Hormel Foods Announces New Goal for Growth through Innovation, Meets Billion Dollar Challenge Two Years Early

New goal aligns company efforts around innovation and better-for-you options

AUSTIN, Minn., – Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL), one of the nation’s largest manufacturers and marketers of consumer-branded meat and food products, today announced that it has set an ambitious new goal for growth through innovation. “Go for $2B by 2012,” aims to achieve $2 billion in total sales of products created since 2000 by the year 2012.

The new goal builds on Hormel Foods’ success with its Billion Dollar Challenge, which it met two years early. The challenge was for Hormel Foods to generate $1 billion in sales from new products launched in this decade, beginning fiscal year 2000 and ending fiscal year 2009. By the end of fiscal year 2007, Hormel Foods reported total sales of $6.19 billion with more than $1 billion generated from new product sales.

“Our products have always delivered the twin benefits of great flavor and time-saving convenience. We believe we are the industry leader in value-added protein because of our ability to innovate, our understanding of consumer and customer needs, and commitment to quality,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods. “The Billion Dollar Challenge was a key component of the company’s innovation platform, and our employees really stepped up to this challenge and delivered excellent results ahead of the timeline given.”

Hormel Foods was able to meet this challenge because of the success of new products across its business divisions. Especially successful new products include HORMEL® party trays, HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® pre-sliced deli meats, HORMEL® COMPLEATS™ microwave meals and JENNIE-O TURKEY STORE® oven ready items.

“Our focus on innovation has led to some of the most creative, value-added products in the market today,” Ettinger said. “And our momentum from the Billion Dollar Challenge will continue to drive us as we approach this more challenging goal.”