B&G Foods(US:BGS)2025-05-07 21:30Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q1 2025 decreased by 10.5% to $425.4 million from $475.2 million in Q1 2024, with a significant decline of almost 20% in January [6][15][18] - Adjusted EBITDA fell by $15.9 million to $59.1 million, representing 13.9% of net sales compared to 15.8% in Q1 2024 [6][15][26] - Adjusted net income was $3.4 million or $0.04 per adjusted diluted share, down from $14.4 million or $0.18 per adjusted diluted share in Q1 2024 [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Specialty segment net sales decreased by 13.1% to $134.4 million, with adjusted EBITDA down by 9.9% [27][28] - Meals segment net sales fell by 11.6% to $106.1 million, with adjusted EBITDA decreasing by approximately $700,000 [28][29] - Frozen and vegetables segment net sales dropped by 11.2% to $93.5 million, with adjusted EBITDA turning negative at -$1.5 million compared to $7.8 million in the previous year [29][30] - Spices and Flavor Solutions segment net sales decreased by 4% to $91.7 million, with adjusted EBITDA down by 8.4% [30][31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumption trends across measured and unmeasured channels were approximately -6% in Q1, with an improvement to -2% in April [7][11] - Retailer inventories were reduced by almost two weeks, impacting net sales by approximately $15 million [8][16] - The Canadian market showed mid-single-digit net sales growth for frozen and vegetables despite currency translation impacts [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on reshaping its portfolio to improve margins and cash flow, with a target of adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales approaching 20% [12][13] - Plans include divesting non-core businesses and utilizing proceeds to pay down debt [13][14] - The company aims to reduce leverage below 5.5 times through divestitures and excess cash flow [37] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a challenging start to 2025 but expressed optimism about improving trends in April and early May [5][11] - The company revised its fiscal year 2025 guidance down to net sales of $1.86 billion to $1.91 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $280 million to $290 million [11][34] - Management highlighted the uncertainty in consumer behavior and the impact of tariffs on future operations [35][36] Other Important Information - The company implemented cost reduction efforts expected to yield $10 million in savings for the year, with a run rate of $15 million to $20 million [12][34] - Input cost inflation remains modest, but certain categories like black pepper and garlic are experiencing elevated costs [23][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of tariffs on potential sale of Frozen - Management indicated that ongoing M&A discussions are not typically commented on, but the Green Giant business is compliant under USMCA, minimizing tariff impacts [38][40] Question: Accelerating portfolio changes due to stock reaction - Management confirmed that they were already accelerating portfolio shaping efforts and cost reduction programs prior to the stock reaction [47][48] Question: Expectations of recouping lost volume from retailer inventory reduction - Management believes the inventory reduction is largely permanent, with minimal expectation of recouping lost volume [58] Question: Confidence in consumer behavior changes - Management expressed that the process of lapping negative consumer behavior will be gradual, with expectations for improvement in the second half of the year [60][62] Question: Promotional spending moving forward - Management plans to resume more normal promotional spending rates after the aggressive promotional investments made in Q1 [76][77]