Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a decline in the bread category, with units down 2.9% in the third quarter compared to a 1.8% decline for the overall food category [4] - Traditional loaf units declined 6.3%, indicating significant pressure in this segment [4] - Despite the overall underperformance of the bread category, sales of differentiated products with better-for-you attributes showed encouraging results [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - DKB and Canyon brands grew unit share by 30 and 10 basis points respectively, while Nature's Own and Wonder maintained their share [11] - Specialty premium loaf units increased by 4%, achieving the highest share ever, while the subcategory declined by 4% [12] - Units in the breakfast segment increased by 6%, with DKB achieving an all-time high in unit share, up 60 basis points to 6.9% [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The small loaves category saw a significant increase, with units up 85% in the third quarter, capturing the number two market share position [15] - The cake category units declined by 5%, but Wonder managed to grow by 1%, gaining 80 basis points of unit share [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on innovation to transform its portfolio and target attractive opportunities within existing categories while expanding into new adjacencies [7] - There is a strategic emphasis on aligning the portfolio with changing consumer demand, particularly in better-for-you products [6][16] - The company plans to continue differentiating its brands to solidify its competitive position in the category [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged macroeconomic uncertainty and shifting consumer demand as headwinds for food companies [3] - There is optimism about long-term prospects as category demand is expected to normalize with improved consumer confidence [6] - The company is committed to maximizing near-term performance while supporting consistent long-term growth [7] Other Important Information - The CFO, Steve Kinsey, will retire at the end of the year, and Anthony Scaglione will take over as the new CFO [9][10] - The company is making adjustments to its supply chain to align with changing demand, including closing several bakeries and converting others to higher margin organic production [19] Q&A Session Summary - No specific questions and answers were provided in the content, thus this section is not applicable.

Core Insights - Flowers Foods, Inc. is expected to report a revenue increase of 3.6% year-over-year, with third-quarter 2025 revenues estimated at $1.23 billion [1][9] - The earnings consensus estimate remains stable at 23 cents per share, reflecting a significant decline of 30.3% compared to the previous year [2][9] - The company has shown a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.6% on average [2] Revenue and Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Flowers Foods' revenues is $1.23 billion, indicating a 3.6% increase from the same quarter last year [1][9] - Earnings per share are projected at 23 cents, down 30.3% from the prior-year quarter [2][9] Growth Drivers - Flowers Foods continues to benefit from its branded retail portfolio, with products like Dave's Killer Bread and Canyon Bakehouse outperforming the broader category [3] - The company is gaining shelf space and expanding innovation, which is expected to sustain top-line momentum [3][4] - A shift towards better-for-you, premium, and value-oriented bakery segments is being implemented, addressing consumer preferences [4] Challenges - The company faces volume pressure in traditional loaf bread due to changing consumer preferences and the availability of lower-priced alternatives [5] - Competitive intensity in value-tier segments is limiting the impact of innovation and brand investments [5] - A projected 1.4% dip in overall volumes is expected for the third quarter [5] Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for Flowers Foods, with an Earnings ESP of +0.96% and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [6]

Core Points - Flowers Foods, Inc. has appointed D. Anthony Scaglione as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective January 1, 2026 [1][2] - Scaglione will oversee the company's financial strategy and various functions including treasury, investor relations, accounting, tax, internal audit, risk, procurement, and information security [1][3] - The appointment follows the retirement of Steve Kinsey, who will assist in the transition [3] Company Background - Flowers Foods is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States, with net sales of $5.1 billion in 2024 [5] - The company operates bakeries nationwide and produces a variety of bakery products under well-known brands such as Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, and Wonder [5] Leadership Experience - Scaglione has extensive experience as CFO in several multi-billion-dollar organizations, including Total Wine & More, ODP Corporation, and ABM Industries [3] - His expertise encompasses core finance functions as well as strategy, real estate, procurement, mergers and acquisitions, and IT [3][4]

