General Mills said Wednesday it will close three Missouri manufacturing plants as part of an ongoing effort by the food giant to strengthen the competitiveness of its supply chain. The plants that will close include a pizza crust manufacturing plant in St. Charles, along with two facilities in Joplin that were acquired through the company's $1.45 billion purchase of Whitebridge Pet Brands in 2024, General Mills spokesperson Mollie Wulff told FOX Business. "General Mills announced it will close its two Jo ...

General Mills is to shut three factories in the US as part of the company’s bid to cut costs and improve productivity. In a stock-exchange filing, General Mills said it will close three facilities in Missouri it acquired in the last three years by the end of its 2029 fiscal year. The group said it would also conduct “the consolidation of assets at certain of our other facilities”. In May, General Mills set out a “global transformation” programme to make the business more productive. As a consequence, t ...

Summary of Conference Call on China Consumer Staples Industry Overview - The consumer staples sector in China is experiencing weak demand trends from Q2 to Q3, influenced by policy and weather factors, leading to a wider divergence between market leaders and laggards [1][2] - The spirits sector has seen a valuation increase of 24% in Q3 to date, compared to a 16% increase in the A-share Liquor index and a 13% increase in the MSCI China Index, driven by improved market sentiment and expectations of stimulus policies [1] Key Insights Demand Trends - Overall demand remains weak, particularly in gifting categories as noted by dairy and spirits companies [1] - Beer, spirits, and liquid milk are under pressure, while beverages, snacks, and pet foods show mixed performance with some companies experiencing growth due to strong product cycles and omnichannel strategies [2] Pricing and Market Dynamics - Pricing remains muted across the sector, with spirits and beer companies focusing on sub-premium segments [2] - The August Foods Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased by 4.3% year-over-year, indicating potential challenges in pricing strategies [1] Company Performance and Strategies - Companies like Haitian and Nongfu are gaining market share, while others like Jonjee are struggling [9] - CR Beer reported growth in premium and sub-premium volumes, while maintaining a disciplined approach to pricing and promotions [47] - The spirits sector is seeing a shift towards mid-end and mass-market products to counteract upper-mid-end softness [43] Future Outlook - The sector is expected to see a gradual recovery in retail demand, particularly in traditional categories like beer and dairy, with potential for value stock rotation in early 2026 [8] - Companies are expected to enhance shareholder returns and maintain dividend payouts, with a focus on operational efficiency and cost management [8] Sector Preferences - Preference remains for beverages due to secular growth, followed by pet foods and dairy, with a positive outlook for beer in the medium term [13] - Stock recommendations include Eastroc, Gambol, and China Pet Foods for strong product cycles, and CR Beer and Tsingtao for their dividend yields and valuations [13] Additional Observations - The competitive landscape is evolving, with top players consolidating market share amid weak demand, leading to a valuation premium for leading brands [9] - The pet food sector is benefiting from a shift towards higher-value segments, with companies focusing on premiumization and operational efficiencies [48] - Snacks are seeing a channel shift towards discounters and mom-pop stores, with a focus on large SKU strategies and product mix upgrades [49] Key Watch Factors - Policy directions post the Fourth Plenum and local catering incentives are critical to monitor, especially their impact on banquet traffic [11] - The performance of mid-end and mass SKUs in spirits and the overall margin discipline across the sector will be crucial as cost pressures moderate [12]

Core Insights - AB Akola Group, a leading agricultural and food production group in the Baltic States, is planning to expand its production capacity and enhance competitiveness by applying for approximately €10 million in EU support [1][6]. Group Performance - For the financial year 2024/2025, the demand for compound feed remained exceptionally high, with production reaching record levels and revenues increasing by 16.9% [2]. - The pet food segment experienced a 2% decline in production and an 11% decline in sales, attributed to a shift towards premium products, which now account for 86% of total production compared to 50% a year ago [2]. Investment Plans - The company is preparing for funding calls and evaluating technological solutions to increase production capacity in both compound feed and extruded product markets [3]. - The total value of the planned project is estimated at around €90 million, with €10 million expected from EU support and the remainder financed through the company's own and borrowed funds [6]. Production Capacity - Currently, Kauno Grūdai has a production capacity of 50 t/h for loose feed and 40 t/h for pellet feed, with plans to increase these to 80 t/h and 60 t/h, respectively [5]. - Relocating the pet food production line is expected to increase its capacity more than threefold [5]. Strategic Goals - The investment aims to meet the strong demand for compound feed from Lithuanian farms and ensure a reliable supply to the local market, while also setting new standards of efficiency and quality in the industry [7]. - The company emphasizes the importance of investing in employee development to maintain high operational quality and achieve long-term strategic goals [7]. Financial Overview - For the twelve months of the 2024/2025 financial year, AB Akola Group recorded consolidated revenue of €1,580 million, a 4.9% increase compared to the previous year, and achieved the second-highest profit in its history, exceeding €62 million [9].

