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YoY shift: Neutral
Year-over-year tone shift - average net-tone change across Risk Factors and MD&A vs the prior 10-K. This filing is 0.09pp more bullish than last year's.
Why YoY instead of absolute: the LM lexicon has ~6.6× more negative words than positive (legal/risk-disclosure language is heavy on hedging), so every 10-K reads bearish on raw tone. Year-over-year change strips that bias and surfaces the actual shift in management's framing.
Tone shift by section
The two components the gauge averages: how Risk Factors and MD&A each shifted in net tone versus last year's 10-K. The headline above is their average, so a green needle over a soft section just means the other section carried it.
Risk Factors
+0.07pp
Flat
Net-tone change vs last year's 10-K.
MD&A
+0.11pp
Flat
Net-tone change vs last year's 10-K.
Per-snippet highlights
Sentence-level sentiment highlighting with category and subcategory filters is coming once the snippet-scoring pipeline lands. For now, dig into the actual section text on the Sections tab.
Language change vs prior 10-K
Risk Factors (Item 1A) - words with the biggest YoY frequency increase
Negative rising
limitation+2
unable+1
unlawful+1
declines+1
threatened+1
Positive rising
beautiful+3
benefit+1
successful+1
Risk Factors (Item 1A)
11,336 words
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Any investment in our company will be subject to risks inherent to our business. Before making an investment decision, investors should carefully consider the risks described below together with all of the other information included in this report. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are not aware of or focused on or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.
Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In that case, holders of our securities may lose all or part of their investment.
Risks Specific to Our Company and Industry
The packaged food industry is highly competitive and we face risks related to the execution of our strategy and our ability to respond to channel shifts and other competitive pressures.
The packaged food industry is highly competitive. Numerous brands and products, including private label products, compete for shelf space and sales, with competition based primarily on product quality, convenience, price, trade promotion, brand recognition and loyalty, customer service, effective consumer advertising and promotional activities and the ability to identify and emerging consumer preferences. We compete with a significant number of companies of varying sizes, including divisions or subsidiaries of larger companies. Many of these competitors have multiple product lines, substantially financial and other resources available to them and may have lower fixed costs and/or are substantially less leveraged than our company. In addition, the rapid growth of some channels, in particular in e-commerce, may impact our current operations or strategies more quickly than we planned for, create consumer price deflation, alter the buying behavior of consumers or our retail customer relationships. We may need to increase or reallocate spending on existing and new distribution channels and technologies, marketing, advertising and new product to protect or increase revenues, market share and brand significance. These expenditures may not be , including those related to our e-commerce and other technology-focused efforts, and might not result in trade and consumer acceptance of our efforts. If we are to continue to compete with these companies or if competitive pressures or other factors, such as an to effectively respond to channel shifts and new technologies, cause our products to market share, result in significant price or
Language change vs prior 10-K
MD&A (Item 7) - words with the biggest YoY frequency increase
Negative rising
impairment+17
closing+5
divestitures+3
limitations+3
unfavorable+2
Positive rising
gain+9
beautiful+7
effective+2
benefit+1
gains+1
MD&A (Item 7)
13,686 words
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” before Part I of this report and elsewhere in this report. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.
General
We manufacture, sell and distribute a diverse portfolio of branded, high-quality, shelf-stable and frozen foods and household products, many of which have leading regional or national market shares. In general, we position our branded products to appeal to the consumer desiring a high-quality and reasonably priced product. We complement our branded product retail sales with institutional and foodservice sales and private label sales.
Our company has been built upon a successful track record of acquisition-driven growth. Our goal is to continue to increase sales, profitability and cash flows through strategic acquisitions, new product development and organic growth. We intend to implement our growth strategy through the following initiatives: expanding our brand portfolio
impact our ability to operate efficiently, our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially and adversely affected.
We may be unable to anticipate changes in consumer preferences and consumer demographics, which may result in decreased demand for our products.
Our success depends in part on our ability to anticipate and offer products that appeal to the changing tastes, dietary habits and product packaging preferences of consumers in the market categories in which we compete. If we are not able to anticipate, identify or develop and market products that respond to these changes in consumer preferences, whether resulting from changing consumer demographics or otherwise, demand for our products may decline and our operating results may be adversely affected. In addition, we may incur significant costs related to developing and marketing new products or expanding our existing product lines in reaction to what we perceive to be increased consumer preference or demand. Such development or marketing may not result in the volume of sales or profitability anticipated.
Our business may be adversely impacted if we are unable to respond and adapt to rapid changes in technology and emerging laws and regulations relating to such technology.
Our competitors may outpace and outspend us in incorporating new technologies, including artificial intelligence, into their new product innovation, marketing and engagement with consumers and into their manufacturing, distribution and cost savings initiatives, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Our efforts to utilize new technological advancements may not be successful, may result in substantial integration and maintenance costs, and may expose us to additional legal and operational risks. If we incorporate artificial intelligence into our business, the content, analyses, or recommendations generated by artificial intelligence, if deficient, inaccurate, or biased, could adversely impact our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, as well as our reputation. Moreover, ethical concerns associated with artificial intelligence or other new technologies could lead to brand damage, competitive disadvantages or legal repercussions. In addition, the rapid evolution and increased adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and our obligations to comply with emerging laws and regulations may require us to develop additional increase our compliance costs and require us to adopt technology-specific governance programs. Any problems with our implementation or use of technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, could negatively impact our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
We may be unable to maintain our profitability in the face of a consolidating retail environment.
Our largest customer, Walmart, accounted for approximately 31.0% of our fiscal 2025 net sales, and our ten largest customers together accounted for approximately 63.6% of our fiscal 2025 net sales. As retail customers, such as supermarkets, discounters, e-commerce merchants, warehouse clubs and food distributors, continue to consolidate and our retail customers grow larger and become more sophisticated, our retail customers may demand lower pricing and increased promotional programs. Further, these customers are reducing their inventories and increasing their emphasis on products that hold either the number one or number two market position and private label products. If we fail to use our sales and marketing expertise to maintain our category leadership positions to respond to these trends, or if we lower our prices or increase promotional support of our products and are unable to increase the volume of our products sold, our profitability and financial condition may be adversely affected.
We are vulnerable to decreases in the supply and increases in the price of raw materials and labor, manufacturing, distribution and other costs, and we may not be able to offset increasing costs by increasing prices to our customers.
We purchase agricultural products, including vegetables, oils and spices and seasonings, meat, poultry, ingredients, packaging materials and other raw materials from growers, commodity processors, other food companies and packaging manufacturers. Commodities, ingredients, packaging materials and other raw materials are subject to increases in price attributable to a number of factors, including changes in crop size, federal and state agricultural programs, export demand, currency exchange rates, energy and fuel costs, water supply, weather conditions during the growing and harvesting seasons, insects, plant diseases and fungi, and glass, metal and plastic prices. Fluctuations in commodity prices can lead to retail price volatility and intensive price competition, and can influence consumer and trade buying patterns. The cost of labor, manufacturing, energy, fuel, packaging materials and other costs related to the production and distribution of our products can from time to time increase significantly and unexpectedly. We attempt to manage these risks by entering into short-term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements from
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time to time, by implementing cost-saving measures and by raising sales prices. During the past several years, our cost-saving measures and sales price increases have not been sufficient to fully offset increases to our raw material, ingredient, packaging and distribution costs. Moreover, during fiscal 2026 and possibly beyond, we expect to face continued industry-wide cost inflation for various inputs, including commodities, ingredients, packaging materials, other raw materials, transportation and labor. To the extent we are unable to offset present and future cost increases, our operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
We may be unable to offset any reduction in net sales in our mature food product categories through an increase in trade spending for these categories or an increase in net sales in other categories.
Most of our food product categories are mature and certain categories have experienced declining consumption rates from time to time. If consumption rates and sales in our mature food product categories decline, our revenue and operating income may be adversely affected, and we may not be able to offset this decrease in business with increased trade spending or an increase in sales or profitability of other products and product categories.
We may have difficulties integrating acquisitions or identifying new acquisitions.
A major part of our strategy is to grow through acquisitions and we expect to pursue additional acquisitions of food product lines and businesses. However, we may be unable to identify and consummate additional acquisitions or may be unable to successfully integrate and manage the product lines or businesses that we have recently acquired or may acquire in the future. In addition, we may be unable to achieve a substantial portion of any anticipated cost savings from acquisitions or other anticipated benefits in the timeframe we anticipate, or at all. Moreover, any acquired product lines or businesses may require a greater than anticipated amount of trade, promotional and capital spending. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of the operations, technologies, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, services and products of the acquired companies, personnel turnover and the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns. Any inability by us to integrate and manage any product lines or businesses that we have recently acquired or may acquire in the future in a timely and efficient manner, any inability to achieve a substantial portion of any anticipated cost savings or other anticipated benefits from these acquisitions in the time frame we anticipate or any unanticipated required increases in trade, promotional or capital spending could adversely affect our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Moreover, future acquisitions by us could result in our incurring substantial additional indebtedness, being exposed to contingent liabilities or incurring the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, all of which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
We have substantial indebtedness, which could restrict our ability to pay dividends and impact our financing options and liquidity position.
At January 3, 2026, we had total long-term indebtedness of $1,968.0 million (before debt discount/premium), including $1,458.7 million principal amount of senior secured indebtedness and $509.3 million principal amount of senior unsecured indebtedness. Our ability to pay dividends is subject to contractual restrictions contained in the instruments governing our indebtedness. Although our credit agreement and the indentures governing our senior secured notes and senior notes (which we refer to as the senior secured notes indenture and the senior notes indenture, respectively) contain covenants that restrict our ability to incur debt, as long as we meet these covenants we will be able to incur additional indebtedness. The degree to which we are leveraged on a consolidated basis could have important consequences to the holders of our securities, including:
our ability in the future to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions may be limited;
we may not be able to refinance our indebtedness on terms acceptable to us or at all;
a significant portion of our cash flow is likely to be dedicated to the payment of interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available for future operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions and/or dividends on our common stock; and
we may be more vulnerable to economic downturns and be limited in our ability to withstand competitive pressures.
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We are subject to restrictive debt covenants and other requirements related to our debt that limit our business flexibility by imposing operating and financial restrictions on our operations.
The agreements governing our indebtedness impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions prohibit or limit, among other things:
the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the issuance of certain preferred stock or redeemable capital stock;
the payment of dividends on, and purchase or redemption of, capital stock;
a number of restricted payments, including investments;
specified sales of assets;
specified transactions with affiliates;
the creation of certain types of liens;
consolidations, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets; and
entry into certain sale and leaseback transactions.
Our credit agreement requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy financial condition tests, including, without limitation, a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio.
Our ability to comply with the ratios or tests may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. A breach of any of these covenants, or failure to meet or maintain ratios or tests could result in a default under our credit agreement and/or our senior secured notes indenture and/or our senior notes indenture. Certain events of default under our credit agreement, our senior secured notes indenture and our senior notes indenture would prohibit us from paying dividends on our common stock. In addition, upon the occurrence of an event of default under our credit agreement, our senior secured notes indenture or our senior notes indenture, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the credit agreement and the senior notes, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the credit agreement lenders could proceed against the security granted to them to secure that indebtedness. If the lenders accelerate the payment of the indebtedness, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full this indebtedness and our other indebtedness.
To service our indebtedness and fund our working capital needs, capital expenditures and any future acquisitions, we require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control.
Our ability to make interest payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, and to fund working capital needs, planned capital expenditures and potential acquisitions depends on our ability to generate cash flow from operations in the future. This ability, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.
A significant portion of our cash flow from operations is dedicated to servicing our debt requirements. In addition, in accordance with our current dividend policy we intend to continue distributing a significant portion of any remaining cash flow to our stockholders as dividends.
Our ability to continue to fund our working capital needs and capital expenditures and to expand our business is, to a certain extent, dependent upon our ability to borrow funds under our credit agreement and to obtain other third-party financing, including through the issuance and sale of additional debt or equity securities.
Financial market conditions may impede our access to, or increase the cost of, financing for acquisitions.
Any future financial market disruptions or tightening of the credit markets, may make it more difficult for us to obtain financing for acquisitions or increase the cost of obtaining financing. In addition, our borrowing costs can be affected by short and long-term debt ratings assigned by independent rating agencies that are based, in significant part, on our performance as measured by credit metrics such as interest coverage and leverage ratios. A decrease in these ratings could increase our cost of borrowing or make it more difficult for us to obtain financing.
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Future disruptions in the credit markets or other factors, could impair our ability to refinance our debt upon terms acceptable to us or at all.
