Article: Hormel 3Q profit rises 49 pct despite sales drop

Hormel Foods Corp. said Thursday its third-quarter profit rose 49 percent to beat estimates as costs fell, but sales and volume dropped as consumers limited their spending on more expensive items like microwavable meals.

The Austin, Minn.-based company continued to see strong sales in its Spam franchise, in Hormel chili and in Mexican products like Chi-Chi's. Its operating profit was better in grocery products, refrigerated foods and its Jennie-O Turkey Store brand, even as sales fell.

Conditions improved in its Jennie-O Turkey Store unit, which had been hurting from high ingredient costs last year and an oversupply on the market, which limits the ability to raise prices. ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!