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AUSTIN, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As the company celebrates its 125^th anniversary this year, Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) today announced the launch of its 10^th annual corporate responsibility report. The report is available online at 2015csr.hormelfoods.com and includes information related to the company’s sustainability performance in fiscal 2015.

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“Our food journey is how we produce food responsibly for customers and consumers around the world through five focus areas: the environment, animal welfare, our products, people and communities,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods. “We continue to make significant strides, and this past year was no exception.”

Some of the company’s achievements in 2015 include:

• Establishing an executive Corporate Responsibility Steering Committee to build upon the efforts of the company’s Corporate Responsibility Council.
• Making notable progress toward its 2020 environmental goals after already surpassing its solid waste goal last year.
• Implementing a clean label initiative to simplify the ingredient statements of many products through the removal or replacement of ingredients, while still delivering great-tasting items consumers expect.
• Partnering with the Cancer Nutrition Consortium to develop a line of food and beverage products designed to support the unique nutrition needs of patients recovering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. In 2015, the company launched Hormel Vital Cuisine™ high-protein shakes and whey powders and made them available directly to consumers for home delivery.
• Acquiring Applegate Farms, LLC, which has allowed the company to offer a new line of products to meet the growing demand for natural and organic foods.
• Contributing $7.7 million in cash and product donations. For example, the company donated $400,000 to local hunger relief organizations in 40 communities where it has manufacturing facilities and also continued its donations of SPAMMY^®, a shelf-stable poultry product fortified with vitamins and minerals that is distributed to malnourished children in Guatemala. In 2015, Hormel Foods donated 2.4 million cans of SPAMMY^® through its partnership with Food for the Poor and Caritas Arquidiocesana.

In addition to the report, Hormel Foods released a Project SPAMMY^® video that includes footage and interviews from employees that went on a Project SPAMMY^®engagement trip to learn more about the project and help with project operations. The video is included in the report and can be accessed at http://2015csr.hormelfoods.com/communities/hunger-relief/.

The Hormel Foods 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report follows the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 guidelines and is “in accordance” with the core option, with the content index verified as being accurate and aligned by GRI.

The report is designed to allow stakeholders to easily view top-line highlights through the interactive online version and downloadable PDF. Readers are encouraged to provide any feedback about the report or corporate responsibility at Hormel Foods by emailing sustainability@hormel.com.

Hormel Foods will continue to report on its environmental and social performance annually. The company’s next report will be released in June 2017 for data spanning from November 2015 to October 2016.

About Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. Hormel Foods, which leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring branded, value-added products to the global marketplace, will celebrate its 125^th anniversary in 2016. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index, S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, and was named one of “The 100 Best Corporate Citizens” by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the eighth year in a row. Hormel Foods also received a perfect score on the 2016 Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, was recognized on the 2016 Best for Vets Employers List by Military Times, and was named one of the 2016 Best Companies for Leaders by Chief Executive magazine. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit http://www.hormelfoods.com.

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Hormel Foods Corporation
Kelly Braaten, 507-437-5345
media@hormel.com

Source: Hormel Foods Corporation