Core Points - Flowers Foods, Inc. has elected Sterling A. Spainhour to its board of directors, effective October 1, 2025, where he will serve on the audit and finance committees [1][2][3] Company Overview - Flowers Foods, Inc. is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States, with net sales of $5.1 billion in 2024 [4] - The company operates bakeries nationwide, producing a variety of bakery products under brands such as Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Simple Mills, Wonder, and Tastykake [4] Board Member Profile - Sterling A. Spainhour brings over 30 years of experience, including roles at Southern Company, Jones Day, and CNN, with expertise in M&A, legal matters, and corporate governance [3] - Spainhour holds degrees in political science, business administration, and law from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and Duke University [3] - He is also a board member of several organizations, including Gray Media and Emory Healthcare Network [3] Strategic Implications - The addition of Spainhour is expected to enhance the board's composition and support the company's strategic priorities aimed at increasing shareholder value [3]

Company Announcement - Flowers Foods, Inc. announced the retirement of Steve Kinsey, the chief financial officer, after 36 years of service, with the last 18 years in the CFO role [1][2] - The company has begun the search for Kinsey's successor with a leading executive search firm and he is expected to serve in an advisory role post-retirement to ensure a smooth transition [1] Leadership Perspective - Ryals McMullian, chairman and CEO, expressed gratitude for Kinsey's leadership and commitment, highlighting his legacy of integrity and excellence [2] - Kinsey reflected on his career at Flowers, emphasizing the honor of working with a talented team and confidence in their ability to continue driving shareholder value [2] Company Overview - Flowers Foods, headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the U.S., reporting net sales of $5.1 billion in 2024 [3] - The company operates bakeries nationwide and produces a variety of bakery products under well-known brands such as Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, and Tastykake [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing a transition due to a challenging economic environment and shifting consumer trends, which have pressured end markets and hampered recent results [6][7] - Management expects benefits from executing their portfolio strategy and developing a pipeline of innovation, indicating confidence in long-term growth [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The competitive environment has intensified, particularly in the traditional loaf area, with lower-priced entrants affecting results [12][13] - The company is addressing the value shopper segment with new product lines and has seen good performance in premium differentiated products [12][13] - The foodservice business has been refilled with higher-margin products, significantly improving profitability [58] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market remains bifurcated, with strong performance in both premium differentiated products and value offerings, particularly in mass and club channels [12][13] - The company has noted continued weakness in the away-from-home foodservice business [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is committed to innovation to navigate the transition in consumer preferences, particularly moving away from traditional loaf products [30][31] - Management emphasizes the importance of maintaining brand strength and innovation as key strategies to address competitive pressures [36][72] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges that the transition will take time and requires patience, viewing it as a generational shift in the category [51][53] - There is optimism that the category will eventually stabilize, although the timeline is uncertain [52][53] Other Important Information - The company is focused on debt paydown and is cautious about M&A activities in the near term, although it remains a strategic priority [61] - The company has plans to address the weakness in large brands like Nature's Own while continuing to invest in its leading brands [55] Q&A Session Summary Question: Competitive intensity and pricing pressures - Management noted that the promotional environment is elevated but stable, with a focus on differentiated products to drive trial and awareness [12][13] Question: Tariff outlook and capital allocation - Management expects tariffs to decrease significantly and will continue to evaluate capital allocation based on performance and cash flow [18][19] Question: Nature's Own brand performance - Management confirmed that they are committed to investing in Nature's Own and other mainstream loaf products, using a mix of promotional support and marketing [65][66] Question: Innovation and Simple Mills - Management indicated that Simple Mills will continue to innovate aggressively and is performing well despite challenges [43][48] Question: Transition timeline and gross margin management - Management stated that the transition will take time, but there are levers to maintain gross margins despite volume pressures [57] Question: M&A appetite - Management indicated a cautious approach to M&A in the near term, focusing on debt reduction while monitoring market opportunities [61] Question: Retailer changes and shelf space allocation - Management observed that retailers are increasingly focusing on organic products and small loaf segments, reflecting changing consumer trends [73][74]

