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Marzetti Co.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell 2.4 percent: Consolidated net sales were $481.5 million, down from $493.5 million. Excluding the prior-year TSA sales, the decline was 0.3%. Source
  • Bachan’s drove Retail growth: Bachan’s accounted for 720 basis points of Retail net sales growth and 750 basis points of Retail volume growth. Source
  • Foodservice sales fell 6.9 percent: Foodservice net sales were $228.8 million, down 6.9%, while pounds shipped fell 7.6%. Source
  • Outbreak cut Retail sales about 4%: Management estimated the outbreak lowered Retail net sales by about 4%, mainly through lower demand for dressing, dip and crouton products. Source
  • Gross profit down $8.0 million: Gross profit was $110.8 million. Gross margin fell 110 basis points to 23.0% from 24.1%; last year’s margin excluding TSA sales was 24.6%. Source
  • Bachan’s added $17.8 million: Bachan’s added $17.8 million in net sales, about 360 basis points of consolidated net sales growth. Source
  • Inflation to be offset by pricing: Management expects a moderate level of commodity cost inflation plus higher diesel and freight costs, most or all to be offset by pricing and cost savings. Source

“The cyclospora outbreak had a significant impact on this quarter’s top and bottom-line results.”

CEO David A. Ciesinski

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Qualitative expectations for Retail and Foodservice sales and for cost inflation were restated; no figures were given in either release. Source
  • New: Commissioning costs for new production capacity at the Atlanta sauce and dressing facility were cited as a cost in the quarter. Source

Consolidated results and profit

  • Net sales fell 2.4 percent: Consolidated net sales were $481.5 million, down from $493.5 million. Excluding the prior-year TSA sales, the decline was 0.3%. Source
  • Operating income fell $17.8 million: Operating income was $41.4 million versus $59.3 million a year earlier, reflecting lower gross profit and higher SG&A expenses. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS declined: Net income was $29.3 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, versus $1.71 last year. Adjusted Diluted EPS was $1.14 versus $1.74. Source

Retail segment results

  • Retail sales rose 2.0 percent: Retail net sales were $252.7 million, up 2.0%, while pounds shipped rose 0.4%. Source
  • Bachan’s drove Retail growth: Bachan’s accounted for 720 basis points of Retail net sales growth and 750 basis points of Retail volume growth. Source
  • Retail operating income fell: Retail operating income was $37.2 million versus $50.6 million a year earlier, according to the segment table. Source
  • Texas Roadhouse rolls sales up: Management said consumer demand for the Texas Roadhouse dinner rolls also remained, with Circana scanner data showing sales up 21.3%. Source

“On a positive note, other areas of our business continued to perform well and the cyclospora impact has moderated in recent weeks.”

CEO David A. Ciesinski

Foodservice segment results

  • Foodservice sales fell 6.9 percent: Foodservice net sales were $228.8 million, down 6.9%, while pounds shipped fell 7.6%. Source
  • Core Foodservice sales down 2.6 percent: Excluding the prior-year TSA sales, Foodservice net sales fell 2.6% and core pounds shipped declined 4.1%. Source
  • Foodservice operating income fell: Foodservice operating income was $30.4 million versus $34.8 million a year earlier. Source

Cyclospora outbreak effect on sales

  • Outbreak cut Retail sales about 4%: Management estimated the outbreak lowered Retail net sales by about 4%, mainly through lower demand for dressing, dip and crouton products. Source
  • Outbreak cut Foodservice sales about 2%: Management estimated the outbreak reduced Foodservice net sales by about 2%. Source
  • Outbreak impact eased recently: Management said other areas of the business performed well and the cyclospora effect has moderated in recent weeks. Source

“most or all of which we expect to mitigate through inflationary pricing and our cost savings programs as we remain focused on margin improvement.”

CEO David A. Ciesinski

Costs, gross margin and SG&A

  • Gross profit down $8.0 million: Gross profit was $110.8 million. Gross margin fell 110 basis points to 23.0% from 24.1%; last year’s margin excluding TSA sales was 24.6%. Source
  • Diesel, freight and Atlanta commissioning costs: Management cited significantly higher diesel and freight costs, along with commissioning costs for new capacity at the Atlanta sauce and dressing facility. Source
  • SG&A rose $10.9 million: SG&A was $69.3 million. Management attributed the increase to incremental core Bachan’s costs and $2.4 million of noncash amortization. Source
  • Adjusted operating income fell $16.6 million: Excluding Bachan’s amortization and last year’s Milpitas restructuring charges, adjusted operating income was $43.9 million. Source

Bachan’s acquisition contribution

  • Bachan’s added $17.8 million: Bachan’s added $17.8 million in net sales, about 360 basis points of consolidated net sales growth. Source
  • Bachan’s scanner sales up 10.7%: Circana scanner data for the quarter ended September showed Bachan’s sales up 10.7%. Management said the brand continues to gain share in barbecue sauce. Source
  • Bachan’s amortization reduced EPS: Incremental noncash amortization for Bachan’s intangible assets reduced net income by $1.9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share. Source

Cash, debt and dividend

  • Cash fell to $17.5 million: Cash and equivalents were $17.5 million at September 30, down from $25.1 million at June 30. Receivables and inventories were higher. Source
  • Term loan adds interest expense: Interest expense was $2.8 million, versus none last year, as part of the Bachan’s purchase price was financed with a $200 million term loan. Source
  • Dividend of $1.00 per share: Cash dividends were $1.00 per share in the quarter, versus $0.95 a year earlier. Source
  • Debt at quarter end: Current portion of long-term debt was $10.0 million and long-term debt was $186.8 million, compared with $10.0 million and $189.3 million at June 30. Source

Expected sales and cost trends

  • Retail sales to keep Bachan’s benefit: Management expects Retail sales to keep benefiting from Bachan’s sales in the second quarter and the rest of the fiscal year. Source
  • Foodservice supported by chain accounts: Management expects Foodservice sales to remain supported by select quick-service restaurant customers within its national chain accounts. Source
  • Inflation to be offset by pricing: Management expects a moderate level of commodity cost inflation plus higher diesel and freight costs, most or all to be offset by pricing and cost savings. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • New items to add Retail sales: Management expects Retail sales to benefit from new items launched recently or planned for later this year. Source
  • Foodservice supported by QSR accounts: Management expects Foodservice sales to remain supported by select quick-service restaurant customers. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Retail segment sales volume (pounds shipped) Sourceincreased 0.4%
Foodservice segment sales volume (pounds shipped) Sourcefell 7.6%
Foodservice core sales volume Sourcedeclined 4.1%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said the cyclospora outbreak reduced net sales in both the Retail and Foodservice segments. Source
  • Operational: Lower production volumes at the plants reduced gross profit, according to management. Source
  • External: Management expects commodity cost inflation and higher diesel and freight costs during the coming periods. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense rose with the term loan used to finance part of the Bachan’s purchase price. Source
  • Operational: Commissioning of new production capacity at the Atlanta sauce and dressing facility added cost in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it expects to mitigate the cost increases through inflationary pricing and cost savings programs. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it anticipates Retail sales will continue to benefit from the Bachan’s acquisition. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.