conditions during the growing and harvesting seasons, water supply, general growing conditions, the effect of insects, plant diseases and fungi, and glass, metal and plastic prices.
Fluctuations in commodity prices can lead to retail price volatility and intensive price competition, and can influence consumer and trade buying patterns.
The cost of labor, manufacturing, energy, fuel, packaging materials and other costs related to the production and distribution of our food products can from time to time increase significantly and unexpectedly. For example, we experienced sudden and high cost inflation in fiscal 2021, fiscal 2022 and early 2023. Costs remained elevated in fiscal 2023, fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025, and we expect costs to remain elevated in fiscal 2026. We attempt to manage these risks by entering into short-term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements, implementing cost-saving measures and raising sales prices. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022 through fiscal 2023, we saw improvements in our gross profit and gross profit margins as our net pricing largely caught up with input cost increases. Gross profit and gross profit margins remained relatively stable in fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025. However, to the extent we are unable to avoid or offset any present or future cost increases by locking in our costs, implementing cost-saving measures or increasing prices to our customers, our operating results could be materially adversely affected. In addition, if input costs decline, customers may look for price reductions in situations where we have locked into purchases at higher costs. During the past several years, our cost-saving measures and sales price increases have not been sufficient to fully offset increases to our raw material, ingredient and packaging and distribution costs.
Production
Manufacturing. We operate ten manufacturing facilities. See Item 2, “Properties” for a listing of our manufacturing facilities.
Co-Packing Arrangements. In addition to our own manufacturing facilities, we source a significant portion of our products under “co-packing” arrangements, a common industry practice in which manufacturing is outsourced to other companies. We regularly evaluate our co-packing arrangements to ensure the most cost-effective manufacturing of our products and to utilize company-owned manufacturing facilities most effectively. Third parties located in U.S. and foreign locations produce our Baker’s Joy, B&M, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Canoleo, Cream of Rice, Crock Pot, Joan of Arc, New York Flatbreads, Regina, Spring Tree, Static Guard, Sugar Twin, TrueNorth and Underwood products and a portion of our B&G, Cary’s, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Green Giant, Las Palmas, MacDonald’s, McCann’s and Ortega products under co-packing agreements or purchase orders. Each of our co-packers produces products for other companies as well. We believe that there are alternative sources of co-packing production readily available for the majority of our products. However, we may experience short-term or long-term disturbances in our operations and our ability to implement our business plan or meet consumer demand if we are unexpectedly required to change our co-packing arrangements or are unable to enter into additional or alternative arrangements in the future.
Trademarks and Licensing Agreements
Trademarks. We consider our trademarks, in the aggregate, to be material to our business. We protect our trademarks by registration in the United States, Canada and in other countries where we sell our products. We also oppose any infringement in key markets. Trademark protection continues in some countries for as long as the mark is used and in other countries for as long as it is registered. Registrations generally are for renewable, fixed terms. Examples of our trademarks and registered trademarks include Ac’cent, B&G, B&G Sandwich Toppers, B&M, Baker’s Joy, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Brer Rabbit, Canoleo, Cary’s, Clabber Girl, Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Dash, Durkee, Grandma’s, Green Giant, Joan of Arc, Las Palmas, MacDonald’s, Mama Mary’s, Maple Grove Farms of Vermont, McCann’s, Molly McButter, New York Flatbreads, New York Style, Old London, Ortega, Polaner, Regina, Sa-són, Spice Islands, Spring Tree, Static Guard, Sugar Twin, Tone’s, Trappey’s, TrueNorth, Underwood, Vermont Maid, Victoria and Wright’s.
Inbound License Agreements. From time to time we enter into inbound licensing agreements. For example, we sell Weber seasonings and other flavor enhancers pursuant to a licensing agreement with Weber-Stephen Products LLC, Crockpot seasoning mixes pursuant to a license agreement with Sunbeam Products, Inc., Skinnygirl fat free and sugar- free salad dressings and sugar free cocktail inspired preserves pursuant to a license agreement with Better Bites, LLC, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust seasoning blend pursuant to a license agreement with a subsidiary of General Mills, Inc., Einstein Bros. everything bagel seasoning blend pursuant to a license agreement with Einstein Noah Restaurant