Financial Performance - Net sales increased by 1.5% to $1.243 billion compared to the previous year, driven by the Simple Mills acquisition[8, 11] - Net income decreased by 12.8% to $58.4 million, primarily due to lower operating income and higher net interest expense[8, 15] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 4.0% to $137.7 million, with a margin of 11.1%, down 60 bps from the previous year's 11.7%[8, 9, 16] - GAAP diluted EPS decreased by $0.04 to $0.28, while adjusted diluted EPS decreased by $0.06 to $0.30[8] Sales Analysis - Branded Retail net sales increased by 5.0%, offset by volume declines and unfavorable price/mix[11] - Other net sales decreased by 4.9% due to softer volumes in store branded retail sales and non-retail sales from margin optimization strategies[11] - Volume decreased by 2.4%, and price/mix decreased by 1.2%[8] - The acquisition contributed to a 5.1% increase in net sales[8] Fiscal Year 2025 Guidance - Net sales are projected to be between $5.239 billion and $5.308 billion, including $218 million to $225 million from Simple Mills[20] - Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $512 million and $538 million, including $30 million to $33 million from Simple Mills[20] - Adjusted diluted EPS is projected to be between $1.00 and $1.10, including a negative impact of $0.08 to $0.07 from Simple Mills[20] Market Share and Trends - Branded dollar share decreased, while store branded dollar share increased, reflecting inflationary pressure on consumers[35] - Flowers' fresh packaged bread dollar sales and unit sales showed slight increases, with dollar sales up 0.2% and unit sales down 3.2%[41] - Flowers' commercial cake dollar sales and unit sales decreased, with dollar sales down 7.6% and unit sales down 10.0%[44]

Core Insights - Flowers Foods, Inc. reported a 1.5% increase in net sales to $1.243 billion for the second quarter ended July 12, 2025, driven by the acquisition of Simple Mills, despite declines in traditional loaf sales and a competitive environment [7][8][9] - The company is focusing on innovation and mergers and acquisitions to align its portfolio with consumer demand for healthier and value-oriented products [2][3] - Revised guidance for 2025 reflects lower-than-expected revenues, with net sales projected between $5.239 billion and $5.308 billion, indicating a growth of 2.7% to 4.0% compared to the previous year [9] Financial Performance - Net income decreased by 12.8% to $58.4 million, representing 4.7% of sales, primarily due to increased outside purchases and higher workforce-related costs [8][14] - Adjusted net income fell 16.0% to $63.4 million, with adjusted diluted EPS decreasing to $0.30 [8][33] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 4.0% to $137.7 million, representing 11.1% of net sales [8][32] Sales Breakdown - Branded Retail net sales increased by 5.0% to $826.7 million, aided by the Simple Mills acquisition, while other sales decreased by 4.9% to $416.1 million due to softer volumes [7][26] - The Simple Mills acquisition contributed $61.4 million in net sales but incurred a net loss of $2.1 million [8][14] Cost Structure - Materials, supplies, labor, and other production costs were 51.2% of net sales, a 110-basis point increase, primarily due to higher outside purchases and lower production volumes [14] - Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses were 38.1% of net sales, a decrease of 40 basis points, attributed to lower distributor fees [14] Future Outlook - The company expects adjusted diluted EPS for the full year to be in the range of $1.00 to $1.10, reflecting a downward revision from previous guidance [9][34] - The partial-year benefit of the Simple Mills acquisition is anticipated to contribute approximately $218 million to $225 million to net sales [9]

Core Insights - Flowers Foods, Inc. will report its second quarter 2025 financial results on August 15, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time [1] - A live question and answer webcast will follow at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day [1] Company Overview - Flowers Foods, Inc. is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States, with 2024 sales reaching $5.1 billion [2] - The company operates bakeries nationwide, producing a diverse range of bakery products [2] - Key brands under Flowers Foods include Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Simple Mills, Wonder, and Tastykake [2]

Core Viewpoint - Flowers Foods, Inc. is set to report its first quarter 2025 financial results on May 16, 2025, with a live Q&A webcast scheduled for the same day [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Flowers Foods, Inc. is headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, and is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States [2]. - The company reported sales of $5.1 billion in 2024 [2]. - Flowers Foods operates bakeries across the country, producing a wide range of bakery products [2]. - Notable brands under Flowers Foods include Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Simple Mills, Wonder, and Tastykake [2].