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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended July 25, 2010

or

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                to               

Commission File Number: 1-2402

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(507) 437-5611

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  x YES  o NO

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  x YES  o NO

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  o Yes  x No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(In Thousands of Dollars)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(In Thousands of Dollars)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands of Dollars)

(Unaudited)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE A                GENERAL

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Hormel Foods Corporation (the Company) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information, and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.  The balance sheet at October 25, 2009, has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.  For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 25, 2009.

Certain reclassifications of previously reported amounts have been made to conform to the current year presentation and to conform with recent accounting pronouncements and guidance.  The impact of these reclassifications on net earnings and operating cash flows are discussed below under “New Accounting Pronouncements.”  The reclassifications had no impact on net earnings per share as previously reported.

Investments

The Company maintains a rabbi trust to fund certain supplemental executive retirement plans and deferred income plans, which is included in other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  The securities held by the trust are classified as trading securities.  Therefore, unrealized gains and losses associated with these investments are included in the Company’s earnings.  Gains related to securities still held by the trust were $0.4 million and $2.9 million for the third quarter and nine months ended July 25, 2010, respectively, compared to gains of $5.7 million and $11.5 million for the three and nine months ended July 26, 2009.  The Company has transitioned the majority of this portfolio to more fixed return investments to reduce the exposure to volatility in equity markets going forward.

The Company also holds securities as part of an investment portfolio, which are classified as short-term marketable securities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  These investments are also trading securities.  Therefore, unrealized gains and losses are included in the Company’s earnings.  The Company recorded a gain of $0.2 million related to these investments during both the third quarter and nine months ended July 25, 2010.

Supplemental Statement of Operations Information

Net earnings for the nine months ended July 25, 2010, include two non-recurring charges recorded by the Company.  During the second quarter, the Company made the decision to close its Valley Fresh plant in Turlock, California, by the end of fiscal 2010.  Valley Fresh canned meats are produced at this facility.  A write-down of fixed assets and the recording of employee related costs resulted in a charge to net earnings of $6.3 million ($0.05 per diluted share).  New health care laws recently enacted also required the Company to reduce the value of its deferred tax assets as a result of a change to the tax treatment of Medicare Part D subsidies.  As a result, the Company recorded a charge of $7.1 million ($0.05 per diluted share) to income tax expense during the second quarter, primarily related to these new health care laws.

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Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Non-cash investment activities presented on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows generally consist of unrealized gains or losses on the Company’s rabbi trust and other investments, amortization of affordable housing investments, and amortization of bond financing costs.  The noted investments are included in other assets or short-term marketable securities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  Changes in the value of these investments are included in the Company’s net earnings and are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as either interest and investment income or interest expense, as appropriate.

Guarantees

The Company enters into various agreements guaranteeing specified obligations of affiliated parties.  The Company’s guarantees either terminate in one year or remain in place until such time as the Company revokes the agreement.  The Company currently provides a renewable standby letter of credit for $4.8 million to guarantee obligations that may arise under worker compensation claims of an affiliated party.  This potential obligation is not reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) updated the guidance within FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 715, Compensation — Retirement Benefits.  The update provides additional guidance regarding disclosures about plan assets of defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plans.  The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009.  The Company will therefore adopt the new provisions of this accounting standard in its annual financial statements for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2010, and is currently assessing the disclosure impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued an update to ASC 805, Business Combinations (ASC 805).  The update establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase, and determines what information to disclose to enable the users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination.  The updated guidance is effective for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  Generally, the effect of ASC 805 will depend on future acquisitions.  However, the accounting for any tax uncertainties is subject to the provisions of the standard upon adoption.  The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 805 at the beginning of fiscal 2010, and adoption did not have a material impact on consolidated net earnings, cash flows, or financial position.

In December 2007, the FASB also updated the guidance within ASC 810, Consolidation (ASC 810).  The update establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  It also amends the requirements for certain consolidation procedures for consistency with the requirements of ASC 805.  The updated guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 810 at the beginning of fiscal 2010.  Adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements, but resulted in the following changes in presentation and disclosure:  1) noncontrolling interests were reclassified from other long-term liabilities or accumulated other comprehensive loss (foreign currency translation) to a separate component of shareholders’ investment in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position;  2) consolidated net earnings on the Consolidated Statements of Operations now include the net earnings attributable to both the Company and its noncontrolling interests;  3) an interim Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Investment has been provided to identify the components of shareholders’ investment and comprehensive income attributable to the Company’s noncontrolling interests; and 4) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows now begin with consolidated net earnings attributable to both the Company and its noncontrolling interests, with the net earnings of the noncontrolling interests no longer included within changes in operating assets and liabilities and any distributions to the noncontrolling interests included in financing activities.  As required, the prior year