Our $509.3 million of 5.25% senior notes due 2027 mature on September 15, 2027, our $799.3 million of 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028 mature on September 15, 2028, our $430.0 million revolving credit facility matures on December 16, 2028, and our $444.4 million of tranche B term loans mature on October 10, 2029. Our ability to raise debt or equity capital in the public or private markets in order to effect a refinancing of our debt at or prior to maturity could be impaired by various factors, including factors beyond our control. For example, in recent years U.S. credit markets experienced significant dislocations and liquidity disruptions that caused the spreads on prospective debt financings to widen considerably. These circumstances materially impacted liquidity in the debt markets, making financing terms for borrowers less attractive, and in certain cases resulted in the unavailability of certain types of debt financing. Any future uncertainty in the credit markets could negatively impact our ability to access additional debt financing or to refinance existing indebtedness on favorable terms, or at all. In addition, any future uncertainty in other financial markets in the U.S. could make it more difficult or costly for us to raise capital through the issuance of common stock or other equity securities. Any of these risks could impair our ability to fund our operations or limit our ability to expand our business or increase our interest expense, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
If we are unable to refinance our indebtedness at or prior to maturity on commercially reasonable terms or at all, we would be forced to seek other alternatives, including:
sales of assets;
sales of equity; and
negotiations with our lenders or noteholders to restructure the applicable debt.
If we are forced to pursue any of the above options, our business and/or the value of an investment in our securities could be adversely affected.
We rely on co-packers for a significant portion of our manufacturing needs, and the inability to enter into additional or future co-packing agreements may result in our failure to meet customer demand.
We rely upon co-packers for a significant portion of our manufacturing needs. See Item 1, “Business—Production— Co-Packing Arrangements .” The success of our business depends, in part, on maintaining a strong sourcing and manufacturing platform. We believe that there are a limited number of competent, high-quality co-packers in the industry, and if we were required to obtain additional or alternative co-packing agreements or arrangements in the future, we can provide no assurance that we would be able to do so on satisfactory terms or in a timely manner. Our inability to enter into satisfactory co-packing agreements could limit our ability to implement our business plan or meet customer demand.
We rely on the performance of major retailers, wholesalers, specialty distributors and mass merchants for the success of our business, and should they perform poorly or give higher priority to other brands or products, our business could be adversely affected.
We sell our products principally to retail outlets and wholesale distributors including, traditional supermarkets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, wholesalers, foodservice distributors and direct accounts, specialty food distributors, military commissaries and non-food outlets such as drug store chains, dollar stores and e-tailers. The replacement by or poor performance of our major wholesalers, retailers or chains or our inability to collect accounts receivable from our customers could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, our customers offer branded and private label products that compete directly with our products for retail shelf space and consumer purchases. Accordingly, there is a risk that our customers may give higher priority to their own products or to the products of our competitors. In the future, our customers may not continue to purchase our products or provide our products with adequate levels of promotional support. It is also possible that our customers may replace our branded products with private label products.
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Pandemics or disease outbreaks may disrupt our business, including among other things, our supply chain, our manufacturing operations and customer and consumer demand for our products, and could have a material adverse impact on our business.
The spread of pandemics or disease outbreaks may disrupt our third-party business partners’ ability to meet their obligations to us, which may negatively affect our operations. These third parties include those who supply our ingredients, packaging, and other necessary operating materials, contract manufacturers who supply certain finished goods, distributors, and logistics and transportation providers. In addition, we rely on customers to be able to receive shipments and stock store shelves. If a significant percentage of our workforce or the workforce of our third-party business partners or customers is unable to work, including because of illness or travel or government restrictions in connection with a pandemic or disease outbreak, our operations may be negatively impacted. In addition, a significant increase in demand for food and other consumer packaged goods products as a result of pandemics or disease outbreaks may limit the availability of ingredients, packaging and other raw materials necessary to produce our products, and our operations may be negatively impacted. Conversely, pandemics or disease outbreaks could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect economies and financial markets, consumer spending and confidence levels resulting in an economic downturn that could affect customer and consumer demand for our products.
Our efforts to manage and mitigate these factors may be unsuccessful, and the effectiveness of these efforts depends on factors beyond our control, including the duration and severity of any pandemic or disease outbreak, as well as third-party actions taken to contain its spread and mitigate public health effects.
The ultimate impact of any pandemic or disease outbreak on our business will depend on many factors, including, among others, the duration of social distancing and stay-at-home and work-from-home mandates, policies and recommendations and whether, and the extent to which, additional waves or variants of any such pandemic or disease outbreak affects the United States and the rest of North America, our ability and the ability of our suppliers to continue to operate our and their manufacturing facilities and maintain the supply chain without material disruption and procure ingredients, packaging and other raw materials when needed despite any disruptions in the supply chain or labor shortages, our customers’ ability to adequately staff their distribution centers and stores, and the extent to which macroeconomic conditions resulting from any such pandemic or disease outbreak and the pace of the subsequent recovery may impact consumer eating and shopping habits.
Severe weather conditions, natural disasters and other natural events can affect raw material supplies and reduce our operating results.
Severe weather conditions, natural disasters and other natural events, such as floods, droughts, frosts, earthquakes, pestilence or health pandemics may affect the supply of the raw materials that we use for our products. Our maple syrup products, for instance, are particularly susceptible to severe freezing conditions in Québec, Canada and Vermont during the season in which maple syrup is produced. Our Green Giant frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico is located in a region affected by water scarcity and restrictions on usage. Pandemics or disease outbreaks may cause significant disruptions to our supply chain and operations, including disruptions in our ability to purchase raw materials, and delays in the manufacture and shipment of our products. Competing manufacturers can be affected differently by weather conditions, natural disasters and other natural events depending on the location of their supplies. If our supplies of raw materials are delayed or reduced, we may not be able to find supplemental supply sources on favorable terms or at all, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.
Climate change, water scarcity or legal, regulatory, or market measures to address climate change or water scarcity, could negatively affect our business and operations.
In the event that climate change has a negative effect on agricultural productivity, we may be subject to decreased availability or less favorable pricing for certain commodities that are necessary for our products. We may also be subjected to decreased availability or less favorable pricing for water as a result of such change, which could impact our manufacturing and distribution operations. For example, our Green Giant frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico is already affected by water scarcity in that region of Mexico. Any further restrictions on, or loss of, water rights due to water scarcity, water rights violations or otherwise for our Irapuato manufacturing facility could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.
The increasing concern over climate change also may result in more regional, federal, foreign and/or global legal and regulatory requirements to reduce or mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases. In the event that such regulation
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is enacted and is more aggressive than the sustainability measures that we are currently undertaking to monitor our emissions, improve our energy and resource efficiency and report such efforts, we may experience significant increases in manufacturing and distribution and administrative costs. In particular, increasing regulation of fuel emissions and packaging recycling could substantially increase the supply chain, distribution and administrative costs associated with our products. As a result, climate change or increased concern over climate change could negatively affect our business and operations.
Most of our products are sourced from single manufacturing sites, which means disruptions in our or our co-packers’ operations for any number of reasons could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our products are manufactured at many different manufacturing facilities, including our ten manufacturing facilities and manufacturing facilities operated by our co-packers. However, in most cases, individual products are produced only at a single location. If any of these manufacturing locations experiences a disruption for any reason, including a work stoppage, power failure, fire, or weather related condition or natural disaster, etc., this could result in a significant reduction or elimination of the availability of some of our products. If we were not able to obtain alternate production capability in a timely manner or on satisfactory terms, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Our operations are subject to numerous laws and governmental regulations, exposing us to potential claims and compliance costs that could adversely affect our business.
Our operations are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA, the USDA, the FTC, the SEC, the CPSC, the United States Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency and various other federal, state, local and foreign authorities. We are also subject to U.S. laws affecting operations outside of the United States, including anti-bribery laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Any changes in these laws and regulations, or any changes in how existing or future laws or regulations will be enforced, administered or interpreted could increase the cost of developing, manufacturing and distributing our products or otherwise increase the cost of conducting our business, or expose us to additional risk of liabilities and claims, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In addition, failure by us to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including future laws and regulations, could subject us to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, recalls or seizures, as well as potential criminal sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. See Item 1, “Business—Government Regulation” and “—Environmental Matters.”
Failure by third-party co-packers or suppliers of raw materials to comply with food safety, environmental or other regulations may disrupt our supply of certain products and adversely affect our business.
We rely on co-packers to produce certain of our products and on other suppliers to supply raw materials. Such co-packers and other suppliers, whether in the United States or outside the United States, are subject to a number of regulations, including food safety and environmental regulations. Failure by any of our co-packers or other suppliers to comply with regulations, or allegations of compliance failure, may disrupt their operations. Disruption of the operations of a co-packer or other suppliers could disrupt our supply of product or raw materials, which could have an adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Additionally, actions we may take to mitigate the impact of any such disruption or potential disruption, including increasing inventory in anticipation of a potential production or supply interruption, may adversely affect our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
A recall of our products could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, we may be subject to significant liability should the consumption of any of our products cause injury, illness or death.
The sale of food products for human consumption involves the risk of injury to consumers. Such injuries may result from mislabeling, tampering by unauthorized third parties or product contamination or spoilage, including the presence of foreign objects, undeclared allergens, substances, chemicals, other agents or residues introduced during the growing, manufacturing, storage, handling or transportation phases of production. Under certain circumstances, we may be required to recall products, leading to a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Even if a situation does not necessitate a recall, product liability claims might be asserted against us. We have from time to time been involved in product liability lawsuits, none of which have been material to our business. While we are subject to governmental inspection and regulations and believe our facilities
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comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, if the consumption of any of our products causes, or is alleged to have caused, a health-related illness in the future we may become subject to claims or lawsuits relating to such matters. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful or is not fully pursued, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused injury, illness or death could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential customers and our corporate and brand image. Moreover, claims or liabilities of this sort might not be covered by our insurance or by any rights of indemnity or contribution that we may have against others. We maintain product liability insurance and product contamination insurance in amounts we believe to be adequate. However, we cannot assure you that we will not incur claims or liabilities for which we are not insured or that exceed the amount of our insurance coverage. A product liability judgment against us or a product recall or the damage to our reputation resulting therefrom could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Pending and future litigation may lead us to incur significant costs.
We are, or may become, party to various lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business, which may include lawsuits or claims relating to contracts, intellectual property, product recalls, product liability, the marketing and labeling of products, employment matters, environmental matters or other aspects of our business. Even when not merited, the defense of these lawsuits may divert our management’s attention, and we may incur significant expenses in defending these lawsuits. In addition, we may be required to pay damage awards or settlements or become subject to injunctions or other equitable remedies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. The outcome of litigation is often difficult to predict, and the outcome of pending or future litigation may have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Consumer concern regarding the safety and quality of food products or health concerns could adversely affect sales of certain of our products.
If consumers in our principal markets lose confidence in the safety and quality of our food products even without a product liability claim or a product recall, our business could be adversely affected. Consumers have been increasingly focused on food safety and health and wellness with respect to the food products they buy. We have been and will continue to be impacted by publicity concerning the health implications of food products generally, which could negatively influence consumer perception and acceptance of our products and marketing programs. Developments in any of these areas could cause our results to differ materially from results that have been or may be projected.
A weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar or the Mexican peso would significantly increase our future costs relating to the production of maple syrup or frozen vegetable products .
We purchase a significant majority of our maple syrup requirements from suppliers in Québec, Canada. A weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar would significantly increase our future costs relating to the production of our maple syrup products to the extent we have not purchased Canadian dollars or otherwise entered into a currency hedging arrangement in advance of any such weakening of the U.S. dollar. These increased costs may not be fully offset by the positive impact the change in the relative strength of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar would have on our net sales in Canada. In addition, we operate a frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico. A weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Mexican peso would significantly increase our costs relating to the production of frozen vegetable products to the extent we have not purchased Mexican pesos or otherwise entered into hedging arrangements in advance of the weakening of the U.S. dollar.
Our net sales to Canada are subject to foreign currency fluctuations.
Our financial performance on a U.S. dollar denominated basis is subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. These fluctuations could cause material variations in our results of operations. With respect to our foreign sales, our principal exposure is to the Canadian dollar because our foreign sales are primarily to customers in Canada. Net sales in Canada accounted for approximately 7.7%, 7.5% and 7.1% of our total net sales in fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Although our sales for export to other countries are generally denominated in U.S. dollars, our sales to Canada are generally denominated in Canadian dollars. As a result, our net sales to Canada are subject to the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, and these fluctuations could have an adverse impact on business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. From time to time, we may enter into agreements that are intended to reduce
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the effects of our exposure to currency fluctuations, but these agreements may not be effective in significantly reducing our exposure.
Our operations in, and sales to customers in, foreign countries are subject to political and economic risk.
