B&G Foods Stock

B&G Foods, Inc. manufactures, sells and distributes a diverse portfolio of branded, high quality, shelf-stable and frozen food and household products across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Many of the company’s branded products have leading regional or national market shares. In general, the company positions its products to appeal to the consumer desiring a high quality and reasonably priced product. The company complements its branded product retail sales with institutional and foodservice sales and private label sales.

In November 2023, the company disposed the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable product line, which was sold to Seneca Foods Corporation, referred to as the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable divestiture in the remainder of this report.

In January 2023, the company disposed the Back to Nature business, which was sold to Barilla America, referred to as the Back to Nature sale.

Products and Markets

The following is a brief description of some of the company’s brands and product lines:

Green Giant and Le Sueur vegetables have been grown and picked at the peak of perfection in the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant. The company generally refers to the Green Giant and Le Sueur brands collectively as the Green Giant brand.

The Crisco brand has revolutionized the way food is prepared and the way it tastes. From being the first shortening product made of plant based oils and oil seeds to creating the first cooking oil that was promoted for its light taste, Crisco has been making life in the kitchen more delicious for years. Crisco is the number one brand of vegetable shortening, the number one brand of vegetable oil and also holds a leadership position in other cooking oils and cooking sprays.

The Ortega brand’s products span the shelf-stable Mexican food segment including taco shells, tortillas, seasonings, dinner kits, taco sauces, peppers, refried beans, salsas and related food products.

Clabber Girl is a leader in baking products, including baking powder, baking soda and corn starch. In addition to Clabber Girl, the number one retail baking powder brand, product offerings also include the Rumford, Davis, Hearth Club and Royal brands of retail baking powder, baking soda and corn starch, and the Royal brand of foodservice dessert mixes.

The Maple Grove Farms of Vermont brand is one of the leading brands of pure maple syrup sold in the United States. Other products under the Maple Grove Farms of Vermont label include a line of gourmet salad dressings, sugar free syrups, fruit-flavored syrups, pancake mixes and organic products.

The Cream of Wheat brand is among the leading brands and one of the most trusted and widely recognized brands of hot cereals sold in the United States. Cream of Wheat is available in Original, Whole Grain and Maple Brown Sugar stove top, and also in instant packets of Original and other flavors. The company also offers Cream of Rice, a gluten-free, rice-based hot cereal.

The Dash brand is available in more than a dozen blends. In 2005, the leading brand in salt-free seasonings introduced salt-free marinades. Dash’s brand essence, Salt-Free, Flavor-Full, resonates with consumers and underscores the brand’s commitment to provide healthy products that fulfill consumers’ expectations for taste.

The Las Palmas brand primarily includes authentic Mexican enchilada sauce, chili sauce and various pepper products.

Victoria Fine Foods is a Brooklyn-based business. The Victoria brand offers a variety of premium pasta and specialty sauces. Using traditional cooking methods, Victoria sauces are slow kettle-cooked to ensure rich flavor and a homemade taste. Committed to its values of quality, honesty, authenticity and community.

The Bear Creek Country Kitchens brand is the leading brand of hearty dry soups in the United States. Bear Creek Country Kitchens also offers a line of savory pasta dishes and hearty rice dishes.

The Weber brand of seasonings and other flavor enhancers under a licensing agreement with Weber-Stephen Products LLC, maker of the popular Weber grills. Under the Weber brand, the company offers a wide range of grilling seasoning blends, rubs, marinades, sprays and sauces.

The Polaner brand consists of a broad array of fruit-based spreads, as well as jarred wet spices such as chopped garlic and oregano. Polaner All Fruit is a leading national brand of fruit-juice sweetened fruit spread. The spreads are available in more than a dozen flavors. Polaner Sugar Free preserves are the second leading brand of sugar free preserves nationally.

The Spice Islands brand is a leading premium spices and extracts brand offering a diverse line of high quality products including spices, seasonings, dried herbs, extracts, flavorings and sauce blends. The brand’s offerings include organic products.

The Mama Mary’s brand is a leading brand of shelf-stable pizza crusts. Mama Mary’s also offers pizza sauces and premium gourmet pepperoni slices.

The Underwood brand’s Underwood Devil logo is believed to be the oldest registered trademark still in use for a prepackaged food product in the United States. Underwood meat spreads include deviled ham, white-meat chicken, roast beef, corned beef and liverwurst.

The Bloch & Guggenheimer (B&G) brand and its pickle, pepper and relish products are a leading brand in the New York metropolitan area. This line consists of shelf-stable pickles, peppers, relishes, olives and other related specialty items.

The Tone’s brand started as a family business in 1873 and was responsible for many of the early advancements in the spice industry. The Tone’s brand sells predominantly in the club channel while also servicing traditional grocery.

The Ac’cent brand as a flavor enhancer for meat preparation and is generally used on beef, poultry, fish and vegetables. Ac’cent is positioned as a unique flavor enhancer that provides food with the umami flavor sensation.

The Grandma’s brand of molasses is the leading brand of premium-quality molasses sold in the United States. Grandma’s molasses products are offered in two distinct styles: Grandma’s Original Molasses and Grandma’s Robust Molasses.

