Milling & Baking News Corporate Profiles - October 2011 - (Page 20)

Grain-based Foods pressing is what the future holds for Post. On multiple occasions this past year, Ralcorp rebuffed overtures from Omaha-based ConAgra Foods, Inc. to acquire the company, the latest offer being a bid of $94 per share in cash. But Ralcorp’s board of directors remains steadfast in its decision to separate Ralcorp and Post Foods in a tax-free spin-off to Ralcorp shareholders. “Post Foods’ main asset is its great brand name — it has untapped potential,” said William Stiritz, chairman of Ralcorp. “Looking forward, the management of this valuable asset will not be a combination of the past, but rather it will be creative, imaginative and adaptive in pursuit of shareholder value creation – nothing is off the table.” The reason for the continued growth is three-fold. First, the industry has fully recovered from the January 2009 peanut butter salmonella outbreak. Second, consumers are stepping up demand for cracker unit sales by brand Premium um Zesta esta Sunshine Krispy spy 74,501,150 16,162,590 5,087,937 Leading saltine Gamesa Saladitas 1,480,242 itas ista Vista 1,083,195 Global Brands 891,403 nds Dux 520,042 ano El Mexicano 209,202 Late July Organic 113,518 nic Source: SymphonyIRI Consistency in crackers The cracker category continues its comeback. In the 52 weeks ended Aug. 7, dollar sales in the cracker category totaled $4,193,021,000, up 3% from the same period a year ago, according to SymphonyIRI. Unit sales also were stronger, advancing 2% to 1,662,393,000 in the period. The year-over-year gains follow a 2% increase in dollar sales and 4% increase in unit sales in the 52 weeks ended Aug. 8, 2010, according to SymphonyIRI. Private label 73,327,690 graham crackers. Third, healthier options are livening up the category. While many of the filled-cracker companies and brands fully recovered lost sales in late 2009 and early 2010, Keebler made tremendous strides over the past 52 weeks. Overall, the company’s dollar sales of crackers with fillings rose 31% to $72,524,860 on a 29% increase in unit sales, according to SymphonyIRI. Consumers looking for a sweet taste in the form of a cracker have propelled the graham crackers category over the past year. In the 52 weeks ended Aug. 7, dollar sales of the graham crackers category totaled $264,715,300, up 6% from the same period a year ago, according to SymphonyIRI. Unit sales have grown at an even more impressive clip, rising nearly 8% to 98,216,030. Kraft Foods is the dominant player in the category, accounting for more than 52% of dollar sales, and its Nabisco Honey Maid graham crackers performed well in the most recent 52-week period with dollar and unit sales growth of 3% and 4%, respectively. The No. 2 player, Keebler Co., sustained a drop in dollar and unit sales during the 52 weeks ended Aug. 7, but a couple products that may help change Keebler’s fortune going forward are Keebler Scooby-Doo! Graham Cracker Sticks and Keebler Grahams Bites Disney-Pixar Cars 2. Available in honey and cinnamon varieties, the Scooby-Doo! Graham Cracker Sticks had sales of $8,746,217 in the 52 weeks ended Aug. 7, up 13% from the same period a year ago. Pepperidge Farm also is responsible for the run-up in sales in the graham cracker category. The company recently entered the sector LEADING SALTINE cracker vendors Dollar sales $187,621,300 $50,788,940 $3,294,928 $1,364,708 $1,295,376 $880,241 $401,582 $316,765 $243,881 $100,972,200 $347,964,200 LEADING SALTINE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kraft Foods Inc. Keebler Co. Grupo Gamesa S.A. Industrias Alimenticias Noel Vista Bakery, Inc. Global Brands, Inc. Marques Brothers International Late July Snacks L.L.C. M.Y. San Biscuits, Inc. Private label Total % change from year ago -6.2% -9.3% 21.4% -0.2% -30.4% NA 37.0% 17.1% 0.9% -0.9% -4.8% cracker brands Dollar sales $187,387,900 $38,073,360 $12,715,580 $3,294,928 $1,357,615 $1,295,376 $880,241 $401,582 $316,765 $100,972,200 $347,964,200 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Premium Zesta Sunshine Krispy Gamesa Saladitas Dux Vista Global Brands El Mexicano Late July Organic Private label Total % change from year ago -6.2% -9.7% -8.0% 21.4% -0.7% -30.4% NA 37.0% 17.1% -0.9% -4.8% Data for 52 weeks ended Aug. 7, 2011 Total U.S. - Supermarkets, Drugstores and Mass Merchandisers excluding Wal-Mart Source: SymphonyIRI 20 \ October 2011 Milling & Baking News • Food Business News • Baking & Snack • Meat & Poultry Corporate Proﬁles

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Milling & Baking News Corporate Profiles - October 2011

Milling & Baking News Corporate Profiles - October 2011