Item 7.01 – Regulation FD Disclosure
In anticipation of meetings with investors and a scheduled television appearance by members of our senior management during which they may discuss the Campbell Soup Company's (the "Company") performance during to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are furnishing this Form 8-K to disclose the following.
The Company is extending premium payments to its approximately 11,000 front-line team members who make, sell, and distribute products to retail customers across the country. The program, originally announced on March 24, 2020, supports teams at the Company’s manufacturing plants, distribution centers and in-store field-based sales, as they continue to ensure consumers have food during this critical time. The premium payments, which include the following, will be extended through May 16/17, 2020 (depending on regular payroll workweek cycle), at which point the Company will re-evaluate based on COVID-19 situation:
•a $2 per-hour premium payment for hourly employees and temp agency employees at all of the Company's production facilities and distribution centers; and
•a $100 per-week premium payment for front-line supervisors, certain site staff and depot managers who are reporting to work as essential infrastructure workers. This incentive also includes employees who oversee the Company's sales execution teams that are in stores and working with customers and independent distributors to ensure that store shelves are stocked.
These actions are in addition to a number of steps the Company has already taken to ensure the well-being and safety of its teams, including protocols for identifying potential employee exposure, quarantines, enhanced cleaning procedures and health screenings, including thermal imaging temperature checks, the mandatory use of masks at all facilities, and aggressive social distancing programs across the Company's network.
In addition to supporting its front-line employees, the Company has also supported its communities where it has operations. The Company has contributed approximately $4.3 million in financial support and food to organizations, including local food banks, pantries, or community organizations in the Company's hometowns across North America. The Company began distributing funds and/or food to organizations on March 26, 2020.
The Company also may discuss items about its recent business performance in response to the increased demand for its products. For the four weeks ending March 29, 2020:
•Campbell's condensed soup gained 5.2 million new households, Campbell’s Chunky soup gained 4.6 million new households and Prego gained 5.5 million new households per IRI National Consumer Panel data: Total U.S. All Outlets vs. a comparable period one year ago; and
•IRI Pantry Audit findings support our belief that repeat levels for new buyers are above historical soup season repeat levels.
The Company also plans to discuss the latest four weeks, ending April 19, 2020, of IRI U.S. dollar consumption data, making the following points:
•Total Meals & Beverages segment increased 34.4 percent;
•Total Snacks segment increased 16.1 percent;
•Campbell's soup (including Pacific Foods) increased 41.7 percent;
•Prego pasta sauce increased 49.2 percent;
•Pepperidge Farm cookies increased 27.8 percent;
•Pepperidge Farm fresh bread & rolls increased 23.6 percent;
•Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels increased 19.1 percent;
•Kettle Brand chips increased 44.5 percent; and
•Cape Cod chips increased 39.5 percent.
•The outlier is Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers, which decreased 6.1 percent, driven by sustained levels of high demand resulting in some short-term supply challenges with continued strong demand in unmeasured channels.
In addition to the investor meetings, Mr. Clouse is scheduled to appear on the CNBC television program “Mad Money” on April 29, 2020. A transcript of Mr. Clouse's appearance will be available at www.campbellsoupcompany.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect our current expectations of our future business or financial results. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions and estimates that could be inaccurate and which are subject to risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause our actual results to vary materially from those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement include impacts of factors described in the Form 10-K and subsequent SEC filings. We disclaim any obligation or intent to update the forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.