ORRVILLE, Ohio, Feb. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) today announced results for the third quarter ended January 31, 2013, of its 2013 fiscal year. Results for the quarter and nine months ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, include the operations of the North American foodservice coffee and hot beverage business acquired from Sara Lee Corporation ("Sara Lee foodservice business") since the completion of the acquisition on January 3, 2012.

Executive Summary

• The acquired Sara Lee foodservice business contributed an incremental $59.7 million and $237.1 million to net sales for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2013, respectively.
• Operating income and net income excluding the impact of restructuring, merger and integration, and certain pension settlement costs ("special project costs") increased 14 percent and 15 percent, respectively, in the third quarter, as the Company realized the benefit of overall lower commodity costs.
• Third quarter net income per diluted share, excluding special project costs, increased 20 percent, which includes the benefit from the Company's share repurchase activities over the past year.

"We went into the important holiday season positioned for growth in many of our categories and are pleased with the results," commented Richard Smucker, Chief Executive Officer. "Our strategy of generating growth through brand-building, innovation, acquisitions, and productivity initiatives made possible solid third quarter and year-to-date results. Our brands continue to demonstrate their strength and resilience. To our employees, we thank them for their unending commitment to our strategy and their skill in executing it."

"Our solid third quarter sales were punctuated by the continued growth of our K-Cups®, momentum in the spreads business, and the initial contributions of our Sara Lee foodservice business acquisition," added Vince Byrd, President and Chief Operating Officer. "Our long-term business perspective coupled with the ability to quickly adapt to changing market conditions has enabled us to perform well in an unsettled business environment. The consumer response to our tactical adjustments over the last few quarters has been positive and we are well positioned for continued profitable growth."

Net Sales

Net sales increased 6 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012, primarily due to the Sara Lee foodservice business acquisition and favorable sales mix. As a result of the acquisition in January of last year, an additional two months of net sales, totaling $59.7 million, were recognized in the third quarter of 2013.

Favorable sales mix in the quarter was driven by the Company's K-Cups® and peanut butter products, which are higher priced per pound, compared to other products within the Company's portfolio. Overall net price realization was lower primarily due to price declines on coffee taken earlier in the fiscal year. Volume gains realized in Jif® peanut butter and Smucker's® fruit spreads were offset by decreases in the Pillsbury® brand and the Canadian Robin Hood® and Five Roses® flour brands. Overall volume, based on weight and excluding the incremental impact of the acquisition, decreased 1 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012.

Margins

Gross profit increased $70.5 million, or 15 percent, in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012, due to favorable mix, lower commodity costs, the impact of an additional two months of the Sara Lee foodservice business, and a decrease in special project costs. Excluding special project costs, gross profit increased $58.6 million, or 12 percent, and improved to 34.5 percent of net sales in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 32.6 percent in the third quarter of 2012.

Overall lower commodity costs during the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012, were driven by green coffee offset somewhat by higher peanut costs. The favorable net impact of lower green coffee costs on gross profit was primarily timing related. The Company reduced coffee prices in May 2012 with the expectation that it would recognize lower green coffee costs as it progressed through its fiscal year. The actual realization of these lower costs during the quarter, in large part, offset the unfavorable impact realized earlier in the year. Unrealized mark-to-market adjustments on derivative contracts were a loss of $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared to a gain of $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2012.

Total selling, distribution, and administrative expenses increased 12 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012, and increased as a percentage of net sales from 15.3 percent to 16.1 percent. Marketing, selling, and distribution expenses increased 6 percent, 10 percent, and 5 percent, respectively, and were primarily driven by the acquired Sara Lee foodservice business. General and administrative expenses increased 21 percent due to increased incentive compensation and employee benefit costs.

Higher amortization expense was recognized in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012, primarily related to the intangible assets associated with the Sara Lee foodservice business acquisition.

Operating income increased $57.9 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012. Excluding special project costs in both periods, operating income increased $33.4 million, or 14 percent, and increased from 15.9 percent of net sales in 2012 to 17.1 percent in 2013.

Income Taxes

Income taxes increased $19.4 million, or 32 percent, in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012, reflecting an increase in income before income taxes. The effective tax rate was 34.1 in both the third quarter of 2013 and 2012.

