Various Operator Positions

Hormel Chili and Omaha Steaks team up to premium-ize canned chili. Aug 13, 2026 Canned chili has spent decades as the ultimate convenience play - fast, cheap, dependable. Now two of America's most recognizable food names are betting that shoppers want that same speed without settling for a blended, undifferentiated bowl. Hormel Foods and Omaha Steaks have co-developed HORMEL(R) Chili & OMAHA STEAKS(R) 100% Natural Beef Chili with Beans, a new co-branded product engineered to deliver what the companies call a "competition-style" experience - ready in minutes, but built around prominent pieces of beef and a slow-simmered flavor profile. The launch was announced from Austin, Minnesota, and the product is now available nationally at select stores. What's Actually in the Can. The pitch here is texture and beef presentation. Unlike chili with a more blended consistency, this recipe is designed to showcase its beef and vegetables, delivering what the brands describe as a more substantial, satisfying eat. One clarification worth flagging for anyone parsing the co-brand: Omaha Steaks does not supply the meat. Hormel Chili produces the product using high-quality, 100% natural beef, while Omaha Steaks collaborated on the recipe - helping shape the meat presentation, texture, and overall eating experience. In other words, this is a knowledge partnership, not a supply-chain one. Every detail - from beef selection and presentation to seasoning and simmer - was tuned to reflect the quality consumers associate with both names. "For more than 90 years, HORMEL(R) Chili has been bringing convenient, flavorful meals to tables across the country. Working with Omaha Steaks allowed us to approach every element of this recipe through a more premium lens, particularly the quality, texture and prominence of the beef," said Brett Ament, brand manager at Hormel Foods. "Our collaboration with HORMEL(R) Chili brings together two brands with a shared passion for creating exceptional food," said Nate Rempe, president and CEO of Omaha Steaks. "We applied 109 years of experience with premium meats and a deep understanding of what creates an exceptional eating experience to help develop a chili that is rich, flavorful and worthy of both names." Two heritage brands, one trade-up play. The pedigree on both sides is real. HORMEL(R) Chili, first established in 1935, is the country's best-selling canned-chili brand. Omaha Steaks, "America's Original Butcher," was founded in 1917 and is a fifth-generation, family-owned company recognized as the nation's largest direct-response marketer of premium beef and gourmet foods. Hormel Foods itself is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue and a portfolio that includes SPAM(R), SKIPPY(R), PLANTERS(R), and APPLEGATE(R). Putting a premium-beef reputation behind a shelf-stable staple is a deliberate move to reframe the category - and it lands squarely inside the "affordable premium" trend reshaping center-store grocery. Why it matters. For grocery buyers, foodservice operators, and CPG watchers, this launch is a clean example of the premiumization of convenience - and there are practical takeaways: * Co-branding as a shelf differentiator. In a crowded canned-goods aisle, a second trusted name does the trust-building work that packaging claims alone can't. Buyers evaluating center-store resets should watch how a premium halo affects velocity and price elasticity in a value-driven category. * "Substantial" is the new value message. Shoppers increasingly want convenient meals that still feel like real food - visible beef and vegetables, hearty texture. Operators building grab-and-go and pantry programs can lean into that same "convenient but not compromised" positioning. * Expertise partnerships, not supply deals. Omaha Steaks contributed recipe development and eating-experience know-how rather than product. That's a lower-friction collaboration model any brand can study when it wants credibility in an adjacent category without rebuilding its sourcing. * Menu and merchandising angles. A more premium canned chili opens cross-merchandising with cheese, chips, and toppings, and gives quick-service and c-store operators an easy back-bar or loaded-fries base with a recognizable name attached. The strategic signal: even the most utilitarian shelf-stable categories are up for reinvention when brands can credibly promise better ingredients without adding steps for the consumer. How to serve it. The product is ready to heat and enjoy on its own, or it can be finished with favorite toppings such as shredded cheese. More information, recipes, nutritional details, and where-to-buy info are available at hormelchili.com. Would you trade up for a premium canned chili - and does a co-brand like this change what you'd stock or serve? Drop your take in the comments.

Hormel Foods faces an antitrust class action lawsuit alleging price fixing in the US pork industry. The case claims several pork producers conspired to coordinate and inflate prices for pork products nationwide. Some co-defendants have reached settlements, whilst proceedings involving Hormel continue. The lawsuit adds uncertainty for investors already concerned about profitability and dividend coverage. Any adverse outcome could increase expenses or impose operational restrictions. Current profit margins stand at 3.8%, down from 6.3% last year. The company's dividend is flagged as not well covered by earnings or free cash flow, and potential legal costs would compete for available cash. Investors are monitoring court rulings on class certification, summary judgment, and possible settlement disclosures to assess financial exposure and potential impacts on capital allocation.

John Ghingo appointed CEO of Hormel Foods. Hormel Foods has appointed John Ghingo, its current president, as the new CEO of the U.S. food company, succeeding Jeff Ettinger. Ettinger stepped into the interim role last year after Jim Snee's retirement as president and CEO of the owner of Jennie-O turkey and Skippy peanut butter brands. In this leadership transition, Ghingo has taken over the presidency from Snee. The new CEO will officially take on his responsibilities starting October 26 and will continue as a member of the board. Ettinger will also retain his position on the board. "I am honoured to lead Hormel Foods, a company with an extraordinary legacy, trusted brands and a clear purpose," Ghingo stated in a press release today (July 28). "We have real momentum and a talented team. I am energised to build on that foundation - investing in our brands, modernising how we operate and creating lasting value for our customers, consumers, team members and shareholders." During the announcement of second-quarter results in June, Ettinger maintained the forecast for 2026 sales revenue between $12.2 billion and $12.5 billion, despite facing challenges such as high fuel, logistics, and commodity costs. He also managed the sale of Hormel Foods' whole-bird turkey division to Life-Science Innovations, excluding the Jennie-O brand and its broader product line. Subsequently, the interim CEO confirmed the divestiture of the company's operations in Brazil to local food producer Zanchetta Alimentos, which includes the Ceratti brand. Ettinger remarked, "Over the past year, John and I have worked closely together, and I've seen firsthand his commitment to Hormel Foods' culture, people and portfolio and his clear focus on the opportunities ahead. "I have great confidence in John's ability to lead the company into its next chapter." Ghingo joined Hormel Foods in 2024, initially overseeing the retail division before expanding his responsibilities to include foodservice and international operations as president. His professional journey features executive positions at leading U.S. companies such as Mondelez International and WhiteWave Foods, prior to its acquisition by the French dairy giant Danone in 2016. He also led Hormel Foods' Applegate Farms subsidiary from 2018 until 2022. Bill Newlands, chairman and board member of Hormel Foods, stated, "John has quickly demonstrated his ability to lead at enterprise scale, setting clear strategic direction and translating strategy into disciplined execution. "Under his leadership, we believe Hormel Foods will be well positioned to drive our modernisation agenda, accelerate sustainable growth and create long-term value for shareholders."