SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year-ended March 31, 2002 Commission File Number 0-1989
SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York 16-0733425
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
3736 South Main Street, Marion, New York 14505
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (315) 926-8100
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of Each Exchange on
Title of Each Class Which Registered
None None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock Class A, $.25 Par
Common Stock Class B, $.25 Par
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained herein, and
will not be contained, to best of the Registrant's knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K. X
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Check mark indicates whether Registrant has (1) filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for at
least the past 90 days.
Yes X No
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The aggregate market value of the Registrant's voting securities held by
non-affiliates based on the closing sales price per market reports by the
National Market System on June 1, 2002 was approximately $78,483,000.
Common shares outstanding as of June 1, 2002 were Class A: 3,823,115, Class B:
2,764,005.
Documents Incorporated by Reference:
(1) Proxy Statement to be issued prior to June 30, 2002 in connection with the
Registrant's annual meeting of stockholders (the "Proxy Statement")
applicable to Part III, Items 10-13 of Form 10-K.
(2) Portions of the Annual Report to shareholders for fiscal year ended March
31, 2002 (the "2002 Annual Report") applicable to Part II, Items 5-8 and
Part IV, Item 14 of Form 10-K.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT - FISCAL 2002
SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
PART I. Pages
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Item 1. Business 1-3
Item 2. Properties 3
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 4
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 4
PART II.
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Security Holder Matters 4
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 4
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations 4
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 5
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 5
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 5
PART III.
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 7
Item 11. Executive Compensation 7
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management 7
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 7
PART IV.
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statements Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K 7-10
SIGNATURES 11-12
PART I
Item 1
Business
General Development of Business
SENECA FOODS CORPORATION (the "Company") was organized in 1949 and incorporated
under the laws of the State of New York. In the spring of 1995, the Company
initiated a 20-year Alliance Agreement with The Pillsbury Company, which created
the Company's most significant business relationship. Under the Alliance
Agreement, the Company has packed canned and frozen vegetables carrying
Pillsbury's Green Giant brand name. These Green Giant vegetables have been
produced in vegetable plants, which the Company acquired from Pillsbury and, to
a lesser extent, in the Company's other vegetable plants, which also produce
vegetables under the Libby's brand name, which is licensed to the Company, and
other brand names owned by the Company or its customers.
Since the onset of the Alliance Agreement, vegetable production has been the
Company's dominant line of business. In fiscal 1999, the Company sold its fruit
juice business and its applesauce and industrial flavors business. As a result
of these fiscal 1999 divestitures, the Company's only non-vegetable food
products are a line of fruit products.
Financial Information about Industry Segments
The Company's business activities are conducted in food and non-food operations.
The food operation constitutes 98% of total sales, of which approximately 97% is
vegetable processing and 3% is fruit processing. The non-food operation is an
air charter service, which represents 2% of the Company's total sales.
Narrative Description of Business
Principal Products and Markets
Food Processing
The principal products of this segment include canned vegetable, frozen
vegetable and fruit products. The products are sold to retail and institutional
markets. The Company has divided the United States into four major marketing
sections: Eastern, Southern, Northwestern, and Southwestern. Food processing
operations are primarily supported by plant locations in New York, Wisconsin,
Washington, Idaho, and Minnesota.
The following table summarizes net sales by major product category for the years
ended March 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000:
Classes of similar products/services: 2002 2001 2000
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(In thousands)
Net Sales:
Green Giant vegetables $ 258,412 $ 290,346 $ 263,279
Canned vegetables 333,048 326,224 291,436
Frozen vegetables 25,165 22,052 27,889
Fruit and chip products 19,982 20,092 21,075
Flight operations 5,588 5,905 5,105
Other 8,880 9,681 12,294
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$ 651,075 $ 674,300 $ 621,078
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Other
Seneca Flight Operations provides air charter service primarily to industries in
upstate New York.
