8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   January 21, 2022

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1 Hormel Place

Austin, MN  55912

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

(507) 437-5611

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[☐] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[☐] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[☐] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[☐] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company   [☐]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [☐]

Section 5 – CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On January 27, 2022, Hormel Foods Corporation (the Company) announced two personnel changes effective February 18, 2022. Paul Kuehneman, assistant controller, will advance to the position of vice president and controller succeeding Jana Haynes. Haynes gave the Company notice of her resignation on January 21, 2022.

Kuehneman, age 50, was elected to the position of assistant controller on October 26, 2020. In this role, he leads all financial responsibilities for supply chain, Jennie-O Turkey Store and product costing, including financial analysis, management reporting and forecasting. Prior to being named to this position, Kuehneman was vice president and chief financial officer for Jennie-O Turkey Store since 2016. As vice president and controller, he will be responsible for financial policies, internal controls, and financial reporting, as well as the general accounting, cost and business-unit accounting functions of the Company.

Kuehneman has no family relationships with any member of the Board or any other executive officer of the Company, and is not a party to any transaction with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. Kuehneman and the Company have not entered into any employment agreement in connection with his election as vice president and controller.

A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Section 9 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

3

a1-27x22release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Media Relations 507-434-6352 media@hormel.com Hormel Foods Announces Advancement of Paul Kuehneman to Vice President and Controller AUSTIN, Minn. (Jan. 27, 2022) -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced that Paul Kuehneman has advanced to the position of vice president and controller. Kuehneman succeeds Jana Haynes, who recently announced her departure from Hormel Foods. “We thank Jana for the many contributions she has made to Hormel Foods and wish her the best,” said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods. “Paul is ideally positioned to assume the role of vice president and controller, with more than 25 years of finance, accounting and audit experience with Hormel Foods. He is highly regarded and has in-depth knowledge of our business and exceptional financial acumen.” As vice president and controller, Kuehneman is responsible for financial policies, internal controls, and financial reporting, as well as the general accounting, cost and business-unit accounting functions of the company. He will report to Jacinth Smiley, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Hormel Foods. Most recently, Kuehneman was assistant controller, a role he assumed in November of 2020, after several years as vice president and chief financial officer for Jennie-O Turkey Store, a Hormel Foods subsidiary. Kuehneman joined Hormel Foods in 1993 and has held various accounting, finance and internal audit roles with the company. Kuehneman earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northwest Missouri State University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is active in numerous community organizations. About Hormel Foods – Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $11 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters®, SKIPPY®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Justin’s®, Wholly®, Hormel® Black Label®, Columbus® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the “Global 2000 World’s Best Employers” list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine’s most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “The 100 Best Corporate Citizens” list for 12 years, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world’s most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.