Our relationships with foreign customers, suppliers and co-packers as well as our manufacturing location in Irapuato, Mexico also subject us to the risks of doing business outside the United States. The countries from which we source our raw materials and certain of our finished goods and to which we sell certain of our finished goods may be subject to political and economic instability, and may periodically enact new or revise existing laws, taxes, duties, quotas, tariffs, currency controls or other restrictions to which we are subject, including restrictions on the transfer of funds to and from foreign countries or the nationalization of operations. Our products are subject to import duties and other restrictions, and the U.S. government may periodically impose new or revise existing duties, quotas, tariffs or other restrictions to which we are subject, including restrictions on the transfer of funds to and from foreign countries.
In particular, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or other regulatory and economic impact of changes in taxation and trade relations among the United States and other countries. For example, on February 1, 2025, the White House announced the imposition of tariffs of up to 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on imports from China, and those countries subsequently announced retaliatory tariffs in response. Although the imposition of such tariffs has to a large extent been at least temporarily paused in the case of Canada and Mexico, tariffs on imports from China temporarily increased to as high as 145%, and the Trump Administration has imposed tariffs on other countries throughout the globe. The U.S. has also reinstated full 25% tariffs on steel imports and increased tariffs on aluminum imports to 25%. The situation remains dynamic, rapidly evolving and uncertain. On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that many tariffs imposed by the current U.S. presidential administration were unlawful. The scope, timing and practical effect of this decision, including whether and how such tariffs may be modified, refunded, replaced or otherwise addressed through new measures and the decision’s impact on tariffs, duties and broader trade relations remains uncertain, and could be material to our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If allowed to become or remain effective, these or any new, replacement or increased tariffs or resultant trade wars could lead to significant increases in the costs of raw materials and finished goods, including spices for our Spices & Flavor Solutions business unit, such as garlic, primarily sourced from China, and black pepper primarily sourced from Vietnam; finished goods produced at our Green Giant frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico; certain raw material vegetables we procure in Mexico for production in the United States; and the cost of steel cans and lids used for certain of our products. Our attempts to potentially offset cost increases through increases in the prices we charge for certain of our products may not be successful and may result in reduced sales volume.
If we are unable to offset increased costs or face significant sales volume declines, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operation or liquidity. Although most of the Green Giant vegetable products that we sell to customers in Canada are grown and produced in Canada, retaliatory tariffs imposed or threatened to be imposed by Canada or any “buy Canadian” campaigns in response to U.S. tariffs could have an adverse impact on our sales to customers in Canada for any of our products that are not produced in Canada. In addition, if allowed to become or remain effective, these recent tariffs or any new, replacement or increased tariffs could also negatively affect U.S. national or regional economies or lead to increased inflation or a recession, which also could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operation or liquidity. The extent and duration of the tariffs and the resulting impact on general economic conditions and on our business are uncertain and depend on various factors, such as negotiations between the U.S. and affected countries, the responses of other countries or regions, exemptions or exclusions that may be granted, availability and cost of alternative sources of supply, and demand for our products.
In addition, changes in respective wage rates among the countries from which we and our competitors source product could substantially impact our competitive position. Changes in exchange rates, import/export duties or relative international wage rates applicable to us or our competitors could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. These changes may impact us in a different manner than our competitors.
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Litigation regarding our trademarks and any other proprietary rights and intellectual property infringementclaims may have a significant negative impact on our business.
We maintain an extensive trademark portfolio that we consider to be of significant importance to our business. If the actions we take to establish and protect our trademarks and other proprietary rights are not adequate to prevent imitation of our products by others or to prevent others from seeking to block sales of our products as an allegedviolation of their trademarks and proprietary rights, it may be necessary for us to initiate or enter into litigation in the future to enforce our trademark rights or to defend ourselves against claimed infringement of the rights of others. Any legal proceedings could result in an adverse determination that could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
We face risks associated with our defined benefit pension plans.
We maintain four company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans that cover approximately 21.4% of our employees. A deterioration in the value of plan assets resulting from poor market performance, a general financial downturn or otherwise could cause an increase in the amount of contributions we are required to make to these plans. For example, our defined benefit pension plans may from time to time move from an overfunded to underfunded status driven by decreases in plan asset values that may result from changes in long-term interest rates and disruptions in U.S. or global financial markets. Additionally, historically low interest rates coupled with poor market performance would have the effect of decreasing the funded status of these plans which would result in greater required contributions. For a more detailed description of these plans, see Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies; Use of Estimates— Pension Expense ” and Note 12, “Pension Benefits,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
An obligation to make additional, unanticipated contributions to our defined benefit plans could reduce the cash available for working capital and other corporate uses, and may have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operations and liquidity.
Our financial well-being could be jeopardized by unforeseen changes in our employees’ collective bargaining agreements, shifts in union policy or labor disruptions in the food industry.
As of January 3, 2026, approximately 48.3% of our 2,497 employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements. A prolonged work stoppage or strike at any of our facilities with union employees or a significant work disruption from other labor disputes in the food or related industries could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Two of our collective bargaining agreements expire in the next twelve months. The collective bargaining agreement covering our Stoughton, Wisconsin facility, which covers approximately 63 employees, is scheduled to expire on March 26, 2026, and the collective bargaining agreement for our Roseland, New Jersey facility, which covers approximately 50 employees, is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2026.
While we believe that our relations with our union employees are in general good, we cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement for our Stoughton or Roseland facilities on terms satisfactory to us, or at all, and without production interruptions, including labor stoppages. If, prior to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement for the Stoughton or Roseland facilities or prior to the expiration of any of our other existing collective bargaining agreements, we are unable to reach new agreements without union action or any such new agreements are not on terms satisfactory to us, our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially and adversely affected.
We are increasingly dependent on information technology; Disruptions, failures or security breaches of our information technology infrastructure could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Information technology is critically important to our business operations. We rely on information technology networks and systems, including the Internet, to process, transmit and store electronic and financial information, to manage a variety of business processes and activities, including manufacturing, financial, logistics, sales, marketing and administrative functions.
We depend on our information technology infrastructure to communicate internally and externally with employees, customers, suppliers and others. We also use information technology networks and systems to comply with regulatory, legal and tax requirements. These information technology systems, many of which are managed by third
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parties or used in connection with shared service centers, may be susceptible to damage, disruptions or shutdowns due to failures during the process of upgrading or replacing software, databases or components thereof, issues with or errors in systems’ maintenance or security, migration of applications to the cloud, power outages, hardware or software failures, computer viruses, malware, attacks by computer hackers or other cybersecurity risks, telecommunication failures, denial of service, user errors, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events.
Cyberattacks and other cyber incidents are occurring more frequently in the United States, are constantly evolving in nature, are becoming more sophisticated and are being made by groups and individuals (including criminal hackers, hacktivists, state-sponsored institutions, terrorist organizations and individuals or groups participating in organized crime) with a wide range of expertise and motives (including monetization of corporate, payment or other internal or personal data, theft of trade secrets and intellectual property for competitive advantage and leverage for political, social, economic and environmental reasons). Such cyberattacks and cyber incidents can take many forms including cyber extortion, denial of service, social engineering, such as impersonation attempts to fraudulently induce employees or others to disclose information or unwittingly provide access to systems or data, introduction of viruses or malware, such as ransomware through phishing emails, website defacement or theft of passwords and other credentials. We may incur significant costs in protecting against or remediating cyberattacks or other cyber incidents.
If any of our significant information technology systems sufferseveredamage, disruption or shutdown, whether due to natural disaster, cyberattacks or otherwise, and our disaster recovery and business continuity plans, or those of our third-party providers, do not effectively respond to or resolve the issues in a timely manner, our product sales, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we could experience delays in reporting our financial results, loss of intellectual property and damage to our reputation or brands. Cyberattacks, such as ransomware attacks, if successful, could interfere with our ability to access and use systems and records that are necessary to operate our business. Such attacks could materially adversely affect our reputation, relationships with customers, and operations and could require us to expend significant resources to resolve such issues.
We and third-parties with which we have shared personal information have been subject to attempts to breach the security of networks, IT infrastructure, and controls through cyberattack, malware, computer viruses, social engineering attacks, ransomware attacks, and other means of unauthorized access. For example, in February 2023, we experienced a cyberbreach resulting from a global ransomware attack that impacted thousands of network servers around the world and which encrypted certain of our network servers. In this case, our internal IT department together with third-party cybersecurity incidence response teams that we keep on retainer were able to unencrypt and restore most of the affected servers and restore others from backups within a few days and with minimal disruption to our manufacturing operations, sales, order processing, distribution and other business operations, and without paying any ransom. We cannot assure you, however, that we will be able to restore our systems so quickly and with minimal disruption to our business operations in response to a future cyberattack.
In addition, if we are unable to prevent physical and electronic break‑ins, cyberattacks and other information security breaches, we may suffer financial and reputational damage, be subject to litigation or incur remediation costs or penalties because of the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information belonging to us or to our partners, customers, suppliers or employees. The February 2023 ransomware attack described above resulted in the unauthorized release of sensitive personal information of certain of our current and former employees that has required remediation expenditures by our company and could adversely affect our reputation and increase the costs we already incur to protect against these risks. The mishandling or inappropriate disclosure of non‑public sensitive or protected information could also lead to the loss of intellectual property, negatively impact planned corporate transactions or damage our reputation and brand image. Misuse, leakage or falsification of legally protected information could also result in a violation of data privacy laws and regulations and have a negative impact on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to Comply with Data Privacy and Data Breach Laws May Subject Our Company to Fines, Administrative Actions and Reputational Harm.
We are subject to data privacy and data breach laws in the states and countries in which we do business, and as we expand into other states and countries, we may be subject to additional data privacy laws and regulations. In many states, state data privacy laws (such as the California Consumer Privacy Act), including application and interpretation, are rapidly evolving. The rapidly evolving nature of state and federal privacy laws, including potential inconsistencies between such laws and uncertainty as to their application, adds additional compliance costs and increases our risk of
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non-compliance. While we attempt to comply with such laws, we may not be in compliance at all times in all respects. Failure to comply with such laws may subject us to fines, administrative actions, and reputational harm.
If we are unable to hire or retain key management personnel, and a highly skilled and diverse workforce or effectively manage changes in our workforce or respond to shifts in labor availability, our growth and future success may be impaired and our results of operations could suffer as a result.
We must hire, retain and develop effective leaders and a highly skilled and diverse workforce at our corporate offices, manufacturing facilities and other work locations. We compete to hire new personnel with the variety of skills needed to manufacture, sell and distribute our products. Unplanned or increased turnover of employees with key capabilities, failure to attract and develop personnel with key capabilities, including emerging capabilities such as e-commerce and digital marketing skills, or failure to develop adequate succession plans for leadership positions or to hire and retain a workforce with the skills and in the locations we need to operate and grow our business could deplete our institutional knowledge base and erode our competitiveness. Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of senior management and other highly skilled employees, certain of whom would be difficult to replace.
The labor market has become increasingly tight and competitive and we may face sudden and unforeseenchallenges in the availability of labor, whether due to competition, natural disasters, weather conditions, pandemics or other factors. A sustained labor shortage or increased turnover rates within our workforce caused by any of these factors or related policies and mandates, or as a result of general macroeconomic factors, could lead to production or shipping delays, increased costs, including increased wages to attract and retain employees and increased overtime to meet demand. Similarly, we have in the past and may in the future be negatively impacted by labor shortages or increased labor costs experienced by our third-party business partners, including our external manufacturing partners, third-party logistics providers and customers. Our ability to recruit and retain a highly skilled and diverse workforce at our corporate offices, manufacturing facilities and other work locations could also be materially impacted if we fail to adequately respond to rapidly changing employee expectations regarding fair compensation, an inclusive and diverse workplace, flexible working or other matters.
If we fail to recruit and retain senior management and a highly skilled and diverse workforce, our growth and future success may be impaired and our results of operations may be materially and adversely effected.
We are a holding company and we rely on dividends, interest and other payments, advances and transfers of funds from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations.
We are a holding company, with all of our assets held by our direct and indirect subsidiaries, and we rely on dividends and other payments or distributions from our subsidiaries to meet our debt service obligations and to enable us to pay dividends. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments or distributions to us depends on their respective operating results and may be restricted by, among other things, the laws of their jurisdiction of organization (which may limit the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends), agreements of those subsidiaries, our credit agreement, our senior secured notes indenture, our senior notes indenture and the covenants of any future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur.
