial premium [4]. - Investindustrial's portfolio will expand to 85 manufacturing plants and 16,000 employees with the addition of TreeHouse Foods [4]. Group 3: Market Context - Walmart accounted for 24% of TreeHouse Foods' net sales in 2024, highlighting the company's significant reliance on this retail partner [6]. - Private-label brands have seen explosive growth in the grocery industry, surpassing national brands in sales and consumer preference due to changing consumer perceptions and economic pressures [6].