Source and Availability of Raw Material
Food Processing
The Company's food processing plants are located in major vegetable and fruit
producing states. Fruits and vegetables are primarily obtained through contracts
with growers. The Company's sources of supply are considered equal or superior
to its competition for all of its food products.
Seasonal Business
Food Processing
While individual fruits and vegetables have seasonal cycles of peak production
and sales, the different cycles are usually offsetting to some extent. The
supply of commodities, current pricing, and expected new crop quantity and
quality, affect the timing of the Company's sales and earnings. An Off Season
Allowance is established during the year to minimize the effect of seasonal
production on earnings. The Off Season Allowance is zero at fiscal year-end.
Backlog
Food Processing
In the food processing business, the end of year sales order backlog is not
considered meaningful. Traditionally, larger customers provide tentative
bookings for their expected purchases for the upcoming season. These bookings
are further developed as data on the expected size of the related national
harvests becomes available. In general, these bookings serve as a yardstick,
rather than as a firm commitment, since actual harvest results can vary notably
from early estimates. In actual practice, the Company has substantially all of
its expected seasonal production identified to potential sales outlets before
the seasonal production is completed.
Competition and Customers
Food Processing
Competition in the food business is substantial with imaginative brand
registration, quality, service, and pricing being the major determinants in the
Company's relative market position. During the past year approximately 9% of the
Company's processed foods were packed for retail customers under the Company
branded labels of Libby's(R), Blue Boy(R), Aunt Nellie's Farm Kitchen(R), and
Seneca(R). About 14% of the processed foods were packed for institutional food
distributors and 36% of processed foods were retail packed under the private
label of customers. The remaining 41% is sold under the Alliance Agreement with
Pillsbury (see note 13 of Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data).
Termination of the Alliance Agreement would substantially reduce the Company's
sales and profitability unless the Company were to enter into a new substantial
supply relationship with Pillsbury or another major vegetable marketer. The
customers represent a full cross section of the retail, institutional,
distributor, and industrial markets and the Company does not consider itself
dependent on any single sales source other than sales attributable to the
Alliance Agreement.
The principal branded products are Libby's canned vegetable products, which rate
among the top five national brands. The information under the heading Results of
Operations in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations in the 2002 Annual Report is incorporated by reference.
Environmental Protection
Environmental protection is an area that has been worked on most diligently at
each food processing facility. In all locations, the Company has cooperated with
federal, state, and local environmental protection authorities in developing and
maintaining suitable antipollution facilities. In general, pollution control
facilities are equal to or somewhat superior to those of our competitors and are
within environmental protection standards. The Company does not expect any
material capital expenditures to comply with environmental regulations in the
near future. The Company is a potentially responsible party with respect to two
waste disposal sites owned and operated by others. The Company believes that any
reasonably anticipated liabilities will not exceed $137,000 in the aggregate.
Environmental Litigation
The Company is a defendant in a suit entitled State of Wisconsin vs. Seneca
Foods Corporation, et. al., commenced July 30, 2001, in the Rock County
(Wisconsin) Circuit Court. In the suit, the Wisconsin Department of Justice
seeks civil penalties against the Company. The State alleges that the Company
stored and/or disposed of two different types of materials at a Wisconsin
facility in violation of applicable laws. The Company has cooperated with
Wisconsin authorities to remove the materials and complete remediation
activities but is contesting the State's efforts to recover a monetary penalty.
The first subject matter of the suit involved events, which occurred
approximately 19 years ago, and there was no addition of materials in subsequent
years. The second subject matter of the suit involved two events between 1995
and 1999. All material at issue in the action has been removed and properly
disposed of. If civil penalties are imposed, by judgment or settlement, the
Company would incur a liability, although the ultimate amount of the liability
that might be incurred is uncertain. The Company's reported net earnings for
fiscal 2002 reflects an estimated charge with respect to this matter, which may
be less or more than the ultimate charge, in which case an appropriate
adjustment will be made in subsequent financial periods. The Company does not
anticipate that future compliance will require significant changes in its
production and packing operations.