The New York Style brand includes Original Bagel Crisps, Pita Chips and Panetini Italian Toast.

The Spring Tree brand consists of pure maple syrup and sugar free syrup.

The Don Pepino and Sclafani brands primarily include pizza and spaghetti sauces, whole and crushed tomatoes and tomato puree.

The Trappey’s brand has a Louisiana heritage. Trappey’s products fall into two major categories—high quality peppers and hot sauces, including Trappey’s Red Devil.

The Old London brand offers a variety of flavors available in melba toast snacks. Old London also markets specialty snacks under the Devonsheer brand name.

The B&M line includes a variety of baked beans and brown bread. The B&M brand has a leading market share in the New England region.

The McCann’s brand offers classic traditional steel cut Irish oatmeal, as well as convenience-oriented oatmeal products.

The Cary’s brand originated in 1904 and is the oldest brand of pure maple syrup in the United States. Cary’s also offers sugar free syrup.

The Baker’s Joy brand is the original brand of no-stick baking spray with flour. Baker’s Joy’s product proposition has been to generate a perfect release from the pan every time, making baking easier, faster and more successful for everyday bakers.

The Regina brand includes vinegars and cooking wines. Regina products are most commonly used in the preparation of salad dressings, as well as in a variety of recipe applications, including sauces, marinades and soups.

The Durkee brand started as a family business and was an early leader in the spice industry.

The TrueNorth brand nut cluster snacks combine freshly roasted nuts, a dash of sea salt and just a hint of sweetness. TrueNorth varieties include almond pecan crunch, chocolate nut crunch and cashew crunch.

The Wright’s brand is a seasoning that reproduces the flavor and aroma of pit smoking in meats, chicken and fish. Wright’s is offered in three flavors: Hickory, Mesquite and Applewood.

The Static Guard brand, the number one brand name in static elimination sprays, created the anti-static spray category when it was launched to fulfill a previously unmet consumer need. The brand’s ability to consistently deliver on its promise to instantly eliminate static cling has resulted in a loyal consumer following.

The Sugar Twin brand, primarily sold in Canada is a calorie free sugar substitute.

The Joan of Arc brand includes a full range of canned beans including kidney, chili and other varieties.

The Brer Rabbit brand offers mild and full-flavored molasses as well as blackstrap molasses. Mild molasses is designed for table use and full-flavored molasses is typically used in baking, barbeque sauces and as a breakfast syrup.

The Sa-són brand was introduced as a flavor enhancer used primarily for Puerto Rican and Hispanic food preparation. The product is generally used on beef, poultry, fish and vegetables. The brand’s flavor enhancer is offered in four flavors: Original, Coriander and Achiote, Garlic and Onion, and Tomato. The company also offers reduced sodium versions of Sa-són.

The Vermont Maid brand offers maple-flavored syrups. Vermont Maid syrup is available in regular, sugar-free and sugar-free butter varieties.

The New York Flatbreads brand is a line of thin, crispy, flavorful crispbread that is available in several toppings.

The Molly McButter brand created the butter-flavored sprinkles category. Molly McButter is available in butter and cheese flavors.

Sales, Marketing and Distribution

The company sells, markets and distributes its products through a multiple-channel sales, marketing and distribution system to all major the U.S. food channels, including sales and shipments to supermarkets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, wholesalers, foodservice distributors and direct accounts, specialty food distributors, military commissaries and non-food outlets such as drug, dollar store chains and e-tailers. Certain of the company’s brands, including Dash, Green Giant, Crisco, Cream of Wheat, Ac’cent, Crock Pot seasoning mixes, Underwood, Polaner, Static Guard, New York Style, Sugar Twin and Victoria are also distributed to similar food channels in Canada. The company sells, markets and distributes its household brand, Static Guard, through the same sales, marketing and distribution system to many of the same customers who buy its food products, as well as to other household product retailers and distributors.

The company sells its products directly and through broker sales networks to supermarket chains, foodservice outlets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, non-food outlets and specialty distributors. Depending on the customer, either the company’s internal sales force or its broker sales network handles the sale of its products at the retail level.

Sales: The company’s sales organization is aligned by distribution channels and consists of regional sales managers, key account managers and sales persons. Regional sales managers sell the company’s products nationwide through national and regional brokers, with separate organizations focusing on foodservice, grocery chain accounts and special markets. The company’s sales managers coordinate its broker sales efforts, make key account calls with buyers or distributors and supervise broker retail coverage of the products at the store level.

The company’s sales strategy is centered on individual brands. The company allocates promotional spending for each of its brands and its regional sales managers coordinate promotions with customers. Additionally, the company’s marketing employees work in conjunction with its sales department to coordinate special account activities and marketing support, such as couponing, public relations and media advertising.

The company has a national sales force that is capable of supporting its brands and quickly integrating and supporting any newly acquired brands.

Marketing: The company’s marketing organization is aligned by brand and is responsible for the strategic planning for each of its brands. The company focuses on deploying promotional dollars where the spending will have the greatest impact on sales. Marketing and trade spending support, on a national basis, typically consists of advertising trade promotions, coupons and cross-promotions with supporting products. Radio, internet, social media and limited television advertising supplement this activity.

