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Table of Contents

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

OCTOBER 30, 2011


Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

x

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

For the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011

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)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

41-0319970

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1 Hormel Place

Austin, Minnesota

(Address of principal executive offices)

55912-3680

(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (507) 437-5611

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

Title of each class

Common Stock, $.0293 par value

Name of each exchange on which registered

New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes  x No  o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes  o No  x

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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T during the preceding 12 months.  Yes  x No  o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

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.

Large accelerated filer x

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company o

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

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of May 1, 2011 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $4,044,692,392 based on the closing price of $29.41 per share on that date.

As of December 2, 2011, the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock was as follows:

Common Stock, $.0293 Par Value - 264,037,493 shares

Common Stock Non-Voting, $.01 Par Value - 0 shares

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Annual Stockholders' Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, are incorporated by reference into Part I, Items 1 and 1A and Part II, Items 5-8 and 9A, and included as Exhibit 13.1 filed herewith.

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held January 31, 2012, are incorporated by reference into Part III, Items 10-14.

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Table of Contents

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Item 1.

BUSINESS

3

Item 1A.

RISK FACTORS

9

Item 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

9

Item 2.

PROPERTIES

9

Item 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

11

PART II

Item 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

12

Item 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

12

Item 7.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

13

Item 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

13

Item 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

13

Item 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

13

Item 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

13

Item 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

13

PART III

Item 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

14

Item 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

14

Item 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

14

Item 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

14

Item 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

15

PART IV

Item 15.

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

15

SIGNATURES

16

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Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1.  BUSINESS

(a)  General Development of Business

Hormel Foods Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), was founded by George A. Hormel in 1891 in Austin, Minnesota, as George A. Hormel & Company.  The Company started as a processor of meat and food products and continues in this line of business.  The Company name was changed to Hormel Foods Corporation on January 31, 1995.  The Company is primarily engaged in the production of a variety of meat and food products and the marketing of those products throughout the United States and internationally.  Although pork and turkey remain the major raw materials for its products, the Company has emphasized for several years the manufacturing and distribution of branded, value-added consumer items rather than the commodity fresh meat business.  The Company has continually expanded its product portfolio through organic growth, new product development, and acquisitions.

Internationally, the Company markets its products through Hormel Foods International Corporation (HFIC), a wholly owned subsidiary.  HFIC has a presence in the international marketplace through joint ventures and placement of personnel in strategic foreign locations such as Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and the Philippines.  HFIC also has a global presence with minority positions in food companies in Mexico (Hormel Alimentos, 50% holding) and the Philippines (Purefoods-Hormel, 40% holding), and in a hog production and processing operation in Vietnam (San Miguel Purefoods (Vietnam) Co. Ltd., 49% holding).

On October 26, 2009, the Company completed the formation of MegaMex Foods, LLC (MegaMex), a 50 percent owned joint venture which markets Mexican Foods in the United States.  During the Company's fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, MegaMex acquired Don Miguel Foods Corp., a leading provider of branded frozen and fresh authentic Mexican appetizers, snacks, and hand-held items.  During the Company's fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, MegaMex also acquired Fresherized Foods, which produces Wholly Guacamole ®, Wholly Salsa ®, and Wholly Queso ® products.

The Company has not been involved in any bankruptcy, receivership, or similar proceedings during its history.  Substantially all the assets of the Company have been acquired in the ordinary course of business.

The Company had no significant change in the type of products produced or services rendered, or in the markets or methods of distribution since the beginning of the 2011 fiscal year.

(b)  Segments

The Company's business is reported in five segments: Grocery Products, Refrigerated Foods, Jennie-O Turkey Store (JOTS), Specialty Foods, and All Other.  Net sales to unaffiliated customers and operating profit, and the presentation of certain other financial information by segment, are reported in Note O of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Annual Stockholder's Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, incorporated herein by reference.

