Conagra Brands facts for kids
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Formerly
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| Public | |
| Traded as |
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| Industry | Food processing |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Founder | Alva Kinney |
| Headquarters | Merchandise Mart Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Sean Connolly (CEO) |
| Brands | List of Conagra brands |
| Revenue |  US$12.3 billion (2023) |
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Operating income
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 US$1.08 billion (2023) |
| US$684 million (2023) |
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| Total assets | US$22.1 billion (2023) |
| Total equity | US$8.81 billion (2023) |
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Number of employees
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c. 18,600 (2023) |
| Footnotes / references Financials as of May 28, 2023[update]. |
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Conagra Brands, Inc. (formerly known as ConAgra Foods) is an American company that makes and sells many popular food products. You can find their products in supermarkets, restaurants, and other food places all over the world. The company is based in Chicago, Illinois.
Contents
History
How Conagra Started (1919–1949)
Conagra began in September 1919. It was first called Nebraska Consolidated Mills (NCM). A person named Alva Kinney founded it. The company started by bringing together four grain processing companies in Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1922, NCM moved its main office to Omaha, Nebraska. That year, the company made its first profit of $175,000. In 1941, NCM opened its first plant outside of Nebraska, in Decatur, Alabama.
Growing and Changing (1950–1970)
NCM looked for new ways to use its flour. In 1951, they helped start the Duncan Hines brand for cake mixes. This helped them sell more flour. They sold Duncan Hines in 1956. In 1957, NCM built its first mill outside the United States in Puerto Rico. Conagra Brands bought the Duncan Hines brand back in 2018.
Becoming ConAgra (1971–1999)
In 1971, NCM changed its name to ConAgra. The name comes from Latin words meaning "with soil" or "with earth." Two years later, the company became public and its shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
In 1974, ConAgra faced financial difficulties. They hired C. Michael Harper to help fix the company. Harper sold buildings and parts of the company that were not focused on basic food items. By 1976, he had sold 25 assets and reduced the company's debt. In 1981, ConAgra's total sales reached over $1 billion for the first time.
ConAgra bought about 200 companies over 20 years. These included Banquet Foods in 1980 and Armour and Company in 1983. They also bought Monfort in 1987 and Beatrice Foods in 1990. These purchases made ConAgra one of the biggest meatpackers and food processors in the world. During this time, the company also created the Healthy Choice brand for frozen dinners.
By the mid-1980s, ConAgra was involved in many parts of the food business. This included selling fertilizer, animal feed, and even exporting goods.
ConAgra faced some criticism for its business practices. For example, in 1987, the company wanted to build new headquarters in Omaha. This meant tearing down a historic area called the Jobbers Canyon Historic District. Even though historical groups opposed it, the city allowed the demolition in 1989.
By 1992, ConAgra's yearly sales were over $21 billion. The company kept buying other companies and launching new products in the 1990s. They added Marie Callender's frozen products in 1994 and GoodMark Foods in 1998. In 1998, ConAgra also bought brands like Egg Beaters and margarines such as Parkay and Blue Bonnet.
From Meatpacking to Packaged Goods (2000–2015)
In 2000, ConAgra changed its name to ConAgra Foods. In the early 2000s, the company started selling off its fresh and refrigerated meat businesses. This included selling its part of Swift & Company in 2002. This sale meant ConAgra was no longer involved in the fresh beef and pork industries.
In 2006, the company sold its refrigerated meats, including Butterball and Armour brands. The same year, ConAgra closed its Hunt-Wesson operations in Irvine, California.
In 2012, ConAgra bought Ralcorp. The company also joined with other food companies to oppose a California proposal that would have required labeling of genetically modified food. In 2014, ConAgra bought a potato processing company in Inner Mongolia. ConAgra sold Ralcorp in 2015 and bought Blake's All Natural Foods the same year. In 2016, ConAgra separated Lamb Weston into its own company.
During these years, ConAgra also faced concerns about its environmental practices. The company also settled legal cases related to old paint products and worker pay.
Moving to Chicago (2016–Present)
In 2016, ConAgra cut some jobs and moved its main office to Chicago, Illinois. It also changed its name to "Conagra Brands."
In 2017, Conagra bought Angie's Artisan Treats, which makes Angie's Boomchickapop popcorn. In 2018, Conagra Brands bought Pinnacle Foods for $8.1 billion. In 2020, Conagra sold the Peter Pan peanut butter brand.
Products
Conagra makes many different food products. These include cooking oil, frozen dinners, hot cocoa, hot dogs, and peanut butter. Some of their well-known brands are Act II, Hunt's, Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, Slim Jim, Reddi-wip, Egg Beaters, Pam, Angie's Boom Chicka Pop, Hebrew National, Chef Boyardee, and Bertolli ready meals.
Company Overview
As of 2023, Conagra has 38 factories in the United States. It employs about 18,600 people. In 2023, the company had sales of $12.27 billion. Conagra is led by its president and chief executive officer, Sean M. Connolly.
Partnership with Feeding America
The ConAgra Foods Foundation is a nonprofit group. It has promised $10 million over five years to Feeding America. This money helps fight child hunger. ConAgra Foods also started the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign in 2013. This campaign donates meals to Feeding America when consumers submit codes from products.
Product Incidents
2002 E. coli Outbreak
In July 2002, Conagra recalled 19 million pounds of ground beef. This was because it might have been contaminated with E. coli bacteria. This meat was linked to illnesses in 19 people across six states.
2006–2007 Salmonella Outbreak
In February 2007, Conagra recalled jars of Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter. These products had a specific code ("2111") on the lid. They were linked to a Salmonella outbreak. More than 628 people in 47 states became sick from Salmonella that was traced back to this peanut butter. The recall included all Peter Pan jars sold in the U.S. between May 2006 and February 2007.
Diacetyl in Popcorn
In 2007, experts suggested reducing a chemical called diacetyl in butter-like flavorings. This chemical was used in popcorn. Some workers who were exposed to diacetyl fumes developed a lung disease. ConAgra Foods announced that it would remove diacetyl from its Jiffy Pop and Orville Redenbacher's popcorn products.
2007 Salmonella Outbreak (Pot Pies)
In October 2007, Conagra asked stores to remove Banquet and generic brand chicken and turkey pot pies. This was because 152 cases of Salmonella poisoning in 31 states were linked to eating these pot pies. The company first said the problem was that the pies were not cooked enough in older microwaves. However, a full recall was later announced. This recall included many varieties of frozen pot pies sold under different brands. By October 14, 174 cases of Salmonella poisoning were linked to the contaminated pot pies.
2009 Slim Jim Plant Incident
On June 9, 2009, a serious incident happened at the Slim Jim factory in Garner, North Carolina. A part of the building's roof and wall collapsed. This incident led to the plant closing about 18 months later. Slim Jim production was then moved to a plant in Troy, Ohio.
See also
In Spanish: ConAgra Foods para niños
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the meat industry in the United States
Images for kids
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The old ConAgra Foods logo, used until June 2009.
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Conagra Brands' former headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
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2007: A jar of Peter Pan peanut butter that was recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination.