Future changes that increase cash taxes payable by us could significantly decrease our future cash flow available to make interest and dividend payments with respect to our securities and have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
We are able to amortize goodwill and certain intangible assets in accordance with Section 197 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. We expect to be able to amortize for tax purposes approximately $650.7 million between 2026 and 2038. The expected annual deductions are approximately $112.4 million for fiscal 2026, approximately $92.8 million for fiscal 2027, approximately $91.3 million for fiscal 2028, approximately $90.7 million for fiscal 2029, approximately $84.6 million for fiscal 2030, approximately $51.9 million for fiscal 2031, approximately $34.7 million for fiscal 2032, approximately $33.7 million for fiscal 2033, approximately $30.3 million for fiscal 2034, approximately $26.7 million for fiscal 2035, approximately $1.0 million for fiscal 2036, approximately $0.5 million for fiscal 2037 and approximately $0.1 million for fiscal 2038.
We also take material annual deductions for net interest expense due to our substantial indebtedness. However, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017, limits the deduction for net interest expense (including the treatment of depreciation and other deductions in arriving at adjusted taxable income) incurred by a
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corporate taxpayer to 30% of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income. Even though the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted on July 4, 2025 restores the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) calculation for purposes of determining interest expense deduction limitations, we were still subject to the interest expense deduction limitation in fiscal 2025 and we expect to continue to be subject to the interest expense deduction limitation in fiscal 2026 and future years.
If we are unable to fully utilize our interest expense deductions in future periods, our cash taxes will increase. Beginning with fiscal 2022, our adjusted taxable income as computed for purposes of the interest expense deduction limitation is computed after any deduction allowable for depreciation and amortization. As a result, our adjusted taxable income (used to compute the limitation) decreased and we were subject to the interest expense deduction limitation in fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, resulting in an increase to taxable income of $29.4 million, $110.8 million and $107.7 million, respectively. We expect to continue to be subject to the interest deduction limitation in future years. During fiscal 2025, we increased our valuation allowance by $4.6 million. We have recorded a deferred tax asset of $69.6 million and $72.7 million for fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, respectively, related to the interest deduction carryover, as the disallowed interest may be carried forward indefinitely. The increase in our cash taxes resulting from the interest expense deduction limitation was approximately $6.8 million, $19.5 million and $25.0 million for fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. There are various factors that may cause tax assumptions to change in the future, and we may have to record a valuation allowance against these deferred tax assets. See Note 10, “Income Taxes,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law or, in the case of the interest deduction, a change in our net interest expense relative to our adjusted taxable income that eliminates, limits or reduces our ability to amortize and deduct goodwill and certain intangible assets or the interest deduction we receive on our substantial indebtedness, or otherwise results in an increase in our corporate tax rate, our cash taxes payable would increase, which could significantly reduce our future cash and impact our ability to make interest and dividend payments and have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Likewise, the ultimate impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on our reported results in fiscal 2026 and beyond may differ from the estimates provided in this report, possibly materially, due to guidance that may be issued and other actions we may take as a result of this tax law different from that currently contemplated. See Note 10, “Income Taxes,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for information about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Other changes in tax laws in the United States or in other countries where we have significant operations, including rate changes or corporate tax provisions that could disallow or tax perceived base erosion or profit shifting payments or subject us to new types of tax, could have a material adverse effect on our effective tax rate and our deferred tax assets and liabilities. In addition, aspects of U.S. tax laws may lead foreign jurisdictions to respond by enacting additional tax legislation that is unfavorable to us. For example, numerous countries have now enacted the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development’s model rules on a global minimum tax of 15%, with the earliest effective date being for taxable years beginning as early as 2024 and with widespread implementation of a global minimum tax expected by 2025. In addition, in December 2024, the IRS published final regulations (Treasury Decision 10016) under Section 987 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The final regulations are effective December 10, 2024 and are generally applicable to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024. The final regulations provide guidance on determining income and currency gain or loss for a qualified business unit for purposes of Section 987. We recorded a tax benefit of $1.8 million in fiscal 2025 due to the final regulations and the applicable transition rules that impacted taxation relating to our primary operating subsidiary in Canada, which is a qualified business unit for purposes of Section 987. This increasingly complex global tax environment has existed in the past and could continue to increase tax uncertainty, resulting in higher compliance costs. Based on the guidance available thus far, we do not expect this legislation to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements, but we will continue to evaluate it as additional guidance and clarification becomes available.
We are also subject to tax audits by governmental authorities. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, if a taxing authority disagrees with the positions we have taken, we could face additional tax liabilities, including interest and penalties. Unexpected results from one or more such tax audits could significantly adversely affect our effective rate and increase our cash taxes payable, which could significantly reduce our future cash and impact our ability to make interest and dividend payments and have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
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A change in the assumptions used to value our goodwill or our indefinite-lived intangible assets could negatively affect our consolidated results of operations and net worth.
Our total assets include substantial goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (trademarks). These assets are tested for impairment through qualitative and quantitative assessments at least annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets might be impaired. We test our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets by comparing the fair values with the carrying values and recognize a loss for the difference. Estimating our fair value for these purposes requires significant estimates and assumptions by management, including future cash flows consistent with management’s expectations, annual sales growth rates, and certain assumptions underlying a discount rate based on available market data. Significant management judgment is necessary to estimate the impact of competitive operating, macroeconomic and other factors to estimate the future levels of sales and cash flows.
During each of fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, we recorded material non-cash impairment charges to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets. If future revenues and contributions to our operating results for any of our brands or operating segments, including recently impaired and newly acquired brands, deteriorate, at rates in excess of our current projections, we may be required to record additional non-cash impairment charges to certain intangible assets. In addition, any significant decline in our market capitalization or changes in discount rates, even if due to macroeconomic factors, could put pressure on the carrying value of our goodwill or the goodwill of any of our operating segments. A determination that all or a portion of our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired, although a non-cash charge to operations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition and results of operations. For a further discussion of our annual impairment testing of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (trademarks) and the material non-cash impairment charges to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets that we recorded in fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, see Note 2(g), “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies— Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Any future financial market disruptions or tightening of the credit markets could expose us to additional credit risks from customers and supply risks from suppliers and co-packers.
Any future financial market disruptions or tightening of the credit markets could result in some of our customers experiencing a significant decline in profits and/or reduced liquidity. A significant adverse change in the financial and/or credit position of a customer could require us to assume greater credit risk relating to that customer and could limit our ability to collect receivables. A significant adverse change in the financial and/or credit position of a supplier or co-packer could result in an interruption of supply. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Risks Relating to our Securities
Holders of our common stock may not receive the level of dividends provided for in our dividend policy or any dividends at all.
Dividend payments are not mandatory or guaranteed and holders of our common stock do not have any legal right to receive, or require us to pay, dividends. Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, decrease the level of dividends provided for in our dividend policy or entirely discontinue the payment of dividends. Future dividends with respect to shares of our capital stock, if any, depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions (including restrictions in our credit agreement, senior secured notes indenture and senior notes indenture), business opportunities, provisions of applicable law (including certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law) and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
If our cash flows from operating activities were to fall below our minimum expectations (or if our assumptions as to capital expenditures or interest expense were too low or our assumptions as to the sufficiency of our revolving credit facility to finance our working capital needs were to prove incorrect), we may need either to reduce or eliminate dividends or, to the extent permitted under our credit agreement, senior secured notes indenture and senior notes indenture, fund a portion of our dividends with borrowings or from other sources. If we were to use working capital or permanent borrowings to fund dividends, we would have less cash and/or borrowing capacity available for future dividends and other purposes, which could negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to maintain or expand our business.
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Our dividend policy may negatively impact our ability to finance capital expenditures, operations or acquisition opportunities.
Under our dividend policy, a substantial portion of our cash generated by our business in excess of operating needs, interest and principal payments on indebtedness, and capital expenditures sufficient to maintain our properties and assets is in general distributed as regular quarterly cash dividends to the holders of our common stock. As a result, we may not retain a sufficient amount of cash to finance growth opportunities or unanticipated capital expenditure needs or to fund our operations in the event of a significant business downturn. We may have to forego growth opportunities or capital expenditures that would otherwise be necessary or desirable if we do not find alternative sources of financing. If we do not have sufficient cash for these purposes, our financial condition and our business will suffer.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue without stockholder approval preferred stock that may be senior to our common stock in certain respects.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval and, in the case of preferred stock, upon such terms as the board of directors may determine. The rights of the holders of shares of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future, including any preferential rights that we may grant to the holders of preferred stock. The terms of any preferred stock we issue may place restrictions on the payment of dividends to the holders of our common stock. If we issue preferred stock that is senior to our common stock in right of dividend payment, and our cash flows from operating activities or surplus are insufficient to support dividend payments to the holders of preferred stock, on the one hand, and to the holders of common stock, on the other hand, we may be forced to reduce or eliminate dividends to the holders of our common stock.
Future sales or the possibility of future sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock may depress the price of our common stock.
We may issue shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock from time to time in future financings or as consideration for future acquisitions and investments. In the event any such future financing, acquisition or investment is significant, the number of shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock that we may issue may in turn be significant. In addition, we may grant registration rights covering shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, as applicable, issued in connection with any such future financing, acquisitions and investments.
Future sales or the availability for sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, whether issued and sold pursuant to our currently effective shelf registration statement or otherwise, would dilute our earnings per share and the voting power of each share of common stock outstanding prior to such sale or distribution, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our securities and could impair our ability to raise capital through future sales of our securities.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and several other factors could limit another party’s ability to acquire us and deprive our investors of the opportunity to obtain a takeover premium for their securities.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain certain provisions that may make it difficult for another company to acquire us and for holders of our securities to receive any related takeover premium for their securities. For example, our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval and upon such terms as the board of directors may determine. The rights of the holders of shares of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future.
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with disciplined acquisitions of complementary branded businesses, continuing to develop new products and delivering them to market quickly, leveraging our multiple channel sales and distribution system and continuing to focus on higher growth customers and distribution channels.
Since 1996, we have successfully acquired and integrated more than 50 brands or businesses into our company. On January 15, 2026, we entered into an agreement to acquire the broth and stock business of Del Monte Foods Corporation II Inc. and its affiliates, including the College Inn and Kitchen Basics brands. Subject to customary closing conditions and the simultaneous closing of two other pending sales by Del Monte Foods unrelated to B&G Foods or the broth and stock business, we expect the pending acquisition to close during the first quarter of 2026. We refer to this pending acquisition as the “ College Inn and Kitchen Basics acquisition.” This acquisition is expected to be accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and results of operations of the acquired business will be included in our consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. This acquisition and the application of the acquisition method of accounting will affect comparability between periods.
In addition, in an attempt to sharpen focus, improve margins and reduce our long-term debt, we have begun reshaping our portfolio through select divestitures. For example, on March 2, 2026, we completed the sale of the Green Giant U.S. frozen business to Seneca Foods Corporation. On October 24, 2025, we entered into an agreement to sell our Green Giant and Le Sieur frozen and shelf-stable product lines in Canada to Nortera Foods Inc., which, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, is expected to close during the second quarter of 2026. On August 1, 2025, we completed the sale of the Le Sueur U.S. shelf-stable vegetable brand to McCall Farms. On May 23, 2025, we completed the sale of the Don Pepino and Sclafani brands of pizza and spaghetti sauces, crushed tomatoes, tomato puree and whole peeled tomatoes to Violet Foods LLC. On January 3, 2023, we completed the sale of the Back to Nature business to a subsidiary of Barilla America, Inc. On November 8, 2023, we completed the sale of the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line to Seneca Foods Corporation. In this report, we refer to these divestitures as the “ Green Giant U.S. frozen divestiture,” the “ Green Giant Canada divestiture,” the “ Le Sueur U.S. divestiture,” the “ Don Pepino divestiture,” the “ Back to Nature divestiture,” and the “ Green Giant U.S. shelf-stabledivestiture.” These divestitures affect or will affect comparability between periods.
We are subject to a number of challenges that may adversely affect our businesses. These challenges, which are discussed above before Part I of this report under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” and in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” include:
Fluctuations in Commodity Prices and Production and Distribution Costs. We purchase raw materials, including agricultural products, oils, meat, poultry, ingredients and packaging materials from growers, commodity processors, other food companies and packaging suppliers located in the United States and foreign locations. Raw materials and other input costs, such as fuel and transportation, are subject to fluctuations in price attributable to a number of factors, including climate and weather conditions, supply chain disruptions (including raw material shortages), labor shortages, wars and pandemics. Fluctuations in commodity prices can lead to retail price volatility and intensive price competition, and can influence consumer and trade buying patterns. The cost of raw materials, fuel, labor, distribution and other costs related to our operations can increase from time to time significantly and unexpectedly.