(c)  Description of Business

Products and Distribution

The Company's products primarily consist of meat and other food products.  The meat products are sold fresh, frozen, cured, smoked, cooked, and canned.  The percentages of total revenues contributed by classes of similar products for the last three fiscal years of the Company are as follows:

Fiscal Year Ended

October 30, 2011

October 31, 2010

October 25, 2009

Perishable meat

55.1

%

54.3

%

53.9

%

Poultry

19.1

18.7

19.3

Shelf-stable

16.8

17.5

17.3

Other

9.0

9.5

9.5

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

Reporting of revenues from external customers is based on similarity of products, as the same or similar products are sold across multiple distribution channels such as retail, foodservice, or international.  Revenues reported are based on financial information used to produce the Company's general-purpose financial statements.

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Perishable meat includes fresh meats, refrigerated meal solutions, sausages, hams, wieners, and bacon (excluding JOTS products). The Poultry category is composed primarily of JOTS products.  Shelf-stable includes canned luncheon meats, shelf-stable microwaveable entrees, stews, chilies, hash, meat spreads, flour and corn tortillas, salsas, tortilla chips, and other items that do not require refrigeration.  The Other category primarily consists of nutritional food products and supplements, sugar and sugar substitutes, creamers, salt and pepper products, sauces and salad dressings, dessert and drink mixes, and industrial gelatin products.

Domestically, the Company sells its products in all 50 states.  The Company's products are sold through its sales personnel, operating in assigned territories coordinated from sales offices located in most of the larger U.S. cities, as well as independent brokers and distributors.  Dedicated sales teams also serve major retail customers and coordinate sales of both Grocery Products and Refrigerated Foods products.  As of October 30, 2011, the Company had approximately 660 sales personnel engaged in selling its products.  Distribution of products to customers is primarily by common carrier.

Through HFIC, the Company markets its products in various locations throughout the world.  Some of the larger markets include Australia, Canada, China, England, Japan, Mexico, Micronesia, the Philippines, and South Korea.  The distribution of export sales to customers is by common carrier, while the China operations own and operate their own delivery system.  The Company, through HFIC, has licensed companies to manufacture various Company products internationally on a royalty basis, with the primary licensees being Tulip International of Denmark and CJ CheilJedang Corporation of South Korea.

Raw Materials

The Company has, for the past several years, been concentrating on processed branded products for consumers with year-round demand to minimize the seasonal variation experienced with commodity-type products.  Pork continues to be the primary raw material for Company products.  Although the live pork industry has evolved to large, vertically integrated, year-round operations, and supply contracts have become prevalent in the industry, there is still a seasonal variation in the supply of fresh pork materials.  The Company's expanding line of processed items has reduced, but not eliminated, the sensitivity of Company results to raw material supply and price fluctuations.

The majority of the hogs harvested by the Company are purchased under supply contracts from producers located principally in Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.  The cost of hogs and the utilization of the Company's facilities are affected by both the level and the methods of pork production in the United States.  The movement toward year-round operations, which operate under supply agreements with processors, has resulted in fewer hogs being available on the spot cash market.  The Company, like others in the industry, uses supply contracts to manage the effects of this trend and to ensure a stable supply of raw materials.  The Company has converted the majority of its contracts to market-based formulas to better match input costs with customer pricing, and all contract costs are fully reflected in the Company's reported financial statements.  In fiscal 2011, the Company purchased 95 percent of its hogs under supply contracts.  The Company also procures a portion of its hogs through farms that it either owns or operates in Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming.

In fiscal 2011, JOTS raised turkeys representing approximately 72 percent of the volume needed to meet its raw material requirements for whole bird and processed turkey products.  Turkeys not sourced within the Company are contracted with independent turkey growers.  JOTS' turkey-raising farms are located throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Production costs in raising hogs and turkeys are subject primarily to fluctuations in feed grain prices and, to a lesser extent, fuel costs.  To manage this risk, the Company hedges a portion of its anticipated purchases of grain using futures contracts.