Segment Performance

U.S. Retail Coffee

The U.S. Retail Coffee segment net sales decreased 2 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012, reflecting price declines taken over the past year. Segment volume increased 1 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012, led by K-Cups®, Cafe Bustelo®, and Cafe Pilon®. Volume of the overall Folgers® brand was flat as the growth experienced in K-Cups® was offset by a slight decline in roast and ground that was attributed to the constraint for coffee containers, which arose earlier in the fiscal year and is now resolved. Dunkin' Donuts® packaged coffee volume decreased 2 percent. The impact of sales mix was favorable due to K-Cups®. Net sales of K-Cups® increased $30.4 million, or 51 percent, compared to the third quarter of 2012, and contributed 5 percentage points of growth to segment net sales, while contributing only 1 percentage point of growth to volume.

The U.S. Retail Coffee segment profit increased $36.8 million, or 27 percent, in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012. Green coffee costs were significantly lower in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012. The Company reduced coffee prices in May 2012 with the expectation that it would recognize lower green coffee costs as it progressed through its fiscal year. The majority of these lower costs was recognized during the quarter and, in large part, offset the unfavorable impact realized earlier in the year. On a year-to-date basis, the net impact of lower prices and green coffee costs has been relatively neutral to segment profit. Mix also contributed to the increase in segment profit in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012, offset somewhat by an increase in marketing expenses. Unrealized mark-to-market adjustments on derivative contracts, which represented a gain of $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared to a gain of $2.5 million in the third quarter of 2012, had an unfavorable impact on segment profit growth of $2.2 million.

U.S. Retail Consumer Foods

The U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment net sales increased 4 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012, as the impact of favorable sales mix and higher net price realization offset a 1 percent decline in segment volume. Jif® brand net sales increased 21 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012, reflecting a 17 percent volume increase. Jif® peanut butter volume in last year's third quarter was significantly lower, impacted by the 30 percent price increase at the beginning of that quarter along with the consumer buy-in that occurred in advance of it. Smucker's® fruit spreads net sales and volume increased 5 percent and 9 percent, respectively, in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012. Net sales and volume of Smucker's® Uncrustables® frozen sandwiches both increased 38 percent during the same period, benefiting from new distribution.

Net sales for the Pillsbury® brand decreased 4 percent, while volume decreased 9 percent, in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012, with approximately one-half of the volume decline due to the tonnage impact of the previously announced cake mix downsizing. Canned milk net sales and volume decreased 10 percent and 5 percent, respectively, during the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012.

The U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment profit was flat in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012 which benefited from the timing of peanut butter pricing actions. Segment profit was positively impacted by mix along with decreases in marketing and selling expenses. Overall raw material costs recognized were higher in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012, primarily due to peanuts. In anticipation of lower peanut costs in future periods, the Company decreased peanut butter prices by approximately 10 percent late in the third quarter. As a result, higher peanut costs were not fully recovered by net price realization and contributed to the flat quarter-over-quarter segment profit. Unrealized mark-to-market adjustments on derivative contracts were a gain of $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared to a loss of $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2012.

International, Foodservice, and Natural Foods

Net sales in the International, Foodservice, and Natural Foods segment increased 28 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012. The additional two months of Sara Lee foodservice business net sales totaled $59.7 million and represented 22 percentage points of the net sales growth. Excluding the impact of acquisition and foreign exchange, segment net sales increased 5 percent over the same period last year primarily due to sales mix, driven by coffee, and higher net price realization. Volume was down 1 percent primarily due to flour in Canada.

Segment profit increased $10.8 million, or 28 percent, in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012. The Sara Lee foodservice business, including the profit from the additional two months of activity, contributed over one-half of the segment profit increase in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 2012. Favorable mix contributed most of the remaining segment profit increase offset somewhat by higher distribution expenses. Overall higher raw material costs were more than offset by higher prices in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012 which was impacted by an unfavorable price to cost relationship, notably for coffee and natural beverages. Unrealized mark-to-market adjustments on derivative contracts were a loss of $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared to a loss of $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2012.

Other Financial Results and Measures

Cash provided by operating activities increased $214.4 million for the first nine months of 2013, compared to 2012, primarily due to a lower amount of cash required to fund inventory during the period, compared to 2012. Capital expenditures decreased $50.4 million in the first nine months of 2013, compared to 2012, and combined with the increase in cash provided by operating activities resulted in a $264.8 million increase in free cash flow over the same period.

Outlook

For fiscal 2013, the Company expects net sales to increase over 6 percent, compared to 2012, including an incremental eight-month contribution from the Sara Lee foodservice business. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share is expected to range from $5.17 to $5.22, which excludes special project costs of approximately $0.40 per diluted share. Previously, the range was $5.12 to $5.22 per diluted share excluding special project costs.

Conference Call

The Company will conduct an earnings conference call and webcast today, Friday, February 15, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. E.T. The webcast can be accessed from the Company's website at www.smuckers.com. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, the webcast replay will be available at www.smuckers.com following the call. An audio replay will also be available following the call until Friday, February 22, 2013, and can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820, with a pass code of 8394093.