Distribution: The company distributes its products through a multiple-channel system that covers every class of customer nationwide. Due to the different demands of distribution for frozen and shelf-stable products, the company maintains separate distribution systems.

The company’s shelf-stable distribution network consists of six primary distribution centers in the United States, four of which are leased by it and are operated for it by a third-party logistics provider, one that is located at an owned manufacturing facility and is operated by it, and one that is located at an owned manufacturing facility and is operated by a third-party logistics provider. The company also ships to certain customers direct from some of its manufacturing facilities. In Canada, Mexico and from time to time in the United States the company also uses public warehouse and distribution facilities for its shelf-stable products.

The company’s frozen distribution network consists of seven primary distribution centers in the United States and Canada, which are owned and operated by third-party logistics providers.

The company’s distribution systems for shelf-stable and frozen products have sufficient capacity to accommodate incremental product volume.

Customers

The company’s top ten customers accounted for approximately 60.8% of its net sales and approximately 63.1% of its end of the year receivables for fiscal 2023. Other than Walmart, which accounted for approximately 28.8% of the company’s fiscal 2023 net sales. Other than Walmart, which accounted for approximately 30.7% of the company’s receivables as of December 30, 2023. During fiscal 2023, the company’s net sales to foreign countries represented approximately 8.6% of its total net sales. The company’s foreign sales are primarily to customers in Canada.

Seasonality

In general, the company’s sales are higher in the first and fourth quarters (year ended December 30, 2023). The company purchases most of the produce used to make its frozen and shelf-stable canned vegetables, pickles, relishes, peppers, tomatoes and other related specialty items during the months of June through October, and the company generally purchases the majority of its maple syrup requirements during the months of April through August. Consequently, the company’s liquidity needs are greatest during these periods.

Trademarks and Licensing Agreements

Trademarks: The company’s trademarks and registered trademarks include Ac’cent, B&G, B&G Sandwich Toppers, B&M, Baker’s Joy, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Brer Rabbit, Canoleo, Cary’s, Clabber Girl, Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Dash, Devonsheer, Don Pepino, Durkee, Grandma’s, Green Giant, Joan of Arc, Las Palmas, Le Sueur, MacDonald’s, Mama Mary’s, Maple Grove Farms of Vermont, McCann’s, Molly McButter, New York Flatbreads, New York Style, Old London, Ortega, Polaner, Regina, Sa-són, Sclafani, Spice Islands, Spring Tree, Static Guard, Sugar Twin, Tone’s, Trappey’s, TrueNorth, Underwood, Vermont Maid, Victoria and Wright’s.

Inbound License Agreements: From time to time the company enters into inbound licensing agreements. For example, the company sells Weber seasonings and other flavor enhancers pursuant to a licensing agreement with Weber-Stephen Products LLC, Crockpot seasoning mixes pursuant to a license agreement with Sunbeam Products, Inc., Skinnygirl fat free and sugar free salad dressings and sugar free cocktail inspired preserves pursuant to a license agreement with Better Bites, LLC, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust seasoning blend and Cinnamon Toast Crunch creamy cinnamon spread pursuant to a license agreements with a subsidiary of General Mills, Inc., Einstein Bros. everything bagel seasoning blend pursuant to a license agreement with Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc., and Cream of Wheat Cinnabon, a co-branded product, pursuant to a license agreement with a subsidiary of Cinnabon Franchisor SPV LLC.

Outbound License Agreements: For example, the Green Giant trademark and related intellectual property are licensed to third parties for use in connection with their sale of fresh produce in the United States and Europe and shelf-stable products in the United States. The company also licenses the Green Giant name and related intellectual property to General Mills for use with its sale of frozen and shelf-stable products in parts of Europe, Asia and in various other locations outside of the United States and Canada.

Government Regulation

As a manufacturer and marketer of food and household products, the company’s operations are subject to extensive regulation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the United States Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency and various other federal, state, local and foreign authorities (including government authorities in Canada and Mexico) regarding the manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, labeling, sale and distribution of its products and the health and safety of its employees.

The company is subject to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Food Safety Modernization Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the FDA. This comprehensive regulatory program governs, among other things, the manufacturing, composition and ingredients, labeling, packaging and safety of food. The company is also subject to the U.S. Bio-Terrorism Act of 2002 which imposes on it import and export regulations. Under the Bio-Terrorism Act the company is required, among other things, to provide specific information about the food products it ships into the United States and to register its manufacturing, warehouse and distribution facilities with the FDA.

Environmental Laws and Regulations: The company is also subject to national and local environmental laws and regulations in the United States and in foreign countries in which it does business, including laws related to wastewater discharge, water consumption and air emissions. In the United States, environmental laws and regulations include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and other federal, state and local laws and regulations.

History

The company was founded in 1822. It was incorporated in Delaware in 1996. The company was formerly known as B Companies Holdings Corp. and changed its name to B&G Foods Holdings Corp. in 1997. Further, the company changed its name to B&G Foods, Inc. in 2004.