We attempt to manage cost inflation risks by locking in prices through short-term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements and by implementing cost-saving measures. We also attempt to offset rising input costs by raising sales prices to our customers. However, increases in the prices we charge our customers may lag behind rising input costs. Competitive pressures also may limit our ability to quickly raise prices in response to rising costs.
We experienced material net cost increases for raw materials during the last several years due to a number of factors. Raw material costs remained elevated in fiscal 2023, fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025 and we anticipate that certain raw material costs will remain elevated during fiscal 2026. We are currently locked into our supply and prices for a majority of our most significant raw material commodities through the second quarter of 2026.
In recent years, we have been negatively impacted by industry-wide increases in the cost of distribution, primarily driven by increased freight rates. We attempt to offset all or a portion of these increases through list price increases, trade spend reductions and cost savings initiatives. Although freight rates began to decline in 2023, freight rates remained elevated during fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025 and we expect freight rates to remain elevated during fiscal 2026.
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We plan to continue managing inflation risk by entering into short-term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements from time to time, and, when necessary, by raising prices. However, to the extent we are unable to avoid or offset any present or future cost increases by locking in our costs, implementing cost-saving measures or increasing prices to our customers, our operating results could be materially adversely affected. In addition, if input costs decline, customers may look for price reductions in situations where we have locked into purchases at higher costs. During the past several years, our cost-saving measures and sales price increases have not been sufficient to fully offset increases to our raw material, ingredient and packaging and distribution costs.
Consolidation in the Retail Trade and Consequent Inventory Reductions. As customers, such as supermarkets, discounters, e-commerce merchants, warehouse clubs and food distributors, continue to consolidate and grow larger and become more sophisticated, our retail customers may demand lower pricing and increased promotional programs. These customers are also reducing their inventories and increasing their emphasis on private label products.
Changing Consumer Preferences and Channel Shifts. Consumers in the market categories in which we compete frequently change their taste preferences, dietary habits and product packaging preferences. In addition, the rapid growth of some channels and changing consumer preferences for these channels, in particular in e-commerce, may impact our current operations or strategies more quickly than we planned for, create consumer price deflation, alter the buying behavior of consumers or disrupt our retail customer relationships. As a result of changing consumer preferences for products and channels, we may need to increase or reallocate spending on existing and new distribution channels and technologies, marketing, advertising and new product innovation to protect or increase revenues, market share and brand significance. These expenditures may not be successful, including those related to our e-commerce and other technology-focused efforts, and might not result in trade and consumer acceptance of our efforts. If we are unable to effectively and timely adapt to changes in consumer preferences and channel shifts, our products may lose market share or we may face significant price erosion, and our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially and adversely affected.
Consumer Concern Regarding Food Safety, Quality and Health. The food industry is subject to consumer concerns regarding the safety and quality of certain food products. If consumers in our principal markets lose confidence in the safety and quality of our food products, even as a result of a product liability claim or a product recall by a food industry competitor, our business could be adversely affected.
Trade and Regulatory Uncertainty. On February 1, 2025, the White House announced the imposition of tariffs of up to 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on imports from China, and those countries subsequently announced retaliatory tariffs in response. Although the imposition of such tariffs has to a large extent been at least temporarily paused in the case of Canada and Mexico, tariffs on imports from China temporarily increased to as high as 145%, and the Trump Administration has imposed tariffs on other countries throughout the globe. The U.S. also reinstated full 25% tariffs on steel imports and increased tariffs on aluminum imports to 25%. The situation remains dynamic, rapidly evolving and uncertain. On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that many tariffs imposed by the current U.S. presidential administration were unlawful. The scope, timing and practical effect of this decision, including whether and how such tariffs may be modified, refunded, replaced or otherwise addressed through new measures and the decision’s impact on tariffs, duties and broader trade relations remains uncertain, and could be material to our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If allowed to become or remain effective, these or any new, replacement or increased tariffs or resultant trade wars could lead to significant increases in the costs of raw materials and finished goods, including spices for our Spices & Flavor Solutions business unit, such as garlic, primarily sourced from China, and black pepper primarily sourced from Vietnam; finished goods produced at our Green Giant frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico; certain raw material vegetables we procure in Mexico for production in the United States; and the cost of steel cans and lids used for certain of our products. Our attempts to potentially offset cost increases through increases in the prices we charge for certain of our products may not be successful and may result in reduced sales volume.
If we are unable to offset increased costs or face significant sales volume declines, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operation or liquidity. Although most of the Green Giant vegetable products that we sell to customers in Canada are grown and produced in Canada, retaliatory tariffs imposed or threatened to be imposed by Canada or any “buy Canadian” campaigns in response to U.S. tariffs could have an adverse impact on our sales to customers in Canada for any of our products that are not produced in Canada. In addition, if allowed to become or remain effective, these recent tariffs or any new, replacement or increased
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tariffs could also negatively affect U.S. national or regional economies or lead to increased inflation or a recession, which also could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operation or liquidity. The extent and duration of the tariffs and the resulting impact on general economic conditions and on our business are uncertain and depend on various factors, such as negotiations between the U.S. and affected countries, the responses of other countries or regions, exemptions or exclusions that may be granted, availability and cost of alternative sources of supply, and demand for our products.
Fluctuations in Currency Exchange Rates. Our foreign sales are primarily to customers in Canada. Our sales to Canada are generally denominated in Canadian dollars and our sales for export to other countries are generally denominated in U.S. dollars. During fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, our net sales to customers in Canada represented approximately 7.7% and 7.5%, respectively, of our total net sales. We also purchase certain raw materials from foreign suppliers. For example, we purchase a significant majority of our maple syrup requirements from suppliers in Québec, Canada. These purchases are made in Canadian dollars. A weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar would significantly increase our costs relating to the production of our maple syrup products to the extent we have not purchased Canadian dollars or otherwise entered into a currency hedging arrangement in advance of any such weakening of the U.S. dollar. These increased costs would not be fully offset by the positive impact the change in the relative strength of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar would have on our net sales in Canada. Our purchases of raw materials from other foreign suppliers are generally denominated in U.S. dollars, with one exception being certain purchases of raw materials in Mexico that are denominated in Mexican pesos. In addition, we operate a frozen vegetable manufacturing facility in Irapuato, Mexico and as a result are exposed to fluctuations in the Mexican peso. A weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Mexican peso would significantly increase our costs relating to the purchase of raw materials and the production of frozen vegetable products to the extent we have not purchased Mexican pesos or otherwise entered into hedging arrangements in advance of the weakening of the U.S. dollar. As a result, certain revenues and expenses have been, and are expected to be, subject to the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, and these fluctuations may have an adverse impact on operating results. For example, in recent years our results of operations from our Green Giant frozen operations in Mexico have been negatively impacted by appreciation in the strength of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar.
To confront these challenges, we continue to take steps to build the value of our brands, to improve our existing portfolio of products with new product and marketing initiatives, to reduce costs through improved productivity, to address consumer concerns about food safety, quality and health and to favorably manage currency fluctuations.
Critical Accounting Policies; Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) requires our management to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions made by management involve revenue recognition as it relates to trade and consumer promotion expenses; pension benefits; acquisition accounting fair value allocations; the recoverability of goodwill, other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and deferred tax assets; and the determination of the useful life of customer relationship and finite-lived trademark intangible assets. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions.
Our significant accounting policies are described more fully in note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. We believe the following critical accounting policies involve the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition and Trade and Consumer Promotion Expenses
We offer various sales incentive programs to customers and consumers, such as price discounts, in-store display incentives, slotting fees and coupons. The recognition of expense for these programs involves the use of judgment related to performance and redemption estimates. Estimates are made based on historical experience and other factors. Actual expenses may differ if the level of redemption rates and performance vary from our estimates.
The core principle of authoritative guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) related to the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer
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of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for the goods or services.
Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets with estimated useful lives are depreciated or amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted net future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted net future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Recoverability of assets held for sale is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to their fair value less estimated costs to sell. Estimating future cash flows and calculating the fair value of assets requires significant estimates and assumptions by management.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Our total assets include substantial goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (trademarks). Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized. As a result, these assets are tested for impairment through qualitative and quantitative assessments at least annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets might be impaired. We perform the annual impairment tests as of the last day of each fiscal year. We test our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets by comparing the fair values with the carrying values and recognize a loss for the difference.
The annual goodwill impairment testing is performed by estimating the fair value of each of our four reporting units based on discounted cash flows that reflect certain third-party market value indicators. We estimate the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily using the discounted cash flows method. We also consider other market-based valuation approaches, including market multiples and observable market indicators, to corroborate the results of our discounted cash flow analysis and further support fair value conclusions. These valuation methods reflect certain third-party market value indicators.
Calculating the fair values of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for these purposes requires significant estimates and assumptions by management, including future cash flows consistent with management’s expectations, annual sales growth rates, and certain assumptions underlying a discount rate based on available market data. Significant management judgment is necessary to estimate the impact of competitive operating, macroeconomic and other factors to estimate the future levels of sales and cash flows.
As of January 3, 2026, we had $543.8 million of goodwill and $1,059.6 million of indefinite-lived intangible assets recorded in our consolidated balance sheet. Following material impairments we recorded to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets in fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, none of our indefinite-lived intangible assets had a book value in excess of their calculated fair values and the percentage excess of the aggregate calculated fair value over the aggregate book value was approximately 301.1%. As of January 3, 2026, the fair values of our indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeded their carrying amounts by margins ranging from approximately 5% to 2,498%. Five brands had fair values closest to their respective book values, defined as less than 50 percent above carrying amount, and therefore represent the assets at highest relative risk of potential future impairment. These brands were Sugar Twin at 5% above a book value of $15.5 million, Static Guard at 9% above a book value of $18.8 million, Victoria at 22% above a book value of $6.7 million, Bear Creek at 42% above a book value of $113.4 million, and B&G at 43% above a book value of $12.3 million. However, materially different assumptions regarding the future performance of our businesses or discount rates could result in significant additional impairmentlosses. For example, if future revenues and contributions to our operating results for any of our brands or operating segments, including recently impaired brands and newly acquired brands, deteriorate, at rates in excess of our current projections, we may be required to record additional non-cash impairment charges to certain intangible assets. In addition, any significant decline in our market capitalization or changes in discount rates, even if due to macroeconomic factors, could put pressure on the carrying value of our goodwill or the goodwill of any of our operating segments. A determination that all or a portion of our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired, although a non-cash charge to operations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
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The table below sets forth the book value as of January 3, 2026 of the indefinite-lived trademarks for each of our brands whose net sales equaled or exceeded 3% of our fiscal 2025 or fiscal 2024 net sales and for “all other brands” in the aggregate (in thousands):
January 3, 2026
Brand (1) :
Crisco
Dash
Spices & Seasonings (2)
Ortega
Cream of Wheat
Clabber Girl (3)
Maple Grove Farms of Vermont
Green Giant
All other brands
Total indefinite-lived trademarks
For net sales for fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024 for each of the brands listed in this table, see “Results of Operations – Net Sales by Brand ” below.
The spices & seasonings acquisition was completed on November 21, 2016. Includes trademark values for multiple brands acquired as part of the acquisition.
The Clabber Girl acquisition was completed on May 15, 2019. Includes trademark values for multiple brands acquired as part of the acquisition.
All assumptions used in our impairment evaluations for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as forecasted growth rates and discount rate, are based on the best available market information and are consistent with our internal forecasts and operating plans. We believe these assumptions to be reasonable, but they are inherently uncertain. These assumptions could be adversely impacted by certain of the risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of this report.
For a further discussion of our annual impairment testing of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (trademarks) and the material non-cash impairment charges to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets that we recorded in fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, see Note 2(g), “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies— Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ” and Note 6, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Income Tax Expense Estimates and Policies
As part of the income tax provision process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes. This process involves estimating our current tax expenses together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. We then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent we believe the recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance. Further, to the extent that we establish a valuation allowance or increase this allowance in a financial accounting period, we include such charge in our tax provision, or reduce our tax benefits in our consolidated statements of operations. We use our judgment to determine our provision or benefit for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets.
There are various factors that may cause these tax assumptions to change in the near term, and we may have to record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. We cannot predict whether future U.S. federal, state and international income tax laws and regulations might be passed that could have a material effect on our results of operations. We assess the impact of significant changes to the U.S. federal, state and international income tax laws and regulations on a regular basis and update the assumptions and estimates used to prepare our consolidated financial statements when new regulations and legislation are enacted. We recognize the benefit of an uncertain tax position that we have taken or expect to take on the income tax returns if it is more likely than not that such tax position will be sustained based upon its technical merits.
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See “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” below for a discussion of the U.S. One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, which we refer to as the “OBBBA,” and the impact it has had, and may have, on our business and financial results.