Core Viewpoint - Chewy, a leading pet product retailer, reported strong earnings with a 9% sales growth and an increase in active customers, but the stock experienced a decline due to profit numbers aligning with consensus expectations rather than exceeding them [2][3][5]. Financial Performance - Sales grew by 9% year-over-year, with active customers increasing by 4.5%, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth in this metric [2][3]. - Net sales per active customer reached an all-time high of approximately $591 annually, indicating potential for further growth in both active customer numbers and spending per customer [3][5]. Profitability Insights - The profit for the quarter was in line with consensus, attributed to one-time headwinds such as fulfillment center expansion and increased labor costs, as well as frontloaded inventory at tariffs [4][10]. - Gross margins expanded by 80 basis points, largely due to growth in the high-margin Chewy Ads business [8]. Growth Initiatives - Chewy is expanding into fresh and frozen food categories, which are currently growing in the mid-teens percentage range [5][6]. - The company is enhancing its loyalty program, Chewy Plus, which currently represents only 3% of net sales but is showing strong growth [6]. - Chewy is also increasing its healthcare offerings, including more prescriptions and the opening of physical vet clinics, with plans for long-term growth in this area [6][7]. Competitive Landscape - Chewy faces competition from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Costco, but has managed to maintain strong growth, with net sales up 9% despite this competitive environment [12][13]. - A significant portion of Chewy's customers are also Amazon Prime members, yet this has not negatively impacted Chewy's financial performance, suggesting a differentiated platform and strong customer service [13][14]. Investment Outlook - Analysts maintain a strong buy rating on Chewy with a target price of $53, viewing the current stock decline as a buying opportunity due to the potential for long-term growth and margin expansion [5][10]. - The company has no long-term debt and generates substantial free cash flow, further supporting its investment appeal [8].

Company Overview - Chewy has expanded its offerings from basic pet supplies to include veterinary and pet pharmaceutical care, with clinics located in South Florida, Atlanta, Denver, and Texas [1] - The company provides a wide range of products and services for various pets, including livestock, through its organized online retail site [2] - Chewy was founded in 2011, went public in 2019, and currently has a market cap of approximately $17.6 billion [3] Financial Performance - In fiscal 1Q25, Chewy reported revenue of $3.12 billion, an increase of 8.3% year-over-year, exceeding forecasts by over $40 million [7] - The non-GAAP EPS for the same quarter was 35 cents, up 4 cents from the previous year, and also beat expectations by one penny [7] - Chewy had approximately 20.5 million active customers at the end of fiscal 2024 [6] Analyst Insights - Morgan Stanley's Nathan Feather anticipates a high likelihood of revenue guidance increase for FY25, citing improving web traffic and potential for pet household formation [8] - The stock is rated as Overweight (Buy) with a price target of $50, indicating an 18% upside potential [8] - Chewy has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 22 recent analyst reviews, with 17 Buys and 5 Holds, and a current stock price of $42.33 [9] Market Context - The overall market outlook is positive, with major indexes near record highs, and the S&P 500 and NASDAQ showing year-to-date increases of 10% and 12.5%, respectively [5] - The potential for Federal Reserve rate cuts is seen as a catalyst for market resilience, which could benefit equities [4]