Manufacturing

The Company has three plants that harvest hogs for processing.  Quality Pork Processors, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, operates the harvesting facility at Austin, Minnesota, under a custom harvesting arrangement.  The Company has seven turkey harvest and processing operations, and 38 facilities that produce and distribute other manufactured items.  Albert Lea Select Foods, Inc. operates the processing facility at Albert Lea, Minnesota, under a custom manufacturing agreement.  Company products are also custom manufactured by several other companies.  The following are the Company's larger custom manufacturers: Mrs. Clark's Foods, Ankeny, Iowa; Steuben Foods, Jamaica, New York; Park 10, Kokomo, Indiana; Wells' Dairy, Inc., Le Mars, Iowa; Lakeside Packing Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Agropur Division Natrel USA, Maplewood, Minnesota; Reichel Foods, Rochester, Minnesota; Power Packaging, St. Charles, Illinois; Tony Downs, St. James, Minnesota; and Reser's Fine Foods, Topeka, Kansas.  Exel, Inc., based in Westerville, Ohio, operates distribution centers for the Company in Dayton, Ohio, and Osceola, Iowa.

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Patents and Trademarks

There are numerous patents and trademarks that are important to the Company's business.  The Company holds 47 U.S.-issued and six foreign patents.  Most of the trademarks are registered.  Some of the more significant owned or licensed trademarks used by the Company or its affiliates are:

HORMEL, ALWAYS TENDER, AMERICAN CLASSICS, AUSTIN BLUES, BANGKOK PADANG, BLACK LABEL, BREAD READY, BÚFALO, CAFÉ H, CALIFORNIA NATURAL, CHI-CHI'S, COMPLEATS, COUNTRY CROCK, CURE 81, CUREMASTER, DAN'S PRIZE, DI LUSSO, DINTY MOORE, DODGER DOG, DON MIGUEL, DOÑA MARIA, DUBUQUE, EMBASA, FARMER JOHN, FAST ‘N EASY, HERB-OX, HERDEZ, HIBACHI GRILL, HOMELAND, HOUSE OF TSANG, JENNIE-O TURKEY STORE, KID'S KITCHEN, LA VICTORIA, LAYOUT, LITTLE SIZZLERS, LLOYD'S, MAGNIFOODS, MANNY'S, MARRAKESH EXPRESS, MARY KITCHEN, NATURAL CHOICE, NATURASELECT, OLD SMOKEHOUSE, PELOPONNESE, PILLOW PACK, POCO PAC, PREP CHEF, PREMORO, RANGE BRAND, RICO OLE', ROSA GRANDE, SAAG'S, SANDWICH MAKER, SAUCY BLUES, SPAM, SPAMTASTIC, STAGG, TEZZATA, THICK & EASY, VALLEY FRESH, WHOLLY GUACAMOLE, WHOLLY QUESO, WHOLLY SALSA, and WRANGLERS.

Country Crock ® remains a registered trademark of the Unilever Group of Companies and is being used under license.

The Company's patents expire after a term that is typically 20 years from the date of filing, with earlier expiration possible based on the Company's decision to pay required maintenance fees.  As long as the Company intends to continue using its trademarks, they are renewed indefinitely.

Customers and Backlog Orders

During fiscal year 2011, sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Wal-Mart) represented approximately 12.5 percent of the Company's revenues (measured as gross sales less returns and allowances), compared to 13.0 percent in fiscal 2010.  Wal-Mart is a customer for all five segments of the Company.  The five largest customers in each segment make up approximately the following percentage of segment sales: 45 percent of Grocery Products, 35 percent of Refrigerated Foods, 37 percent of JOTS, 45 percent of Specialty Foods, and 24 percent of All Other.  The loss of one or more of the top customers in any of these segments could have a material adverse effect on the results of such segment.  Backlog orders are not significant due to the perishable nature of a large portion of the products.  Orders are accepted and shipped on a current basis.

Competition

The production and sale of meat and food products in the United States and internationally are highly competitive.  The Company competes with manufacturers of pork and turkey products, as well as national and regional producers of other meat and protein sources, such as beef, chicken, and fish.  The Company believes that its largest domestic competitors for its Refrigerated Foods segment in 2011 were Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods; for its Grocery Products segment, ConAgra Foods, General Mills, and Campbell Soup Co.; and for JOTS, Cargill, Inc. and Butterball, LLC.

All segments compete on the basis of price, product quality, brand identification, breadth of product line, and customer service.  Through aggressive marketing and strong quality assurance programs, the Company's strategy is to provide higher quality products that possess strong brand recognition, which would then support higher value perceptions from customers.

