Conagra adapts strategy amid industry headwinds with focus on health trends and asset divestment

Conagra Brands is refining its portfolio and embracing health-conscious products as it navigates economic challenges, supply chain pressures, and shifting consumer preferences in the North American food sector.

Conagra Brands, a major player in the North American packaged foods sector, maintains a significant presence with a diverse portfolio that includes frozen foods, condiments, snacks, and meal solutions. The company operates across frozen, refrigerated, and shelf-s...

table categories, utilising a multi-channel distribution model spanning retail, food service, and wholesale segments. Its extensive supply chain network integrates manufacturing facilities, distribution partnerships, and logistics systems to ensure product availability and continuity amid fluctuating market demands.

Operationally, Conagra emphasises supply chain resilience through redundancy, multi-source procurement, and advanced inventory management techniques such as demand forecasting and automated replenishment. The company’s manufacturing processes are supported by technological innovations, including automation and robotics, which enhance production consistency, packaging precision, and overall efficiency. Quality assurance and food safety protocols are rigorously maintained, with multi-stage inspections and laboratory testing aligned with regulatory standards.

Sustainability and environmental responsibility are integral to Conagra’s operational strategy. Energy-efficient manufacturing, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing initiatives are prioritised, alongside efforts to improve packaging recyclability and reduce water use and carbon emissions. These practices are shaped in collaboration with suppliers and external partners, ensuring compliance with industry-wide sustainability standards.

Recent financial reports and market dynamics reveal ongoing challenges for Conagra amid a broader packaged foods industry landscape marked by rising input costs, shifting consumer preferences, and competitive pressures. The company has notably adjusted its profit and operating margin forecasts downward for 2025. This revision arises from supply constraints, foreign exchange issues, and increased promotional spending driven by consumer shifts towards cheaper private-label brands. For example, Conagra’s annual adjusted profit forecast was lowered to $2.35 per share from $2.45-$2.50, with operating margin expectations falling from 14.8% to 14.4%. These adjustments reflect pressures seen across the industry, affecting sales volumes and squeezing margins.

Despite these headwinds, Conagra’s latest quarterly results show resilience, with sales surpassing analyst estimates. The grocery and snacks segment reported a 2% increase in sales during the most recent quarter, bolstered by consumer trends favouring pantry staples amid rising living costs. CEO Sean Connolly cited ongoing economic uncertainty and weak consumer sentiment but highlighted that more consumers are cooking at home, favouring packaged food products that offer convenience and variety.

Conagra is also adapting to evolving consumer health and dietary trends. The company sees growth opportunities among consumers using appetite-suppressant weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, positioning portion-controlled “better-for-you” frozen meals and high-protein, low-calorie snacks such as Slim Jim beef jerky and Angie’s Boomchickapop popcorn to meet new nutritional needs. This strategy aligns with broader sector innovation trends focusing on functional foods, plant-based alternatives, and health-conscious product offerings.

In response to financial pressures and strategic focus shifts, Conagra is exploring divestiture of non-core assets, including its canned pasta brand Chef Boyardee, which has experienced sales declines due to inflation and changing consumer buying behaviour. The company engaged Centerview Partners to assess market interest, with valuation estimates exceeding $500 million. This move reflects a wider industry pattern where packaged food companies refine their portfolios to concentrate on higher-growth and more profitable segments.

Overall, Conagra Brands’ operational model reflects a robust integration of manufacturing, distribution, and marketing capabilities, fortified by active supply chain management and continuous product innovation. Nonetheless, the company faces notable challenges stemming from economic pressures, competitive market conditions, and shifting consumer preferences, prompting strategic recalibrations to sustain growth and profitability in the evolving packaged foods landscape.

Source: Noah Wire Services