Employment
Food processing - Full time 1,995
- Seasonal 306
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2,301
Other 82
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2,383
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The Company has four collective bargaining agreements with three union locals
covering approximately 539 of its full time employees. The terms of these
agreements result in wages and benefits, which are substantially the same for
comparable positions for the Company's non-union employees. Three collective
bargaining agreements expire in calendar 2003. The remaining agreement expires
in calendar 2004.
Foreign Operations
Export sales for the Company are a relatively small portion (about 3%) of the
food processing sales.
Item 2
Properties
The Company has seven food processing, packaging, and warehousing facilities
located in New York State that provide approximately 1,588,000 square feet of
food packaging, freezing and freezer storage, and warehouse storage space. These
facilities process and package vegetable products. The Company is a lessee under
a number of operating and capital leases for equipment and real property used
for processing and warehousing.
Six facilities in Minnesota, two facilities in Washington, one facility in
Idaho, and six facilities in Wisconsin provide approximately 5,708,000 square
feet of food packaging, freezing and freezer storage, and warehouse storage
space. These facilities process and package various vegetable and fruit
products. The facilities are owned by the Company.
The Company's air charter division has a 42,000 square foot facility, which is
owned by the Company.
All of the properties are well maintained and equipped with modern machinery.
All locations, although highly utilized, have the ability to expand as sales
requirements justify. Because of the seasonal production cycles the exact extent
of utilization is difficult to measure. In certain circumstances, the
theoretical full efficiency levels are being reached; however, expansion of the
number of production days or hours could increase the output by up to 20% for a
season.
Certain of the Company's facilities are mortgaged to financial institutions to
secure long-term debt and capital lease obligations. See Notes 4 and 5 of Item
8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for additional information about
the Company's long-term debt and lease commitments.
Item 3
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is made a party to certain
legal proceedings seeking monetary damages. The Company does not believe that an
adverse decision in any of these proceedings would have a material adverse
impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See
Environmental Litigation for further legal discussion.
Item 4
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No matters were submitted to vote of shareholders during the last quarter of the
fiscal period covered by this report.
PART II
Item 5
Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Security Holder Matters
Each class of preferred stock receives preference as to dividend payment and
declaration over any common stock. In addition, refer to the information in the
2002 Annual Report, "Shareholder Information and Quarterly Results", which is
incorporated by reference.
Item 6
Selected Financial Data
Refer to the information in the 2002 Annual Report, "Five Year Selected
Financial Data", which is incorporated by reference.
Item 7
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
Refer to the information in the 2002 Annual Report, "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", which is
incorporated by reference.
Item 7A
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Refer to the information in the 2002 Annual Report, "Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk", which is incorporated by reference.
Item 8
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Refer to the information in the 2002 Annual Report, "Consolidated Financial
Statements and Notes thereto including Independent Auditors' Report", which is
incorporated by reference.
Item 9
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
Not applicable.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Seneca Foods Corporation
Marion, New York
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Seneca Foods
Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2002 and 2001, and for each of the
three years in the period ended March 31, 2002, and have issued our report
thereon dated May 24, 2002; such consolidated financial statements and report
are included in your 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders and are incorporated
herein by reference. Our audits also included the consolidated financial
statement schedule of Seneca Foods Corporation, listed in Item 14 (A)(2). This
consolidated financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In
our opinion, such consolidated financial statement schedule, when considered in
relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Rochester, New York
May 24, 2002
PART III
Item 10
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
Item 11
Executive Compensation
Item 12
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Item 13
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Information required by Items 10 through 13 will be filed separately with the
Commission, pursuant to Regulation 14A, in a definitive proxy statement
involving the election of directors, which is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 14
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K
A. Exhibits, Financial Statements, and Supplemental Schedules
1. Financial Statements - the following consolidated financial
statements of the Registrant, included in the Annual Report for the
year ended March 31, 2002, are incorporated by reference in Item 8:
Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings - Years ended March 31, 2002,
2001 and 2000
Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 2002 and 2001
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended March 31, 2002,
2001 and 2000
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - Years ended March
31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Years ended March 31,
2002, 2001 and 2000
Independent Auditors' Report
Pages
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2. Supplemental Schedule:
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Schedule II -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 9
Other schedules have not been filed because the conditions requiring the filing
do not exist or the required information is included in the consolidated
financial statements, including the notes thereto.