The Company competes using this same strategy in international markets around the world.

Research and Development

Research and development continues to be a vital part of the Company's strategy to extend existing brands and expand into new branded items.  The expenditures for research and development for fiscal 2011, 2010, and 2009, were approximately $29.4 million, $27.6 million, and $25.4 million, respectively.   There are 113 employees engaged in full time research and development, 48 in the area of improving existing products and 65 in developing new products.

Employees

As of October 30, 2011, the Company had approximately 19,500 active domestic and foreign employees.

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(d)  Geographic Areas

Financial information about geographic areas, including total revenues attributed to the U.S. and all foreign countries in total for the last three fiscal years of the Company, is reported in Note O of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Annual Stockholder's Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, incorporated herein by reference.

(e)  Available Information

The Company makes available, free of charge on its Web site at www.hormelfoods.com , its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These reports are accessible under the caption, "Investors - SEC Filings" on the Company's Web site and are available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The documents noted above are also available in print, free of charge, to any stockholder who requests them.

(f)  Executive Officers of the Registrant

YEAR

FIRST

CURRENT OFFICE AND PREVIOUS

ELECTED

NAME

AGE

FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE

DATES

OFFICER

Jeffrey M. Ettinger

53

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

11/21/06 to Present

1998

Jody H. Feragen

55

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

11/1/10 to Present

2000

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

01/01/07 to 10/31/10

Vice President (Finance) and Treasurer

10/31/05 to 12/31/06

Steven G. Binder

54

Executive Vice President/President Hormel Business Units

10/31/11 to Present

1998

Executive Vice President (Refrigerated Foods)

11/01/10 to 10/30/11

Group Vice President (Refrigerated Foods)

07/30/07 to 10/31/10

Group Vice President (Foodservice)

10/30/00 to 07/29/07

Ronald W. Fielding

58

Executive Vice President (Corporate Strategy, Planning and Development)

11/01/10 to Present

1997

Executive Vice President (Grocery Products/ Corporate Development)

04/07/08 to 10/31/10

Executive Vice President (Grocery Products/ Mergers and Acquisitions)

01/01/07 to 04/06/08

Group Vice President (Grocery Products)

10/31/05 to 12/31/06

Richard A. Bross

60

Group Vice President/President Hormel Foods International Corporation

10/29/01 to Present

1995

Thomas R. Day

53

Group Vice President (Foodservice)

11/01/10 to Present

2000

Senior Vice President (Foodservice)

07/30/07 to 10/31/10

Vice President (Foodservice Sales)

10/30/00 to 07/29/07

Donald H. Kremin

51

Group Vice President (Specialty Foods Group)

10/31/11 to Present

2007

Vice President (Consumer Product Sales)

10/29/07 to 10/30/11

Director Wal-Mart Business Team (Consumer Product Sales)

09/05/05 to 10/28/07

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Table of Contents

(f)  Executive Officers of the Registrant-Continued

YEAR

FIRST

CURRENT OFFICE AND PREVIOUS

ELECTED

NAME

AGE

FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE

DATES

OFFICER

Glenn R. Leitch

51

Group Vice President/President Jennie-O Turkey Store

10/31/11 to Present

2011

General Manager (JJOTS)

05/30/11 to 10/30/11

Senior Vice President - Commodity (Supply Chain Division - JJOTS)

04/30/01 to 05/29/11

James M. Splinter

49

Group Vice President (Grocery Products)

11/01/10 to Present

2003

Vice President (Marketing-Consumer Products- Refrigerated Foods)

06/02/03 to 10/31/10

Robert A. Tegt

60

Group Vice President/President Jennie-O Turkey Store

12/01/08 to Present

(retires 12/31/11)

2005

Group Vice President (Specialty Foods Group)

10/29/07 to 11/30/08

Vice President (Specialty Foods Group)

01/01/06 to 10/28/07

Michael D. Tolbert

55

Group Vice President (Specialty Foods Group)

12/01/08 to Present

(retires 01/27/12)

2004

Group Vice President/President Jennie-O Turkey Store

10/31/05 to 11/30/08

Larry L. Vorpahl

48

Group Vice President/President Consumer Products Sales

10/31/05 to Present

1999

William F. Snyder

54

Senior Vice President (Supply Chain)

