Lancaster Colony Reports Second Quarter Sales And Earnings

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lancaster Colony Corporation (Nasdaq: LANC) today reported results for the company's second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2015. Highlights for the quarter are as follows:

• Net sales increased 7.0% to $324.8 million versus $303.4 million last year.  Excluding sales contributed by the Flatout^® flatbread business acquired in March 2015, net sales increased 4.2%.
• Excluding Flatout^®, retail channel net sales improved only modestly with sales volumes nearly flat.  Retail sales benefited from pricing actions taken to help counter higher egg costs attributed to the U.S. avian influenza outbreak while increased spending on retail trade promotions and continued softness in our frozen roll business combined to limit sales growth.  In the foodservice channel, sales improved on continued strong growth from national chain restaurants along with pricing actions taken in response to higher egg costs.
• Consolidated operating income increased to $52.1 million from $50.2 million on the pickup in sales volume, reduced freight costs and lower costs for certain ingredients, most notably soybean oil, partially offset by the net impact of higher egg prices, increased retail trade spending and a less favorable sales mix.
• Net income was $34.5 million, or $1.25 per diluted share compared to $33.0 million or $1.20 per diluted share last year.  The lower tax rate in the current-year quarter reflects the tax benefit from the December 2015 special dividend payment of $5.00 per share for shares held in the company's ESOP.
• In addition to the December 2015 special dividend payment of $5.00 per share, the regular quarterly cash dividend was increased nine percent to $0.50 per share.  The company's balance sheet remained debt free on December 31, 2015 with $87.1 million in cash and equivalents.  

For the six months ended December 31, 2015, net sales were up 9.8% to $618.9 million compared to $563.4 million a year ago.  Excluding sales contributed by the Flatout^® flatbread business, net sales increased 6.2%.  Net income for the six-month period totaled $62.1 million, or $2.26 per diluted share compared to the prior-year amount of $55.7 million, or $2.04 per share.

Chairman and CEO John B. Gerlach, Jr. commented, "We closed our seasonally strong second quarter with record sales and improved operating income.  As we move into our third quarter, assuming no recurrence of a widespread avian influenza outbreak, we anticipate pricing actions taken during the first half of our fiscal year will fully offset higher egg costs with egg prices now trending down from their recent peaks.  Other commodity costs are expected to remain modestly favorable in the third quarter, as are freight costs. In our fiscal second half, we are projecting an increase in product placement, marketing, and promotional costs in support of new product introductions.  In addition, an initiative to selectively rationalize some of our foodservice business in the coming quarters is expected to slow future sales growth in that channel."

Conference Call on the Web

The company's second quarter conference call is scheduled for this morning, January 28, at 10:00 a.m. ET.  You may access the call through a live webcast by using the link provided on the company's Internet home page at www.lancastercolony.com.  Replays of the webcast will be made available on the company website.

About the Company

Lancaster Colony Corporation is a manufacturer and marketer of specialty food products for the retail and foodservice markets.

Forward-Looking Statements

We desire to take advantage of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "PSLRA"). This news release contains various "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the PSLRA and other applicable securities laws. Such statements can be identified by the use of the forward-looking words "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "believe," "intend," "plan," "expect," "hope" or similar words. These statements discuss future expectations; contain projections regarding future developments, operations or financial conditions; or state other forward-looking information. Such statements are based upon assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments; and other factors we believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements involve various important risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include:

• the potential for another large outbreak of avian influenza in the U.S. and the resulting fluctuations in the cost and availability of egg-based ingredients;
• our ability to successfully implement an initiative to selectively rationalize business within our foodservice channel;
• fluctuations in the cost and availability of other raw materials and packaging;
• the reaction of customers or consumers to the effect of price increases we may implement;
• the potential for loss of larger programs or key customer relationships;
• the effect of consolidation of customers within key market channels;
• price and product competition;
• the success and cost of new product development efforts;
• the lack of market acceptance of new products;
• the possible occurrence of product recalls or other defective or mislabeled product costs;
• changes in demand for our products, which may result from loss of brand reputation or customer goodwill;
• maintenance of competitive position with respect to other manufacturers;
• adverse changes in freight, energy or other costs of producing, distributing or transporting our products;
• capacity constraints that may affect our ability to meet demand or may increase our costs;
• dependence on contract manufacturers;
• efficiencies in plant operations;
• stability of labor relations;
• the outcome of any litigation or arbitration;
• the impact of fluctuations in our pension plan asset values on funding levels, contributions required and benefit costs;
• the ability to successfully grow the Flatout business;
• the extent to which future business acquisitions are completed and acceptably integrated;
• dependence on key personnel;
• changes in financial markets;
• access to any required financing;
• changes in estimates in critical accounting judgments; and
• risks related to other factors described under "Risk Factors" in other reports and statements filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (available at www.sec.gov).         

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Management believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on statements that are based on current expectations.

SOURCE Lancaster Colony Corporation