Pension Expense
We maintain four company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans covering approximately 21.4% of our employees. Our funding policy for company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans is to contribute annually not less than the amount recommended by our actuaries. The funded status of our pension plans is dependent upon many factors, including returns on invested assets and the level of certain market interest rates, employee-related demographic factors, such as turnover, retirement age and mortality, and the rate of salary increases. Certain assumptions reflect our historical experience and management’s best judgment regarding future expectations. Due to the significant management judgment involved, our assumptions could have a material impact on the measurement of our pension expenses and obligations. We review pension assumptions regularly and we may from time to time make voluntary contributions to our pension plans, which exceed the amounts required by statute. We did not make any contributions to our company-sponsored pension plans during fiscal 2025 and we made contributions to our company-sponsored pension plans of $2.5 million in fiscal 2024. Changes in interest rates and the market value of the securities held by the plans could materially change, positively or negatively, the funded status of the plans and affect the level of pension expense and required contributions in fiscal 2026 and beyond.
Our discount rate assumption for our four company-sponsored defined benefit plans changed from 5.41% - 5.50% at December 28, 2024 to 5.25% - 5.49% at January 3, 2026. As a sensitivity measure, a 0.25% decrease or increase in our discount rate would increase or decrease our pension expense by approximately $0.7 million or $0.6 million, respectively. Similarly, a 0.25% decrease or increase in the expected return on pension plan assets would increase or decrease our pension expense by approximately $0.5 million. During fiscal 2026 we expect to make contributions of approximately $2.5 million to our four company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans.
Our withdrawal in 2021 from a multi-employer pension plan relating to a former manufacturing facility requires us to make withdrawal liability payments to the plan of approximately $0.9 million per year for 20 years, which commenced on March 1, 2022. The remaining estimated present value of that liability of $11.8 million is recorded on our consolidated balance sheet as of January 3, 2026.
For a more detailed description about our pension expense, the company-sponsored pension plans to which we contribute, and the multi-employer pension plan withdrawal liability, see Note 12, “Pension Benefits,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Acquisition Accounting
Our consolidated financial statements and results of operations include an acquired business’s operations after the completion of the acquisition. We account for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective fair values. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
The judgments made in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as asset lives, can materially impact our results of operations. Accordingly, for significant items, we typically obtain assistance from third-party valuation specialists. Determining the useful life of an intangible asset also requires judgment as different types of intangible assets will have different useful lives and certain assets may even be considered to have indefinite useful lives. All of these judgments and estimates can materially impact our results of operations.
One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was enacted in the United States. The OBBBA includes significant provisions, such as the permanent extension of certain expiring provisions of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, modifications to the international tax framework and the restoration of favorable tax treatment for certain business provisions. The legislation has multiple effective dates, with certain provisions effective in 2025 and others implemented through 2027. Among the tax law changes that impacted us in fiscal 2025 and will continue to impact us in future years relate to the timing of certain tax deductions including depreciation expense, R&D expenditures and interest expense. The OBBBA allows for 100% bonus depreciation to be taken on eligible assets, the option to immediately
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expense domestic R&D expenditures as well as accelerate the deduction of previously capitalized expenses, and restores the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) calculation for purposes of determining interest limitations. We implemented certain changes in fiscal 2025 related to the interest deduction limitation, bonus depreciation and the immediate expensing of R&D expenses. The OBBBA did not have a material impact on our effective income tax rate, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity for fiscal 2025. Certain provisions of the OBBBA, including the restoration of the EBITDA calculation for purposes of determining interest limitations, drove a reduction in our cash taxes for fiscal 2025. See Note 10, “Income Taxes,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth the percentages of net sales represented by selected items for fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024 reflected in our consolidated statements of operations. The comparisons of financial results are not necessarily indicative of future results:
Fiscal 2025
Fiscal 2024
Statement of Operations Data:
Net sales
Cost of goods sold
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Amortization expense
Impairment of goodwill
(Gain) loss on sales of assets
Impairment of assets held for sale
Impairment of intangible assets
Operating income (loss)
Other expenses (income):
Interest expense, net
Other income
Loss before income tax benefit
Income tax benefit
Net loss
As used in this section, the terms listed below have the following meanings:
Net Sales. Our net sales represents gross sales of products shipped to customers plus amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling, less cash discounts, coupon redemptions, slotting fees and trade promotional spending, including marketing development funds.
Gross Profit. Our gross profit is equal to our net sales less cost of goods sold. The primary components of our cost of goods sold are cost of internally manufactured products, purchases of finished goods from co-packers, a portion of our warehousing expenses plus freight costs to our distribution centers and to our customers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Our selling, general and administrative expenses include costs related to selling our products, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Some of these costs include administrative, marketing and internal sales force employee compensation and benefits costs, consumer advertising programs, brokerage costs, a portion of our warehousing expenses, information technology and communication costs, office rent, utilities, supplies, professional services, severance, acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses and other general corporate expenses.
Amortization Expense. Amortization expense includes the amortization expense associated with customer relationships, finite-lived trademarks and other intangible assets.
Impairment of Goodwill. Impairment of goodwill includes pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges to goodwill.
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Impairment of Intangible Assets . Impairment of intangible assets includes pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges to indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets and pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges to finite-lived intangible customer relationship assets.
Impairment of Assets Held for Sale . Impairment of assets held for sale includes pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges to assets held for sale for Green Giant Canada.
Net Interest Expense. Net interest expense includes interest relating to our outstanding indebtedness, amortization of bond discount/premium and amortization of deferred debt financing costs (net of interest income).
Other Income. Other income includes the non-service portion of net periodic pension (benefit) cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit costs.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain disclosures in this report include non-GAAP financial measures. A non-GAAP financial measure is defined as a numerical measure of our financial performance that excludes or includes amounts so as to be different from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in our consolidated balance sheets and related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows.
Base Business Net Sales. Base business net sales is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management to measure operating performance. We define base business net sales as our net sales excluding (1) the net sales of acquisitions until the net sales from such acquisitions are included in both comparable periods and (2) net sales of discontinued or divested brands. The portion of current period net sales attributable to recent acquisitions for which there is no corresponding period in the comparable period of the prior year is excluded. For each acquisition, the excluded period starts at the beginning of the most recent fiscal period being compared and ends on the first anniversary of the acquisition date. For discontinued or divested brands, the entire amount of net sales is excluded from each fiscal period being compared. We have included this financial measure because our management believes it provides useful and comparable trend information regarding the results of our business without the effect of the timing of acquisitions and the effect of discontinued or divested brands.
A reconciliation of net sales to base business net sales for fiscal 2025 and 2024 follows (in thousands):
Fiscal 2025
Fiscal 2024
Net sales
Net sales from discontinued or divested brands (1)
Base business net sales
For fiscal 2025, reflects net sales of the Le Sueur U.S. shelf-stable vegetable brand and the Don Pepino and Sclafani brands through the applicable dates of the divestitures. For fiscal 2024, reflects net sales of the Le Sueur U.S. shelf -stable vegetable brand, which was divested on August 1, 2025, net sales of the Don Pepino and Sclafani brands, which were divested on May 23, 2025, and a net credit paid to customers relating to other discontinued and divested brands.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures used by management to measure operating performance. We define EBITDA as net income (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. We define adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for cash and non-cash acquisition/divestiture-related expenses, gains and losses (which may include third-party fees and expenses, integration, restructuring and consolidation expenses, amortization of acquired inventory fair value step-up, and gains and losses on the sale of certain assets); gains and losses on extinguishment of debt; impairment of assets held for sale; impairment of intangible assets; and non-recurring expenses, gains and losses.
Management believes that it is useful to eliminate these items because it allows management to focus on what it deems to be a more reliable indicator of ongoing operating performance and our ability to generate cash flow from operations. We use EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA in our business operations to, among other things, evaluate our operating performance, develop budgets and measure our performance against those budgets, determine employee bonuses and evaluate our cash flows in terms of cash needs. We also present EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA because we believe they are useful indicators of our historical debt capacity and ability to service debt and because covenants in our credit agreement, our senior secured notes indenture and our senior notes indenture contain ratios based on these
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measures. As a result, reports used by internal management during monthly operating reviews feature the EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA metrics. However, management uses these metrics in conjunction with traditional GAAP operating performance and liquidity measures as part of its overall assessment of company performance and liquidity, and therefore does not place undue reliance on these measures as its only measures of operating performance and liquidity.
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be alternatives to operating income (loss), net income (loss) or any other GAAP measure as an indicator of operating performance. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not complete net cash flow measures because EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are measures of liquidity that do not include reductions for cash payments for an entity’s obligation to service its debt, fund its working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions and pay its income taxes and dividends. Rather, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are potential indicators of an entity’s ability to fund these cash requirements. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not complete measures of an entity’s profitability because they do not include certain costs and expenses and gains and losses described above. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. However, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA can still be useful in evaluating our performance against our peer companies because management believes these measures provide users with valuable insight into key components of GAAP amounts.
Reconciliations of net loss and net cash provided by operating activities to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024 along with the components of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA follows (in thousands):
Fiscal 2025
Fiscal 2024
Net loss
Income tax benefit
Interest expense, net (1) (2) (3)
Depreciation and amortization
EBITDA
Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses (4)
Impairment of goodwill (5)
Impairment of intangible assets (6)
(Gain) loss on sales of assets (7)
Impairment of property, plant and equipment, net (8)
Impairment of assets held for sale (9)
Adjusted EBITDA
Fiscal 2025
Fiscal 2024
Net cash provided by operating activities
Income tax benefit
Interest expense, net (1)(2)(3)
Impairment of goodwill (5)
Impairment of intangible assets (6)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt (1)
Loss on sales property, plant and equipment
Gain (loss) on sales of assets (7)
Impairment of property, plant and equipment (8)
Impairment of assets held for sale (9)
Deferred income taxes
Amortization of deferred debt financing costs and bond discount/premium
Share-based compensation expense
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of business combinations
EBITDA
Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses (4)
Impairment of goodwill (5)
Impairment of intangible assets (6)
(Gain) loss on sales of assets (7)
Impairment of property, plant and equipment, net (8)
Impairment of assets held for sale (9)
Adjusted EBITDA
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Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share. Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures used by management to measure operating performance. We define adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share as net income (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share adjusted for certain items that affect comparability. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments to net income (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share to eliminate the items identified in the reconciliation below. This information is provided in order to allow investors to make meaningful comparisons of our operating performance between periods and to view our business from the same perspective as our management. Because we cannot predict the timing and amount of these items, management does not consider these items when evaluating our company’s performance or when making decisions regarding allocation of resources.
A reconciliation of net loss to adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, along with the components of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, follows (in thousands):
Fiscal 2025
Fiscal 2024
Net loss
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt (1)
Accelerated amortization of deferred debt financing costs (2)
Debt financing costs (3)
Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses (4)
Impairment of goodwill (5)
Impairment of intangible assets (6)
(Gain) loss on sales of assets (7)
Impairment of property, plant and equipment, net (8)
Impairment of assets held for sale (9)
Tax adjustments (10)
Tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments (11)
Adjusted net income
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (12)
Net interest expense for fiscal 2025 was reduced by $2.3 million (or $1.7 million, net of tax) as a result of gains on extinguishment of debt related to our repurchases of $40.7 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.25% senior notes due 2027 in open market purchases during fiscal 2025 at discounted repurchase prices, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $2.9 million, partially offset by the accelerated amortization of deferred debt financing costs of $0.6 million, described in footnote (3) below, for fiscal 2025.
Net interest expense for fiscal 2024 includes a loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.1 million (or $1.6 million, net of tax), which consists of $1.3 million related to the refinancing of tranche B term loans and $0.6 million related to the refinancing of revolving credit loans during the third quarter of 2024, and $0.2 million related to the redemption in full of our then remaining outstanding 5.25% senior notes due 2025 during the fourth quarter of 2024.
Net interest expense for fiscal 2025 includes the accelerated amortization of deferred debt financing costs of $0.6 million (or $0.4 million, net of tax), resulting from our repurchases of 5.25% senior notes due 2027 described in footnote (1) above.
Net interest expense for fiscal 2024 includes the accelerated amortization of deferred debt financing costs of $0.5 million (or $0.3 million, net of tax), resulting from our prepayment of $21.3 million aggregate principal amount of tranche B term loans and repurchase of $0.7 million aggregate principal amount of 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028 during the second quarter of 2024.
Debt financing costs for fiscal 2024 reflects the portion of debt financing costs incurred in connection with the refinancing of our senior secured credit facility that is included in net interest expense. Of the $1.1 million (or $0.9 million, net of tax) included in net interest expense for fiscal 2024, $0.7 million relates to the refinancing of revolving credit loans and $0.4 million relates to the refinancing of tranche B term loans.
Acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses primarily include acquisition, integration and divestiture-related expenses for prior and potential future acquisitions and divestitures, and non-recurring expenses.
In connection with our transition from one reportable segment to four reportable segments during the first quarter of 2024, we reassigned assets and liabilities, including goodwill, between four reporting units (which are the same as our reportable segments). We completed a goodwill impairment test, both prior to and subsequent to the change in reporting structure, comparing the fair values of the reporting units to the carrying values. The goodwill impairment test resulted in us recognizing pre-tax, non-cash goodwill impairment charges of $70.6 million (or $53.4 million, net of tax) within our Frozen & Vegetables
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reporting unit during the first quarter of 2024. See Note 6, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” and Note 16, “Business Segment Information,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
During fiscal 2025, we recorded pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $60.8 million (or $46.1 million, net of tax), including $34.8 million (or $26.4 million, net of tax) related to finite-lived intangible customer relationship assets and indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets for the Green Giant brand during the fourth quarter of 2025 and $26.0 million (or $19.6 million, net of tax) related to indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets for the Victoria and McCann’s brands during the third quarter of 2025.
During the fourth quarter of 2024, we recorded pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $320.0 million (or $241.6 million, net of tax) related to indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets for the Green Giant , Victoria , Static Guard and McCann’s brands.
During fiscal 2025, we recognized a net gain on sale of assets of $2.9 million (or $2.2 million, net of tax), which includes a gain on sale of $15.5 million (or $11.6 million, net of tax) for the Le Sueur U.S. divestiture during the third quarter of 2025, partially offset by a loss on sale of $12.6 million (or $9.5 million, net of tax) for the Don Pepino divestiture during the second quarter of 2025.
During the first quarter of 2025, we recorded pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $3.0 million (or $2.3 million, net of tax) related to property, plant and equipment.
During the third quarter of 2025, we reclassified $75.6 million of inventories, $6.3 million of indefinite-lived trademark intangible assets and $3.1 million of finite-lived customer relationship intangible assets related to Green Giant Canada within the Frozen & Vegetables business unit to assets held for sale as of the end of the third quarter of 2025. We then measured the assets held for sale at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less the estimated costs to sell, and recorded pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $27.8 million (or $21.0 million, net of tax) during the third quarter of 2025. During the fourth quarter of 2025, the value of inventories included in assets held for sale decreased by $5.2 million and we recorded additional pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $0.7 million (or $0.6 million, net of tax) related to inventories included in assets held for sale.
We recorded a net tax adjustment expense of $3.9 million during fiscal 2025, primarily comprised of a valuation allowance of $4.6 million related to our interest expense deduction limitation, $0.9 million related to share-based compensation and rate changes, and a return-to-provision adjustment of $0.5 million, partially offset by a tax adjustment benefit of $2.1 million for a change in tax regulations for Section 987 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Tax adjustments for fiscal 2024 relate to return-to-provision adjustments in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Represents the tax effects of the non-GAAP adjustments listed above, assuming a tax rate of approximately 24.5%.
We were in a net loss position for fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, therefore there are no potentially dilutive share-based compensation awards included in the calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding for those periods, as their effect would have been antidilutive. However, given that the adjustments described above resulted in adjusted net income for those periods, the dilutive impact of potentially dilutive share-based compensation awards are being included in the calculation of adjusted diluted weighted average shares outstanding and, therefore, in the calculation of adjusted diluted earnings per share.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA and Segment Adjusted Expenses. For a discussion of segment adjusted EBITDA, segment adjusted expenses and a reconciliation of segment adjusted EBITDA to net loss, see Note 16, “Business Segment Information,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted Gross Profit Percentage. Adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross profit percentage are non-GAAP financial measures used by management to measure operating performance. We define adjusted gross profit as gross profit adjusted for acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold and adjusted gross profit percentage as gross profit percentage (i.e., gross profit as a percentage of net sales) adjusted for acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments to gross profit and gross profit percentage to eliminate the items identified in the reconciliation below. This information is provided in order to allow investors to make meaningful comparisons of our operating performance between periods and to view our business from the same perspective as our management. Because we cannot predict the timing and amount of these items, management does not consider these items when evaluating our performance or when making decisions regarding allocation of resources.
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A reconciliation of gross profit to adjusted gross profit and gross profit percentage to adjusted gross profit percentage for fiscal 2025 and 2024 follows (in thousands, except percentages):
Fiscal Year Ended
Fiscal 2025
Fiscal 2024
Gross profit
Acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold (1)
Adjusted gross profit
Gross profit percentage
Acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales
Adjusted gross profit percentage
Acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold primarily include acquisition, integration and divestiture-related expenses for prior and potential future acquisitions and divestitures, and non-recurring expenses.
Fiscal 2025 Compared to Fiscal 2024
Net Sales. Net sales for fiscal 2025 decreased $103.8 million, or 5.4%, to $1,828.7 million from $1,932.5 million for fiscal 2024. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in base business net sales and the Le Sueur U.S. and Don Pepino divestitures. Net sales of the divested brands were $51.6 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $22.6 million in fiscal 2025 through the applicable dates of divestiture, which were August 1, 2025 and May 23, 2025, respectively.
Base business net sales for fiscal 2025 decreased $74.9 million, or 4.0%, to $1,806.1 million from $1,881.0 million for fiscal 2024. The decrease in base business net sales was driven by a decrease in volume of $66.3 million, or 3.5% of base business net sales, a decrease in net pricing and the impact of product mix of $5.5 million, or 0.3% of base business net sales, and the negative impact of foreign currency of $3.1 million.
Gross Profit . For fiscal 2025, gross profit was $398.8 million, or 21.8% of net sales, and adjusted gross profit was $402.4 million, or 22.0% of net sales. For fiscal 2024, gross profit was $422.0 million, or 21.8% of net sales, and adjusted gross profit was $427.9 million, or 22.1% of net sales.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses . Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $6.8 million, or 3.7%, to $194.9 million for fiscal 2025 from $188.1 million for fiscal 2024. The increase was composed of increases in acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses of $9.9 million and general and administrative expenses of $2.1 million, partially offset by decreases in consumer marketing expenses of $3.8 million and warehousing expenses of $1.4 million. Expressed as a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 1.0 percentage point to 10.7% for fiscal 2025, as compared to 9.7% for fiscal 2024.
Amortization Expense. Amortization expense decreased $0.1 million to $20.3 million for fiscal 2025 from $20.4 million for fiscal 2024.
Impairment of Goodwill . In connection with our transition from one reportable segment to four reportable segments during the first quarter of 2024, we reassigned assets and liabilities, including goodwill, between four reporting units (which are the same as our reportable segments) and completed a goodwill impairment test, both prior to and subsequent to the change, comparing the fair values of the reporting units to the carrying values. The goodwill impairment test resulted in us recognizing pre-tax, non-cash goodwill impairment charges of $70.6 million within our Frozen & Vegetables reporting segment during the first quarter of 2024. See Note 6, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” and Note 16, “Business Segment Information,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Impairment of Intangible Assets . During fiscal 2025, we recorded pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $60.8 million, including $34.8 million related to finite-lived intangible customer relationship assets and indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets for the Green Giant brand during the fourth quarter of 2025, and $26.0 million related to indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets for the Victoria and McCann’s brands during the third quarter of 2025. During fiscal 2024, we recorded pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $320.0 million related to indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets for our Green Giant , Victoria , Static Guard and McCann’s brands. The impairment charges
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were driven by our projections for reduced net sales and lower margins for the brands due to, among other factors, ongoing challenges in the consumer packaged foods industry, particularly within the frozen and shelf-stable vegetable categories, which have faced both declining consumer demand and cost pressures. Additionally, unfavorable weather conditions in key growing regions where we source many of our products, along with the impact of unfavorable foreign exchange rates, have led to significantly higher costs, further impacting brand valuations.
(Gain) Loss on Sales of Assets . During fiscal 2025, we recognized a net gain on sale of assets of $2.9 million, which includes a gain on sale of $15.5 million for the Le Sueur U.S. divestiture during the third quarter of 2025 and a loss on sale of $12.6 million for the Don Pepino divestiture during the second quarter of 2025.
During the first quarter of 2024, we recorded a post-closing inventory adjustment related to the 2023 Green Giant U.S. shelf-stabledivestiture and recorded an additional loss on sale of assets $0.1 million.
See Note 6, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” to our consolidated financial statements for a more detailed description of the impairment of intangible assets in fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024.
Impairment of Assets Held for Sale . During fiscal 2025, we reclassified $75.6 million of inventories, $6.3 million of indefinite-lived trademark assets and $3.1 million of finite-lived customer relationship intangible assets related to Green Giant Canada within the Frozen & Vegetables business unit to assets held for sale as of the end of the third quarter of 2025. We then measured the assets held for sale at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less the estimated costs to sell, and recorded pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $27.8 million during the third quarter of 2025. During the fourth quarter of 2025, the value of inventories included in assets held for sale decreased by $5.2 million and we recorded additional pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $0.7 million related to inventories included in assets held for sale.
Operating Income (Loss). As a result of the foregoing, operating income increased $274.4 million to an operating income of $97.1 million for fiscal 2025 from an operating loss of $177.3 million for fiscal 2024. For fiscal 2025, operating income expressed as a percentage of net sales was 5.3% and for fiscal 2024, operating loss expressed as a percentage of net sales was 9.2%.
Net Interest Expense. Net interest expense decreased $7.8 million, or 5.0%, to $149.6 million for fiscal 2025 from $157.4 million for fiscal 2024. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in average long-term debt outstanding and lower average interest rates on our variable rate borrowings during fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024, and a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $2.3 million during fiscal 2025 compared to a loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.1 million during fiscal 2024.
Other Income. Other income for fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024 reflects the expected return on pension plan assets and the amortization of unrecognized gain less the interest cost on the projected benefit obligation of $4.8 million and $4.2 million, respectively.
Income Tax Benefit. Income tax benefit decreased $74.8 million to $4.5 million for fiscal 2025 from $79.3 million for fiscal 2024, and our effective tax rate decreased from 24.0% to 9.4%. The decreases in income tax benefit and effective tax rate were primarily due to a change in valuation allowance related to the realizability of our deferred tax asset associated with the carryforward of interest deduction in the U.S. along with non-deductible share-based compensation. See “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” above for a discussion of the impact of the tax legislation on income tax benefit.
Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023
For a discussion of fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023, including business segment operating results for fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023, please refer to our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2025.
Business Segment Operating Results
We operate in four reportable business segments: Specialty, Meals, Frozen & Vegetables, and Spices & Flavor Solutions. See Note 16, “Business Segment Information,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for a description of our business segments and for a reconciliation of segment adjusted EBITDA to net loss.
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Specialty Segment Results. Specialty segment results were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
January 3,
December 28,
$ Change
% Change
Specialty segment net sales
Specialty segment adjusted expenses
Specialty segment adjusted EBITDA
The decrease in Specialty segment net sales was primarily due to decreased volumes across the Specialty business unit in the aggregate, a decrease in net pricing and the impact of product mix, the Don Pepino divestiture (which negatively impacted net sales versus the prior year period by $9.4 million), and the modest negative impact of foreign currency.
The decrease in Specialty segment adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the decrease in net sales and the impact of tariffs, offset in part by a decrease in raw material costs as a percentage of net sales.
Meals Segment Results . Meals segment results were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
January 3,
December 28,
$ Change
% Change
Meals segment net sales
Meals segment adjusted expenses
Meals segment adjusted EBITDA
The decrease in Meals segment net sales was primarily due to a decrease in volumes across the Meals business unit in the aggregate, partially offset by an increase in net pricing and the impact of product mix.
The increase in Meals segment adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the increase in net pricing and improved product mix and cost reductions in certain inputs, as well as from increased plant volumes as pertaining to in-sourcing the manufacturing of certain additional products previously outsourced, offset in part by lower net sales volumes.
Frozen & Vegetables Segment Results. Frozen & Vegetables segment results were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
January 3,
December 28,
$ Change
% Change
Frozen & Vegetables segment net sales
Frozen & Vegetables segment adjusted expenses
Frozen & Vegetables segment adjusted EBITDA
The decrease in Frozen & Vegetables segment net sales was primarily due to the Le Sueur U.S. divestiture (which negatively impacted net sales versus the prior year period by $19.6 million), a decrease in volumes, a decrease in net pricing and the impact of product mix, and the negative impact of foreign currency.
