Hormel Foods Corporation

Packaged FoodsFounded 1891

Market Data Current As Of: September 12, 2026

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Hormel Foods Corporation

Packaged FoodsFounded 1891

Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya

Last reviewed: September 12, 2026

Market Data Current As Of: September 12, 2026

Company History

Hormel Foods: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones

Founded 1891 in Austin, Minnesota

Founding Story

George A. Hormel founded the company in Austin, Minnesota, in 1891 as an independent meatpacking business, starting operations in a converted creamery. After surviving early competition by focusing on product quality and refrigerated rail transport innovation, the company eventually built truly iconic, globally recognized brands such as SPAM. Over the subsequent century, Hormel expanded far beyond its original pork origins into vertically integrated turkey production, shelf-stable peanut butter, premium deli meats, on-the-go snacks, lucrative natural and organic meats, and extensive foodservice distribution.

Founders

George A. Hormel

Key Milestones

1891

George A. Hormel & Company Founded

George A. Hormel starts the company in Austin, Minnesota.

1937

SPAM Introduced

Hormel introduces SPAM, creating one of the world's most recognizable shelf-stable protein brands.

2001

Jennie-O Acquisition

Hormel expands its turkey platform through Jennie-O Turkey Store.

2013

Skippy Acquisition

Hormel acquires Skippy, adding a major peanut-butter brand to the portfolio.

2021

Planters Acquisition

Hormel acquires the Planters snack nuts portfolio from Kraft Heinz.

2025

CEO Transition

John Ghingo is elevated to president and Jeffrey M. Ettinger becomes interim CEO effective July 14, 2025.

2025

FY2025 Net Sales of $12.106B

Hormel reports FY2025 net sales of $12.106 billion and net earnings attributable to Hormel Foods of $478.197 million.

Major Acquisitions

Jennie-O Turkey Store

2001

Hormel acquired The Turkey Store and merged it with its existing Jennie-O subsidiary to create the Jennie-O Turkey Store, expanding its vertically integrated turkey platform into a dominant national brand.

Skippy

2013

Hormel intentionally acquired the Skippy peanut butter brand from Unilever for approximately $700 million to add an internationally recognized non-meat brand and strengthen its high-margin, shelf-stable retail grocery portfolio.

Applegate Farms

2015

Hormel executed a strategic acquisition of Applegate Farms for $775 million to capture the rapidly growing consumer demand for natural, organic, and antibiotic-free premium meat products.

Planters

2021

In its largest historical transaction, Hormel acquired the iconic Planters snack-nuts portfolio from Kraft Heinz for an astonishing $3.35 billion, intentionally expanding into the lucrative nuts and on-the-go snacking categories at a national scale.

Hormel Foods Company History FAQ

What are the defining historical milestones for Hormel Foods Corporation?

Since its establishment in 1891, Hormel Foods Corporation expanded from an early-stage venture into a recognized leader in Packaged Foods, overcoming key market challenges.

What major strategic pivots shaped Hormel Foods Corporation's evolution?

Over its history, Hormel Foods Corporation executed decisive strategic pivots toward scalable monetization and digital distribution, securing its current market leadership.

How has Hormel Foods Corporation adapted to recent industry disruptions?

By continually modernizing operations and embracing workflow automation, Hormel Foods Corporation maintains resilience through changing technological and economic cycles.

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Explore Hormel Foods

Core profile pages, annual revenue records, and related research hubs for this company.

Founding Story

Key Milestones

1891

George A. Hormel & Company Founded

George A. Hormel starts the company in Austin, Minnesota.

1937

SPAM Introduced

Hormel introduces SPAM, creating one of the world's most recognizable shelf-stable protein brands.

2001

Jennie-O Acquisition

Hormel expands its turkey platform through Jennie-O Turkey Store.

2013

Skippy Acquisition

Hormel acquires Skippy, adding a major peanut-butter brand to the portfolio.

2021

Planters Acquisition

Hormel acquires the Planters snack nuts portfolio from Kraft Heinz.

2025

CEO Transition

John Ghingo is elevated to president and Jeffrey M. Ettinger becomes interim CEO effective July 14, 2025.

2025

FY2025 Net Sales of $12.106B

Hormel reports FY2025 net sales of $12.106 billion and net earnings attributable to Hormel Foods of $478.197 million.

Major Acquisitions

Jennie-O Turkey Store

2001

Skippy

2013

Applegate Farms

2015

Hormel executed a strategic acquisition of Applegate Farms for $775 million to capture the rapidly growing consumer demand for natural, organic, and antibiotic-free premium meat products.

Planters

2021

Hormel Foods Company History FAQ

What are the defining historical milestones for Hormel Foods Corporation?

Since its establishment in 1891, Hormel Foods Corporation expanded from an early-stage venture into a recognized leader in Packaged Foods, overcoming key market challenges.

What major strategic pivots shaped Hormel Foods Corporation's evolution?

Over its history, Hormel Foods Corporation executed decisive strategic pivots toward scalable monetization and digital distribution, securing its current market leadership.

How has Hormel Foods Corporation adapted to recent industry disruptions?

By continually modernizing operations and embracing workflow automation, Hormel Foods Corporation maintains resilience through changing technological and economic cycles.