Non-GAAP Measures

The Company uses non-GAAP measures including net sales adjusted for the noncomparable impact of acquisition, divestiture, and foreign exchange rate; gross profit, operating income, net income, and net income per diluted share, excluding special project costs; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA"); and free cash flow as key measures for purposes of evaluating performance internally. These non-GAAP measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Rather, the presentation of these non-GAAP measures supplements other metrics used by management to internally evaluate its businesses, and facilitates the comparison of past and present operations. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies and may exclude certain nondiscretionary expenses and cash payments. A reconciliation of certain non-GAAP measures to the comparable GAAP items for the current and prior year quarter and year-to-date periods is included in the "Unaudited Non-GAAP Measures" table.

About The J. M. Smucker Company

For more than 110 years, The J. M. Smucker Company has been committed to offering consumers quality products that bring families together to share memorable meals and moments. Today, Smucker is a leading marketer and manufacturer of fruit spreads, retail packaged coffee, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings, sweetened condensed milk, and health and natural foods beverages in North America. Its family of brands includes Smucker's®, Folgers®, Dunkin' Donuts®, Jif®, Crisco®, Pillsbury®, Eagle Brand®, R.W. Knudsen Family®, Hungry Jack®, Cafe Bustelo®, Cafe Pilon®, White Lily® and Martha White® in the United States, along with Robin Hood®, Five Roses®, Carnation® and Bick's® in Canada. The Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a century ago. For more information about the Company, visit www.smuckers.com.

The J. M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for the following, which are used under license: Pillsbury® is a trademark of The Pillsbury Company, LLC; Carnation® is a trademark of Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.; and Dunkin' Donuts® is a registered trademark of DD IP Holder, LLC.

Dunkin' Donuts® brand is licensed to The J. M. Smucker Company for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and drug stores. This information does not pertain to Dunkin' Donuts® coffee or other products for sale in Dunkin' Donuts® restaurants. K-Cup® and K-Cups® are trademarks of Keurig, Incorporated.

The J. M. Smucker Company Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as projected operating results, earnings, and cash flows, that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Readers should understand that the risks, uncertainties, factors, and assumptions listed and discussed in this press release, including the following important factors and assumptions, could affect the future results of the Company and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:

• volatility of commodity markets from which raw materials, particularly green coffee beans, peanuts, soybean oil, wheat, milk, corn, and sugar, are procured and the related impact on costs;
• risks associated with derivative and purchasing strategies employed by the Company to manage commodity pricing risks, including the risk that such strategies could result in significant losses and adversely impact the Company's liquidity;
• crude oil price trends and their impact on transportation, energy, and packaging costs;
• the ability to successfully implement and realize the full benefit of price changes that are intended to ultimately fully recover cost including the competitive, retailer, and consumer response, and the impact of the timing of the price changes to profits and cash flow in a particular period;
• the success and cost of introducing new products and the competitive response;
• the success and cost of marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in the Company's businesses;
• general competitive activity in the market, including competitors' pricing practices and promotional spending levels;
• the ability of the Company to successfully integrate acquired and merged businesses in a timely and cost effective manner;
• the successful completion of the Company's restructuring programs and the ability to realize anticipated savings and other potential benefits within the time frames currently contemplated;
• the impact of food security concerns involving either the Company's or its competitors' products;
• the impact of accidents and natural disasters, including crop failures and storm damage;
• the concentration of certain of the Company's businesses with key customers and suppliers, including single-source suppliers of certain raw materials, such as packaging for its Folgers® coffee products, and finished goods, such as K-Cups®, and the ability to manage and maintain key relationships;
• the loss of significant customers, a substantial reduction in orders from these customers, or the bankruptcy of any such customer;
• changes in consumer coffee preferences and other factors affecting the coffee business, which represents a substantial portion of the Company's business;
• a change in outlook or downgrade in the Company's public credit ratings by a rating agency;
• the ability of the Company to obtain any required financing;
• the timing and amount of capital expenditures, share repurchases, and restructuring costs;
• impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets or changes in useful lives of other intangible assets;
• the impact of new or changes to existing governmental laws and regulations and their application;
• the impact of future legal, regulatory, or market measures regarding climate change;
• the outcome of current and future tax examinations, changes in tax laws, and other tax matters, and their related impact on the Company's tax positions;
• foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations;
• political or economic disruption;
• other factors affecting share prices and capital markets generally; and
• risks related to other factors described under "Risk Factors" in other reports and statements filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances.