WESTERVILLE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 25, 2026--
The Marzetti Company (Nasdaq: MZTI) reported results today for the company's fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2026.
Fourth Quarter Summary
-- Consolidated fourth quarter net sales declined 2.2% to $465.0 million.
Excluding the prior-year quarter's $12.2 million in non-core sales
attributed to a temporary supply agreement ("TSA") with Winland Foods,
Inc., which concluded during the quarter ended March 31, 2026,
consolidated net sales increased 0.4%.
-- Retail segment net sales increased 0.9% to $243.6 million, which
includes $15.4 million of incremental sales from Bachan's, Inc., our
newly acquired Japanese Barbecue Sauce brand known for its delicious,
authentic, clean-label products. The acquisition closed on May 1, 2026.
-- Foodservice segment net sales decreased 5.3% to $221.4 million on a
reported basis. Excluding the non-core TSA sales of $12.2 million in the
prior-year quarter, Foodservice segment net sales decreased 0.1%.
-- Consolidated gross profit increased $7.9 million to a fourth quarter
record $114.0 million. Reported gross profit margin improved 220 basis
points to 24.5% driven by our ongoing cost savings programs.
-- SG&A expenses increased $12.3 million to $74.3 million. The higher SG&A
expenses include a $10.5 million increase in acquisition-related costs in
addition to $1.6 million in incremental noncash amortization expense
attributed to Bachan's intangible assets.
-- Consolidated operating income grew $18.8 million to $57.7 million. In
addition to the impacts of the increased gross profit and higher SG&A
expenses, consolidated operating income includes the benefit of an $18.5
million gain on the sale of our property in Milpitas, California, the
former location of the sauce and dressing facility that we closed in
fiscal 2026. The $18.5 million gain is reported as part of the
Restructuring, Impairment and Other line item. In the prior-year period,
restructuring and impairment charges of $5.1 million primarily relate to
the Milpitas plant closure.
-- Fourth quarter net income was $1.76 per diluted share versus $1.18 per
diluted share last year. In the current-year quarter, the
acquisition-related SG&A expenses decreased net income by $0.31 per
diluted share; the incremental noncash amortization expense for Bachan's
intangible assets reduced net income by $0.05 per diluted share; and the
net impact of all restructuring, impairment and other items, most of
which is the gain on the Milpitas property sale, increased net income by
$0.66 per diluted share. In the prior-year quarter, restructuring and
impairment charges reduced net income by $0.15 per diluted share while
acquisition-related SG&A costs reduced net income by $0.01 per diluted
share. Excluding these items, the resulting Adjusted Net Income Per
Diluted Share ("Adjusted Diluted EPS") grew 9.0% to $1.46 in the
current-year quarter, versus $1.34 last year, driven by the higher gross
profit.
CEO David A. Ciesinski commented, "We were pleased to report record gross profit and strong gross margin improvement in our fiscal fourth quarter. In our Retail segment, the newly acquired Bachan's brand added $15.4 million in incremental sales. Retail scanner data sourced from Circana for the quarter ended June shows continued strong performance for the Bachan's brand, with sales up 8.7% and total distribution points up 16.6% as the brand continues to grow share in the barbecue sauce category. Retail net sales growth was unfavorably impacted by the lapping of last year's club channel pipeline fill for Chick-fil-A$(R)$ sauces, reduced sales of our Sister Schubert's(R) dinner rolls in the club channel, and a comparison to the prior year's rollout of Texas Roadhouse(R) dinner rolls into traditional grocery chains. Note that Texas Roadhouse rolls remain a strong performer in our portfolio, with Circana retail scanner data showing that sales were up 28.1% for the quarter and 76.3% for the fiscal year. In the Foodservice segment, reported net sales decreased 5.3% while Adjusted Foodservice Net Sales, which exclude the non-core TSA sales, were nearly flat as gains for our leading national chain restaurant accounts were offset by reduced sales to other chains and lower sales for our branded Foodservice products."
Fourth Quarter Results
Fourth quarter consolidated net sales decreased 2.2% to $465.0 million versus $475.4 million last year. Excluding the non-core sales attributed to the TSA, Adjusted Consolidated Net Sales increased 0.4%. Our newly acquired Bachan's business added $15.4 million in net sales, or about 320 basis points of growth. Retail segment net sales grew 0.9% to $243.6 million while the segment's sales volume, measured in pounds shipped, declined 1.7%. Bachan's accounted for 640 basis points of Retail segment net sales growth and 520 basis points of Retail segment volume growth. In the Foodservice segment, net sales decreased 5.3% to $221.4 million while the segment's sales volume, measured in pounds shipped, declined 4.1%. Excluding the non-core TSA sales, Foodservice segment net sales decreased 0.1% while the segment's core sales volume improved 0.1%.
Consolidated gross profit increased $7.9 million to a fourth quarter record $114.0 million driven by our cost savings programs. Gross profit margin increased 220 basis points to 24.5%. Adjusted Gross Margin, which excludes all non-core TSA sales as those sales did not contribute meaningfully to gross profit, increased approximately 160 basis points.
SG&A expenses increased $12.3 million to $74.3 million, which includes a $10.5 million increase in acquisition-related costs in addition to $1.6 million in incremental noncash amortization expense for intangible assets attributed to Bachan's. Excluding these items, SG&A expenses were nearly flat as incremental core SG&A expenses attributed to Bachan's were offset by cost reductions elsewhere.
The $18.0 million Restructuring, Impairment and Other line item primarily reflects the benefit of an $18.5 million gain on the sale of our property in Milpitas, California, the former location of the sauce and dressing facility that we closed in fiscal 2026. Restructuring and impairment charges of $5.1 million in the prior-year quarter included $4.5 million in charges attributed to the closure of the Milpitas plant.
Consolidated operating income increased $18.8 million to $57.7 million as favorably impacted by the gain on the Milpitas property sale and higher gross profit, partially offset by the increase in SG&A expenses attributed to the acquisition-related costs and incremental amortization expense for Bachan's.
Interest expense totaled $1.8 million in the current year versus no interest expense last year, as a portion of the Bachan's acquisition purchase price was financed with a $200 million term loan.
Net income increased $15.8 million to $48.3 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, versus $32.5 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, last year. In the current-year quarter, income reported on the Restructuring, Impairment and Other line item increased net income by $18.1 million, or $0.66 per diluted share; acquisition-related SG&A costs reduced net income by $8.5 million, or $0.31 per diluted share; and the incremental noncash amortization expense for the Bachan's intangible assets decreased net income by $1.2 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. In the prior-year quarter, restructuring and impairment charges reduced net income by $4.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, while acquisition-related SG&A costs reduced net income by $0.4 million, or $0.01 per diluted share. Resulting Adjusted Diluted EPS was $1.46 in the current-year quarter, versus $1.34 last year.
Fiscal Year Results
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, net sales increased 1.1% to $1.93 billion compared to $1.91 billion a year ago. Net income for the fiscal year totaled $191.6 million, or $6.98 per diluted share, versus the prior-year amount of $167.3 million, or $6.07 per diluted share. The fiscal 2026 results include a net income benefit of $16.6 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, from income reported on the Restructuring, Impairment and Other line-item, driven by the proceeds from the sale of our property in Milpitas, California. Fiscal 2026 SG&A costs also include acquisition-related expenses that reduced net income by $11.3 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, in addition to incremental noncash amortization expense for intangible assets attributed to the Bachan's acquisition that reduced net income by $1.2 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. The fiscal 2025 results include a noncash settlement charge attributed to the termination of the company's legacy pension plans that reduced net income by $10.8 million, or $0.39 per diluted share. In addition, the fiscal 2025 results included restructuring and impairment charges that reduced net income by $4.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, and acquisition-related SG&A expenditures that reduced net income by $2.9 million, or $0.11 per diluted share. Resulting Adjusted Diluted EPS was $6.83 in the current year, versus $6.72 last year.
Fiscal 2026 cash flows from operating activities increased $22.3 million to a record $283.8 million. In addition, as part of our ongoing commitment to return value to our shareholders, the company increased its regular cash dividend for the 63(rd) consecutive year in fiscal 2026 with the quarterly cash dividend paid on December 31, 2025. During the fiscal year, the company paid cash dividends to shareholders totaling $108.8 million and repurchased $36.3 million of common stock.
Fiscal 2027 Outlook
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