3. Exhibits:
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No. 3 - Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws - Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q/A
filed August, 1995; as amended by the amendments filed with the Company's Form 10-K filed June 1996,
as amended by the Company's definitive proxy statement filed July, 1998.
No. 4 - Articles defining the rights of security holders - Incorporated by reference to the Company's
Form 10-Q/A filed August, 1995 as amended by amendments filed with the Company's Form 10-K filed
June 1996. Instrument defining the rights of any holder of Long-Term Debt - Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 99 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed January 1995 as amended by Exhibit No.
4 of the Company's Form 10-K filed June, 1997, amended by Exhibit 4 of the Company's Form 10-Q
and Form 10-Q/A filed November, 1997, as amended by amendments filed with the Company's
definitive proxy statement filed July, 1998. The Company will furnish, upon request to the SEC,
a copy of any instrument defining the rights of any holder of Long-Term Debt.
No. 10 - Material Contracts - Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K dated February 24, 1995
for the First Amended and Restated Alliance Agreement and the First Amended and Restated Asset
Purchase Agreement both with The Pillsbury Company amended by the Company's Form 8-K dated June
11, 2002. Filed herewith is an Indemnification Agreement dated January 31, 2002.
No. 13 - The material contained in the 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders under the following headings:
"Five Year Selected Financial Data", "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations", "Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto including
Independent Auditors' Report", "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk", and
"Shareholder Information and Quarterly Results".
No. 21 - List of Subsidiaries 10
No. 23 - Consents of Experts and Counsel 10
B. Reports on Form 8-K
None.
Schedule II
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(In thousands)
Balance at Charged/ Charged to Deductions Balance
Beginning (Credited) other from at end
of period to income accounts reserve of period
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Year-ended March 31, 2002:
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 632 $ 190 $ --- $ 217 (a) $ 605
===================================================================
Year-ended March 31, 2001:
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 469 $ 188 $ -- $ 25 (a) $ 632
===================================================================
Year-ended March 31, 2000:
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 487 $ (5) $ -- $ 13 (a) $ 469
===================================================================
(a) Accounts written off, net of recoveries.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
By/s/ Jeffrey L. Van Riper June 6, 2002
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Jeffrey L. Van Riper
Controller and Secretary
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature Title Date
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/s/Arthur S. Wolcott Chairman and Director June 6, 2002
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Arthur S. Wolcott
/s/Kraig H. Kayser President, Chief Executive Officer, June 6, 2002
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Kraig H. Kayser and Director
/s/Philip G. Paras Chief Financial Officer June 6, 2002
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Philip G. Paras
/s/Jeffrey L. Van Riper Controller and Secretary June 6, 2002
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Jeffrey L. Van Riper (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/Arthur H. Baer Director June 6, 2002
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Arthur H. Baer
/s/Andrew M. Boas Director June 6, 2002
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Andrew M. Boas
/s/Robert T. Brady Director June 6, 2002
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Robert T. Brady
Continued
Signature Title Date
/s/Douglas F. Brush Director June 6, 2002
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Douglas F. Brush
/s/Edward O. Gaylord Director June 17, 2002
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Edward O. Gaylord
/s/G. Brymer Humphreys Director June 6, 2002
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G. Brymer Humphreys
/s/Susan W. Stuart Director June 6, 2002
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Susan W. Stuart