Financial Performance - Q2 FY26 - Conagra's Q2 FY26 organic net sales decreased by 30% compared to the previous year, totaling $2975 million[51, 52, 53] - Adjusted EPS for Q2 FY26 was $045, a decrease of 357% year-over-year[51] - Adjusted operating margin for Q2 FY26 was 113%, a decrease of 406 bps compared to the previous year[51, 54, 55, 57] - For H1 FY26, organic net sales decreased by 19% to $5586 million[51, 76] - Adjusted EPS for H1 FY26 was $085, a decrease of 309% year-over-year[51] Segment Performance - Q2 FY26 - Grocery & Snacks net sales were $1209 million, with a 15% organic net sales decrease[53] - Refrigerated & Frozen net sales were $1251 million, with a 51% organic net sales decrease[53] - International net sales were $230 million, with a 29% organic net sales decrease[53] - Foodservice net sales were $288 million, with a 02% organic net sales increase[53] Key Business Trends - Frozen retail volume sales showed a return to growth on a two-year basis, with a +08% change in Q2 FY26[14, 15] - 90% of frozen products held or gained volume share vs 2 years ago[15] - Conagra's frozen single-serve meals volume share of category was 529% in Q2 FY26, a +05 percentage point change vs 2 years ago[18, 19, 20, 21] - Conagra's frozen vegetables volume % change was +91% vs 2 years ago[22, 23] - Conagra's frozen vegetables volume share of category was 191% in Q2 FY26, a +13 percentage point change vs 2 years ago[24, 25]

Core Viewpoint - Seneca Foods Corporation reported strong financial results for the quarter ended September 27, 2025, with significant increases in net sales, earnings, and margins, despite a challenging market environment [2][12]. Financial Performance - Net sales for Q2 FY2026 increased by 8.1% to $460 million from $425.5 million, driven by higher volumes and favorable pricing [2]. - Gross margin expanded to 13.4% from 10.1%, while operating income surged 68% to $41.5 million from $24.7 million, raising operating margin to 9% from 5.8% [2]. - Net earnings rose 123.6% to $29.7 million from $13.3 million, with diluted EPS climbing 125.8% to $4.29 from $1.90 [2]. EBITDA and Adjusted Earnings - EBITDA increased by 44.6% to $55.7 million from $38.5 million, attributed to higher earnings and lower interest expenses [3]. - On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net earnings slightly decreased by 2.6% to $23.9 million from $24.6 million, while FIFO EBITDA fell 10.2% to $47.9 million from $53.5 million [3]. Segment Performance - Canned and frozen vegetables were the primary growth drivers, with canned vegetable sales rising 7.4% to $377.3 million and frozen vegetable sales increasing 14.8% to $44.9 million [5]. - Fruit product sales grew 2.1% to $22.8 million, snack products increased by 22.9% to $4.9 million, and the "other" category rose 15% to $10.1 million [5]. Cost Management and Profitability - Interest expenses fell significantly by 48% to $4.7 million from $9 million for the quarter, and by 47.9% for the six-month period [9]. - The company recorded a LIFO credit that reduced the cost of products sold by $7.7 million in the quarter, contrasting with a $15 million LIFO charge in the previous year [8]. Balance Sheet and Debt Management - Long-term debt decreased to $246.4 million from $406.6 million a year earlier, indicating progress in deleveraging [10]. - Total debt also declined, although inventories remained high at $786.5 million on a LIFO basis [10]. Management Commentary - Management described the quarter as a solid step towards normalizing operations after previous harvest and cost challenges, with improved crop yields contributing to better cost predictability [12]. - The company acknowledged ongoing challenges from selling through higher-cost inventory produced in 2024, which continues to impact FIFO gross margins [12]. Factors Influencing Results - The sales increase was largely attributed to higher volumes, with canned and frozen vegetables accounting for most of the gain [13]. - The LIFO credit significantly enhanced gross margin and EBITDA, although adjusted earnings and FIFO EBITDA faced pressure from high-cost inventory [13]. Guidance and Outlook - Seneca did not provide formal quantitative guidance but focused on operational drivers such as crop yields and cost normalization [14]. - Management highlighted ongoing uncertainties related to tariffs, energy costs, and changing consumer preferences [14]. Strategic Focus - During the quarter, Seneca concentrated on core operations and balance sheet management, with no significant acquisitions or restructuring initiatives [15]. - The company engaged in modest share repurchases, indicating a cautious approach to returning cash to shareholders while managing leverage [15].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has adjusted its full-year inflation assumption from 4% to 4.5% due to adverse weather conditions affecting crop yields, particularly in the UK [24][25] - The gross margin dropped in Q2, attributed to increased inflation and supply chain challenges [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a significant focus on cost competitiveness, leading to a reduction in SG&A expenses primarily driven by overheads rather than advertising and promotion [30][31] - Innovations and renovations are expected to contribute nearly double the sales compared to the previous year, with a focus on snacking and protein products [32][34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market in Q2 experienced a volume decline of approximately 5.5%, particularly in key regions like the UK, due to extreme weather conditions [16][22] - The company has gained market share in volume despite overall market underperformance in categories like fish and vegetables [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is adjusting its ERP implementation strategy to mitigate risks and improve inventory management [7][8] - There is a strong emphasis on innovation, with plans to enhance product offerings in response to changing consumer preferences and weather patterns [34][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate current challenges and emphasized the importance of preparing for future weather-related impacts on sales [50][53] - The company is committed to maintaining flexibility in capital allocation, focusing on share buybacks and dividends while being cautious about M&A opportunities [55] Other Important Information - The company is exploring partnerships with startups to enhance its innovation pipeline and speed up product development [43][45] - There is a focus on optimizing the supply chain and reducing complexity within the operational network to improve cost efficiency [40][41] Q&A Session Summary Question: Confidence in full-year guidance - Management acknowledged past challenges with guidance and emphasized lessons learned from ERP implementation and inventory management [6][8] Question: Organic growth expectations for Q3 - Management indicated that while growth is expected in Q3, it is contingent on market conditions and weather patterns [17][19] Question: Inflationary pressures and pricing strategy - Management confirmed an increase in inflation assumptions and indicated plans to adjust pricing where feasible [24][26] Question: SG&A savings initiatives - Management detailed ongoing efforts to reduce overhead costs and improve cost competitiveness [30][31] Question: Innovation pipeline and future products - Management highlighted a significant increase in sales from innovation and renovation, with a focus on snacking and protein products [32][34] Question: Supply chain optimization and facility closures - Management discussed plans for supply chain optimization, including the closure of a smaller factory in the Nordics [40][41] Question: Long-term portfolio adjustments for climate change - Management addressed the need to adapt product offerings to changing weather patterns and consumer preferences [50][53] Question: Capital allocation priorities - Management confirmed ongoing share buybacks and dividends while maintaining flexibility for future opportunities [55]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has adjusted its full-year inflation assumption from 4% to 4.5% due to adverse weather conditions affecting crop yields, particularly in the UK [23][24] - There has been a noted drop in gross margin in Q2, attributed to increased inflation and weather-related challenges [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has seen a significant increase in innovation contributions to sales, with expectations for nearly double the previous year's contribution [32][34] - SG&A expenses have been reduced, primarily driven by overhead savings rather than advertising and promotion [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market in Q2 experienced a volume decline of approximately 5.5%, particularly in key regions like the UK, which impacted sales [15][21] - The company has gained market share in volume despite overall market underperformance during the hot weather [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on enhancing its product assortment to better align with changing consumer preferences during hotter weather, including more natural and marinated fish options [51][54] - There is an emphasis on cost competitiveness and maintaining pricing strategies to recover from inflation while avoiding overpricing compared to competitors [30][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's future despite disappointing first-half performance, citing a strong portfolio and effective strategy [60] - The company is preparing for potential future heat waves by adjusting product offerings and improving supply chain agility [54][51] Other Important Information - The company has conducted share buybacks amounting to €100 million in H1 and announced a dividend, indicating a commitment to returning value to shareholders [56] - The company is exploring partnerships with startups to enhance innovation and speed up product development [44][46] Q&A Session Summary Question: Confidence in full-year guidance after recent performance - Management acknowledged past optimism regarding ERP implementation and excess inventory issues, indicating a more cautious approach moving forward [5][6][8] Question: Organic growth expectations for Q3 and Q4 - Management clarified that while growth is expected in Q3, the overall guidance remains conservative due to market conditions [14][16] Question: Impact of ERP supply disruption on sales - Management confirmed that the ERP lag from the previous year will positively affect comparisons, but current market conditions remain challenging [19][20] Question: Inflationary pressures and pricing strategies for 2026 - Management indicated that pricing adjustments will be necessary to recover from inflation, with a focus on maintaining competitiveness [22][26] Question: SG&A savings and overhead expense reductions - Management detailed ongoing initiatives to reduce overhead costs while remaining competitive in pricing [30][31] Question: Innovation pipeline and future products - Management highlighted a significant increase in sales from innovation and renovation, with a focus on snacking and new product categories [32][34] Question: Supply chain optimization and facility closures - Management discussed plans for supply chain optimization, including the closure of a smaller factory in the Nordics [41][42] Question: Long-term strategies for dealing with climate change - Management emphasized the need for agility in product offerings to adapt to changing weather patterns and consumer preferences [49][54] Question: Capital allocation priorities - Management confirmed ongoing share buybacks and dividends while maintaining flexibility for future opportunities [56][57]