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consolidated financial statements have also been reclassified to comply with the current year’s presentation and disclosure requirements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820).  This standard defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  This standard was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  However, the provisions of ASC 820 allowed for deferral of adoption by one year for nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured at fair value that are recognized or disclosed on a nonrecurring basis (e.g. goodwill, intangible assets, and long-lived assets measured at fair value for impairment testing or nonfinancial assets and liabilities initially measured at fair value during a business combination).  Therefore, the Company adopted ASC 820 at the beginning of fiscal 2009 for its financial assets and liabilities.  Adoption did not impact consolidated net earnings, cash flows, or financial position, but resulted in additional disclosures. (See further discussion in Note I — Fair Value Measurements.)  Pursuant to the allowed deferral, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 820 at the beginning of fiscal 2010 for its nonfinancial assets and liabilities.  Adoption did not impact consolidated net earnings, cash flows, or financial position.

NOTE B                 ACQUISITIONS

Effective February 1, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of the Country Crock® chilled side dish business from Unilever United States Inc.  This line of microwaveable, refrigerated side dishes complements the Company’s Hormel refrigerated entrées and Lloyd’s barbeque product lines within the Refrigerated Foods segment.  Country Crock® remains a registered trademark of the Unilever Group of Companies and is being used under license.

Operating results for this product line are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations from the date of acquisition.  Pro forma results are not presented, as the acquisition is not material to the consolidated Company.

NOTE C                 STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company issues stock options and nonvested shares as part of its stock incentive plans for employees and non-employee directors.  The Company’s policy is to grant options with the exercise price equal to the market price of the common stock on the date of grant.  Ordinary options vest over periods ranging from six months to four years and expire ten years after the grant date.  The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense ratably over the shorter of the requisite service period or vesting period.  The fair value of stock-based compensation granted to retirement-eligible individuals is expensed at the time of grant.

A reconciliation of the number of options outstanding and exercisable (in thousands) as of July 25, 2010, and changes during the nine months then ended, is as follows:

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The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted, and the total intrinsic value of options exercised (in thousands) during the third quarter and nine months of fiscal years 2010 and 2009, are as follows:

The fair value of each ordinary option award is calculated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model utilizing the following weighted-average assumptions.  No options were granted in the third quarter ending July 25, 2010, or July 26, 2009.

As part of the annual valuation process, the Company reassesses the appropriateness of the inputs used in the valuation models.  The Company establishes the risk-free interest rate using stripped U.S. Treasury yields as of the grant date where the remaining term is approximately the expected life of the option.  The dividend yield is set based on the dividend rate approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and the stock price on the grant date.  The expected volatility assumption is set based primarily on historical volatility.  As a reasonableness test, implied volatility from exchange traded options is also examined to validate the volatility range obtained from the historical analysis.  The expected life assumption is set based on an analysis of past exercise behavior by option holders.  In performing the valuations for ordinary option grants, the Company has not stratified option holders as exercise behavior has historically been consistent across all employee groups.

The Company’s nonvested shares vest after five years or upon retirement.  A reconciliation of the nonvested shares (in thousands) as of July 25, 2010, and changes during the nine months then ended, is as follows:

No nonvested shares were granted or vested in the three month periods ended July 25, 2010, or July 26, 2009.  The weighted-average grant date fair value of nonvested shares granted, the total fair value (in thousands) of nonvested shares granted, and the fair value (in thousands) of shares that have vested during the first nine months of fiscal years 2010 and 2009, are as follows:

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Stock-based compensation expense, along with the related income tax benefit, for the third quarter and nine months of fiscal years 2010 and 2009 are presented in the table below.

At July 25, 2010, there was $15.1 million of total unrecognized compensation expense from stock-based compensation arrangements granted under the plans.  This compensation is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.5 years.  During the third quarter and nine months ended July 25, 2010, cash received from stock option exercises was $2.6 million and $16.8 million, compared to $0.4 million and $1.9 million for the third quarter and nine months ended July 26, 2009.  The total tax benefit to be realized for tax deductions from these option exercises for the third quarter and nine months ended July 25, 2010, was $1.2 million and $8.6 million, respectively, compared to $0.4 million and $1.0 million in the comparable periods in fiscal 2009.

Shares issued for option exercises and nonvested shares may be either authorized but unissued shares, or shares of treasury stock acquired in the open market or otherwise.

NOTE D                 GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the third quarter and nine months ended July 25, 2010, are presented in the tables below.  The additions to Refrigerated Foods during fiscal 2010 relate to the Country Crock® acquisition.

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The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for definite-lived intangible assets are presented below.  Additions during fiscal 2010 relate to the Country Crock® acquisition.