Financial Performance & Outlook - Net sales increased by 1.0% in Q2 2025[11] - Organic sales increased by 1.8% in Q2 2025, including a 0.6% negative impact from lower private label pet sales[11] - Base Business EPS increased by 1% in Q2 2025[11] - The company projects net sales growth to be up low single digits for 2025, including a flat to low-single-digit negative impact from foreign exchange[16] - The company anticipates organic sales growth to be at the low end of 2% to 4% for 2025, including the impact of exiting private label pet sales[16] Strategic Initiatives - A new three-year productivity program is projected to result in cumulative pre-tax charges totaling between $200 and $300 million[13] - The company's 2025 strategic plan focuses on delivering science-led innovation and improving capabilities in digital, data, creative, and RGM (Revenue Growth Management)[40] - The company scaled its automated RGM diagnostic tool to cover 78% of net sales[71] Innovation & Product Relaunches - Colgate Strong Teeth was relaunched in India with a new formulation in 2025, featuring Calcium Boost + Arginine technology for 2x stronger teeth[49, 51] - EltaMD UV Skin Recovery features a patented Skin Barrier Repair Technology, AAComplex, and showed a 52% reduction in visible redness in clinical studies[58, 61] Future Strategy - The company is accelerating change for its 2030 strategy, focusing on leveraging global reach, science-based innovation, omni-channel demand generation, and data/analytics/AI capabilities[80, 81]

BARCLAYS GLOBAL CONSUMER STAPLES CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 This presentation contains forward-looking statements, such as projected net sales, operating results, earnings, and cash flows, that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Users should understand that the risks, uncertainties, factors, and assumptions listed and dis ...

Financial Performance - AB Akola Group's consolidated revenue for the 2024/2025 financial year exceeded EUR 1,580 million, representing a 4.9% increase year-over-year [1][3] - The Group's net profit increased by 151.4% to EUR 62.6 million, with EBITDA rising by 51.5% to EUR 111 million [2][3] - The fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year saw consolidated revenue of EUR 414 million, an 8.6% increase from EUR 381 million in the previous year [3] Business Segments - The 'Food Production' segment generated EUR 449.1 million in revenue, with operating profit increasing by 95.6% to EUR 40 million [5] - The poultry business was a major contributor, with gross profit soaring by 103% to EUR 68.9 million, supported by favorable market conditions [6][8] - The 'Partners for Farmers' segment generated EUR 1,151.3 million in revenue, with operating profit improving to EUR 29.4 million [11] Agricultural Performance - The 'Farming' segment reported EUR 47.6 million in revenue, a 9.3% increase, with gross profit at EUR 12.9 million [15] - Agricultural companies harvested 3% more compared to the previous year, driven by strong winter crop yields [16] Market Trends - Consumer preference for sustainable protein sources is rising, while alternative protein prices remain elevated [7] - EU broiler production costs have remained stable or slightly lower, improving producer margins [8] - There is a growing appreciation for higher quality poultry meat raised without antibiotics in Lithuania and Latvia [8][9] Challenges and Opportunities - The poultry market faced challenges from outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), particularly in Poland and Italy [7] - The 'Other Products and Services' segment generated EUR 20.8 million in revenue, with stable profitability despite rising input costs [17][18]

Core Viewpoint - Chewy, Inc. is expected to report growth in both revenue and earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, with sales estimated at $3.1 billion, reflecting a 7.8% increase year-over-year, and earnings per share projected at 33 cents, indicating a 37.5% growth from the previous year [1][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Chewy's quarterly sales is $3.1 billion, representing a 7.8% increase from the same quarter last year [1]. - The consensus estimate for earnings per share has remained stable at 33 cents, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 37.5% [1]. - Chewy has delivered an average earnings surprise of 8.1% over the last four quarters, with a recent surprise of 2.9% [2]. Group 2: Factors Influencing Performance - Chewy's performance is likely bolstered by its digital capabilities, product assortments, and expansion efforts, including technology upgrades to its online platforms [3]. - Increased product demand, strong consumer engagement, and growth in active customers have positively impacted results, alongside the expansion of Autoship subscriptions and healthcare services [4]. - The estimated net sales per active customer is $589, which is a 4.2% increase from the previous year [5][9]. Group 3: Challenges - The company faces challenges from a tough macroeconomic environment, including inflationary pressures and tariffs, which may have negatively impacted performance [6].