Group 1 - France's competition authority has approved a joint venture between frozen-vegetable suppliers Greenyard and Eureden, as well as a merger between local agricultural cooperatives Vivadour and Terres du Sud [1][3] - The joint venture will involve the transfer of activities from their subsidiaries, Gelagri Bretagne and Greenyard Frozen France, focusing on the production and marketing of private label and branded frozen vegetables and ready meals [3][4] - The local antitrust body found that the joint venture's market position is limited and that the merger will not significantly alter the competitive landscape in the vegetable supply markets in Brittany [4] Group 2 - Terres du Sud operates with 6,000 members and has locations across the Dordogne, Gironde, and Lot-et-Garonne departments in southwestern France, offering a range of food ingredients to manufacturers [5] - Terres du Sud's consumer-facing brands include Blason d'Or for poultry, Delmond L'Origine for duck meat, and Vallée Verte and O'natur for fruit juices, with O'natur focusing on a premium range for specialist networks [5]

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]