such as lodging and hospitality, healthcare, schools and universities, sports and entertainment, and workplace environments.
Foodservice segment product contribution margin decreased $16.7 million to $85.8 million, down 16 percent compared to the prior year period. Pandemic-related costs accounted for approximately $4 million of the decline, with the remainder driven by lower sales volume, partially offset by favorable price/mix.
Retail
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Retail Segment Summary |
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| | | | | Year-Over-Year | | | | |
| | | Q1 2021 | | Growth Rates | | Price/Mix | | Volume |
| | | (dollars in millions) | | | | | | |
Net sales | | $ | 153.9 | | 19% | | 8% | | 11% |
Segment product contribution margin(3) | | $ | 35.8 | | 24% | | | | |
Net sales for the Retail segment, which includes sales of branded and private label products to grocery, mass merchant and club customers in North America, increased $24.6 million to $153.9 million, up 19 percent compared to the prior year period. Volume increased 11 percent due to increased sales of frozen potato products for in-home consumption following government-imposed stay-at-home orders. Shipments of the Company’s premium and mainstream branded offerings, which have historically comprised approximately 40 percent of the segment’s shipments, were strong, but were partially offset by a decline in private label product shipments, reflecting the loss of certain low-margin private label business beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Price/mix increased 8 percent, largely driven by favorable mix from increased sales of branded products.
Retail segment product contribution margin increased $6.9 million to $35.8 million, up 24 percent compared to the prior year period. Higher sales volumes, favorable mix and lower advertising and promotional expenses drove the increase, which was partially offset by approximately $3 million of pandemic-related costs.
Equity Method Investment Earnings
Equity method investment earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures in Europe, the U.S., and South America were $11.9 million and $10.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. Equity method investment earnings also included a $4.7 million unrealized gain related to mark-to-market adjustments associated with currency and commodity hedging contracts in the current quarter, compared to a $1.1 million unrealized gain related to these items in the prior year quarter. Excluding the mark-to-market adjustments, earnings from equity method investments declined $2.3 million compared to the prior year period. Pandemic-related manufacturing costs and SG&A expenses accounted for approximately $1 million of the decline, with the remainder largely driven by lower sales following government-imposed restrictions on restaurant and other foodservice operations.
Cash Flow and Liquidity
Net cash from operating activities was $250.6 million, up $12.1 million versus the prior year, primarily due to working capital management. Capital expenditures, including information technology expenditures, were $33.2 million, down $26.7 million versus the prior year, largely due to the Company’s decision to defer certain near-term capital expenditures in order to preserve financial flexibility.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company took additional steps to enhance its liquidity position and maintain financial flexibility, including entering into a new $325.0 million term loan facility and completing an offering of $500.0 million of senior notes maturing in 2028. Following completion of these financings, in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company repaid the $495.0 million that the Company borrowed under its revolving credit facility in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. At August 30, 2020, the Company had $1,032.5 million of cash and cash equivalents.
On September 17, 2020, the Company amended its revolving credit facility to increase its capacity to $750.0 million and to extend the maturity date to September 17, 2023. In connection with the amendment, the Company used cash on hand to repay the outstanding $271.9 million term loan facility due in November 2021. As of the Company’s fiscal month