The decrease in Frozen & Vegetables segment adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to a decrease in net sales, increased trade promotions, an increase in raw material and manufacturing costs (including the impact of tariffs), the Le Sueur U.S. divestiture, and the negative impact of foreign currency on products manufactured at our manufacturing facility in Mexico.
Spices & Flavor Solutions Segment Results . Spices & Flavor Solutions segment results were as follows (dollars in thousands):
The increase in Spices & Flavor Solutions segment net sales was primarily due to an increase in net pricing and the impact of product mix, partially offset by a decline in volumes across the Spices & Flavor Solutions business unit in the aggregate.
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The decrease in Spices & Flavor Solutions segment adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the impact of tariffs, the impact of product mix, increases in raw material costs (particularly for garlic and black pepper), and the impact of unfavorable manufacturing facility absorption.
Unallocated Corporate Items. Unallocated corporate expenses decreased $2.4 million, or 2.6% in fiscal 2025 to $93.7 million from $96.1 million for fiscal 2024.
Net Sales by Brand
The following table sets forth net sales for each of our brands whose net sales for fiscal 2025 or fiscal 2024 equaled or exceeded 3% of our total net sales for those periods, and for all other brands in the aggregate (in thousands):
Fiscal Weeks Ended
January 3,
December 28,
Brand (1) :
Green Giant (2)
Crisco
Ortega
Clabber Girl (3)
Maple Grove Farms of Vermont
Cream of Wheat
Dash
All other brands
Total
Net sales for each brand includes branded net sales and, if applicable, any private label and foodservice net sales attributable to the brand.
Also includes net sales for the Le Sueur brand.
Includes net sales for multiple brands acquired as part of the Clabber Girl acquisition that we completed on May 15, 2019, including, among others, the Clabber Girl , Rumford , Davis , Hearth Club and Royal brands of retail baking powder, baking soda and corn starch, and the Royal brand of foodservice dessert mixes.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary liquidity requirements include debt service, capital expenditures and working capital needs. See also, “Dividend Policy” below. We fund our liquidity requirements, as well as our dividend payments and financing for acquisitions, primarily through cash generated from operations and external sources of financing, including our revolving credit facility. We do not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements.
Cash Flows
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities . Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $29.5 million to $101.4 million for fiscal 2025 from $130.9 million for fiscal 2024. The decrease was largely due to a reduction in net sales in fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal 2024, and unfavorable working capital comparisons in fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024, primarily related to inventories, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accrued expenses and lease liabilities, partially offset by favorable working capital comparisons related to trade accounts receivable. Net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2025 was also negatively impacted by an $11.5 million purchase price deposit paid in connection with the pending College Inn and Kitchen Basics acquisition.
The unfavorable working capital comparison was due in large part to the Le Sueur U.S. divestiture and the timing of our inventory purchases during pack season prior to the closing date of the divestiture, which had a negative impact on our net cash provided by operating activities during fiscal 2025, but increased the purchase price we received for the Le Sueur U.S. divestiture by a similar amount, which purchase price had a positive impact of approximately $59.1 million on our cash provided by investing activities during fiscal 2025.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities . For fiscal 2025, net cash provided by investing activities was $39.3 million, primarily reflecting $69.7 million of proceeds we received from the Le Sueur U.S. and Don Pepino
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divestitures, partially offset by $30.6 million of capital expenditures. For fiscal 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $27.7 million, primarily reflecting $27.3 million of capital expenditures.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities . Net cash used in financing activities increased $42.8 million to $135.8 million for fiscal 2025 from $93.0 million for fiscal 2024.
For fiscal 2025, net cash used in financing activities primarily reflects dividend payments of $60.6 million, redemptions and repurchases of 5.25% senior notes due 2027 of $37.8 million, a net decrease in revolving loan borrowings of $30.0 million, and prepayments of term loan borrowings of $5.6 million.
For fiscal 2024, net cash used in financing activities primarily reflects redemptions and repurchases of 5.25% senior notes due 2025 of $266.1 million, net prepayments of term loan borrowings of $78.6 million, dividend payments of $60.0 million and debt refinancing costs of $12.6 million, partially offset by gross proceeds from the issuance of an additional $250.0 million principal amount of 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028 and a net increase in revolving loan borrowings of $75.0 million.
Cash Income Tax Payments, Net of Refunds. We made cash income tax payments, net of refunds, of approximately $5.8 million and $21.2 million during fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, respectively. We believe that we will realize a benefit to our cash taxes payable from amortization of our trademarks, goodwill and other intangible assets for the taxable years 2026 through 2038. We also take material annual deductions for net interest expense due to our substantial indebtedness. However, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in 2017 limits the deduction for net interest expense incurred by a corporate taxpayer to 30% of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income. We have been subject to the interest expense deduction limitation for the past three fiscal years and, even though the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted on July 4, 2025 restores the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) calculation for purposes of determining interest expense deduction limitations, we were subject to the interest expense deduction limitation in fiscal 2025 and we expect to continue to be subject to the interest expense deduction limitation in fiscal 2026 and future years. During fiscal 2025, we increased our valuation allowance by $4.6 million. See “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” above for a discussion of the impact and expected impact of the OBBBA on our cash income tax payments, net of refunds, including the impact the OBBBA had in fiscal 2025 and is expected to have in fiscal 2026 and beyond on our interest expense deductions and our cash taxes.
In addition, if there is a change in U.S. federal tax policy or, in the case of the interest deduction, a change in our net interest expense relative to our adjusted taxable income that eliminates, limits or reduces our ability to amortize and deduct goodwill and certain intangible assets or the interest deduction we receive on our substantial indebtedness, or otherwise that reduces any of these available deductions or results in an increase in our corporate tax rate, our cash taxes payable may increase further, which could significantly reduce our future liquidity and impact our ability to make interest and dividend payments and have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Dividend Policy
For a discussion of our dividend policy, see the information set forth under the heading “Dividend Policy” in Part II, Item 5 of this report.
Acquisitions
Our liquidity and capital resources have been significantly impacted by acquisitions and may be impacted in the foreseeable future by additional acquisitions. As discussed elsewhere in this report, as part of our growth strategy we plan to expand our brand portfolio with disciplined acquisitions of complementary brands. We have historically financed acquisitions by incurring additional indebtedness, issuing equity and/or using cash flows from operating activities. Our interest expense has over time increased as a result of additional indebtedness we have incurred in connection with acquisitions and will increase with any additional indebtedness we may incur to finance future acquisitions. Although we may subsequently issue equity and use the proceeds to repay all or a portion of the additional indebtedness incurred to finance an acquisition and reduce our interest expense, the additional shares of common stock would increase the amount of cash flows from operating activities necessary to fund dividend payments.
We intend to finance the pending College Inn and Kitchen Basics acquisition with proceeds from divestitures, cash on hand and revolving loans under our existing credit facility. The impact of future acquisitions, whether financed with additional indebtedness or otherwise, may have a material impact on our liquidity and capital resources.
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Debt
See Note 7, “Long-Term Debt,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for a description of our senior secured credit agreement, including our revolving credit facility and tranche B term loans, our 5.25% senior notes due 2027 and our 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028.
Equity
See Note 11, “Capital Stock,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Future Capital Needs
We are highly leveraged. On January 3, 2026, the aggregate principal amount of our long-term debt (including current portion) of $1,968.0 million, net of our cash and cash equivalents of $56.3 million, was $1,911.7 million. Stockholders’ equity as of that date was $452.9 million.
Our ability to generate sufficient cash to fund our operations depends generally on our results of operations and the availability of financing. Our management believes that our cash and cash equivalents on hand, cash flow from operating activities and available borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient for the foreseeable future to fund operations, meet debt service requirements, fund capital expenditures, make future acquisitions, if any, and pay our anticipated quarterly dividends on our common stock.
We expect to make capital expenditures of approximately $35.0 million to $40.0 million in the aggregate during fiscal 2026. Our projected capital expenditures for fiscal 2026 primarily relate to asset sustainability projects, cost savings initiatives, information technology (hardware and software), including cybersecurity, and environmental compliance.
Seasonality
Sales of a number of our products tend to be seasonal and may be influenced by holidays, changes in seasons or certain other annual events. In general our sales are higher during the first and fourth quarters.
We purchase most of the produce used to make our frozen and shelf-stable vegetables, shelf-stable pickles, relishes, peppers, tomatoes and other related specialty items during the months of June through October, and we generally purchase the majority of our maple syrup requirements during the months of April through August. Consequently, our liquidity needs are greatest during these periods.
Inflation
See “—General— Fluctuations in Commodity Prices and Production and Distribution Costs ” above.
Contingencies
See Note 14, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2(s), “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies — Recently Issued Accounting Standards – Pending Adoption ,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Supplemental Financial Information about B&G Foods and Guarantor Subsidiaries
As further discussed in Note 7, “Long-Term Debt,” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, our obligations under the 5.25% senior notes due 2027, and the 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028 are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by all of our existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries, which we refer to in this section as the guarantor subsidiaries. Our foreign subsidiaries are not guarantors, and any future foreign or partially owned domestic subsidiaries will not be guarantors, of the 5.25% senior notes due 2027, or the 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028. In this section, we refer to these foreign subsidiaries and future foreign or partially owned domestic subsidiaries as the non-guarantor subsidiaries. See Note 7, “Long-Term Debt” to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
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The 5.25% senior notes due 2027 and the related subsidiary guarantees are our and the guarantor subsidiaries’ general unsecured obligations and are effectively junior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantor subsidiaries’ secured indebtedness and to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries; are pari passu in right of payment to all of our and the guarantor subsidiaries’ existing and future unsecured senior debt; and are senior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantor subsidiaries’ future subordinated debt.
The 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028 are our senior secured obligations. The 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028 have the same guarantors as our credit agreement. The 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028 and the related guarantees are secured by, subject to permitted liens, first-priority security interests in certain collateral (which generally includes most of our and our guarantors’ right or interest in or to property of any kind, except for our and our guarantors’ real property and certain intangible assets), which assets also secure (and will continue to secure) our credit agreement on a pari passu basis. Pursuant to the terms of the applicable indenture, the related collateral agreement and an intercreditor agreement, the 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028 and the guarantees rank (1) pari passu (equally and ratably) in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future senior debt, including existing and future senior debt under our existing or any future senior secured credit agreement (including the term loan borrowings under our existing senior secured credit facility, any obligations under our existing revolving credit facility and all other borrowings and obligations under our credit agreement), (2) effectively senior in right of payment to our and such guarantors’ existing and future senior unsecured debt, including our 5.25% senior notes due 2027 to the extent of the value of the collateral, (3) effectively junior to our and the guarantors’ future secured debt, secured by assets that do not constitute collateral, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such debt, (4) senior in right of payment to our and such guarantors’ other existing and future subordinated debt and (5) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 8.00% senior secured notes due 2028.
Each guarantee contains a provision intended to limit the guarantor subsidiary’s liability to the maximum amount that it could incur without causing the incurrence of obligations under its guarantee to be a fraudulent transfer. However, we cannot assure you that this provision will be effective to protect the subsidiary guarantees from being voided under fraudulent transfer laws.
A guarantor subsidiary’s guarantee will be automatically released: (1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that guarantor subsidiary (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a person or entity that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) B&G Foods or a “restricted subsidiary” of B&G Foods under the applicable indenture, if the sale or other disposition complies with the asset sale provisions of the applicable indenture; (2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of that guarantor subsidiary to a person or entity that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) B&G Foods or a “restricted subsidiary” of B&G Foods, if the sale or other disposition complies with the asset sale provisions of the applicable indenture; (3) if B&G Foods designates any “restricted subsidiary” that is a guarantor subsidiary to be an “unrestricted subsidiary” in accordance with the applicable provisions of the indenture; (4) upon legal defeasance, covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the applicable indenture; (5) if such guarantor subsidiary no longer constitutes a domestic subsidiary; or (6) if it is determined in good faith by B&G Foods that a liquidation, dissolution or merger out of existence of such guarantor subsidiary is in the best interests of B&G Foods and is not materially disadvantageous to the holders of the senior notes or the senior secured notes, as applicable.
The following tables present summarized unaudited financial information on a combined basis for B&G Foods and each of the guarantor subsidiaries described above after elimination of (1) intercompany transactions and balances among B&G Foods and the guarantor subsidiaries and (2) investments in any subsidiary that is a non-guarantor (in thousands):
January 3,
December 28,
Current assets (1)
Non-current assets
Current liabilities (2)
Non-current liabilities
Current assets includes amounts due from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $50.4 million and $50.2 million as of January 3, 2026 and December 28, 2024, respectively.
Current liabilities includes amounts due to non-guarantor subsidiaries of $26.8 million and $13.0 million as of January 3, 2026 and December 28, 2024, respectively.