10/31/05 to Present

1999

D. Scott Aakre

47

Vice President (Corporate Innovation and New Product Development)

03/28/11 to Present

2005

Vice President (Marketing-Grocery Products)

10/31/05 to 03/27/11

Deanna T. Brady

46

Vice President (Foodservice Sales)

07/30/07 to Present

2007

Regional Sales Manager-West (Foodservice Sales)

06/02/03 to 07/29/07

Mark A. Coffey

49

Vice President (Affiliated Business Units - Refrigerated Foods)

10/31/11 to Present

2011

Plant Manager (Austin, MN)

09/05/05 to 10/30/11

Patrick J. Connor

42

Vice President/Senior Vice President Consumer Product Sales (Wal-Mart)

10/31/11 to Present

2011

Director (Customer Development - Central Teams)

10/30/06 to 10/30/11

Julie H. Craven

56

Vice President (Corporate Communications)

08/01/05 to Present

2005

Michael L. Devine

57

Vice President (Grocery Products Operations)

10/27/08 to Present

2008

Director (Grocery Products Operations Strategy)

09/03/07 to 10/26/08

Plant Manager (Stockton)

07/29/96 to 09/02/07

Bryan D. Farnsworth

54

Vice President (Quality Management)

08/01/05 to Present

2005

Roland G. Gentzler

57

Vice President (Finance) and Treasurer

01/01/07 to Present

2007

Assistant Controller and Director of Finance (Refrigerated Foods)

05/01/00 to 12/31/06

Dennis B. Goettsch

58

Vice President (Foodservice Marketing)

10/30/00 to Present

2000

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(f)  Executive Officers of the Registrant-Continued

YEAR

FIRST

CURRENT OFFICE AND PREVIOUS

ELECTED

NAME

AGE

FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE

DATES

OFFICER

Daniel A. Hartzog

60

Vice President/Senior Vice President Consumer Products Sales

07/26/04 to Present

2000

Brian D. Johnson

51

Vice President and Corporate Secretary

11/22/10 to Present

2007

Corporate Secretary and Senior Attorney

10/29/07 to 11/21/10

Assistant Secretary and Senior Attorney

01/31/05 to 10/28/07

David P. Juhlke

52

Vice President (Human Resources)

10/31/05 to Present

2005

Lori J. Marco

44

Vice President (External Affairs) and General Counsel

01/24/11 to Present

2011

Senior Attorney

01/01/07 to 01/23/11

Corporate Attorney

06/01/04 to 12/31/06

Phillip L. Minerich, Ph.D.

58

Vice President (Research and Development)

10/31/05 to Present

2005

Kurt F. Mueller

55

Vice President/Senior Vice President Business Planning - Consumer Products Sales

07/26/04 to Present

1999

Douglas R. Reetz

57

Vice President/Senior Vice President Consumer Products Sales

07/26/04 to Present

1999

James R. Schroeder

54

Vice President (Engineering)

04/27/09 to Present

2009

Manager of Project and Plant Engineering (Corporate Office)

01/11/99 to 04/26/09

Bruce R. Schweitzer

60

Vice President (Refrigerated Foods Operations)/ President PFFJ Farms

11/01/10 to Present

2005

Vice President (Refrigerated Foods Operations)

10/31/05 to 10/31/10

James N. Sheehan

56

Vice President and Controller

05/01/00 to Present

1999

James P. Snee

44

Vice President/Senior Vice President Hormel Foods International Corporation

10/31/11 to Present

2008

Vice President (Affiliated Business Units - Refrigerated Foods)

10/27/08 to 10/31/11

Director (Purchasing)

02/13/06 to 10/26/08

Joe C. Swedberg

56

Vice President (Legislative Affairs)

08/11/08 to Present

1999

Vice President (Legislative Affairs and Marketing Services)

06/02/03 to 08/10/08

Whitney Velasco-Aznar

42

Vice President (Marketing-Grocery Products)

General Mills, Inc. (Marketing Controller, Cereal Partners Worldwide, United Kingdom)

04/11/11 to Present

2007 to 2011

2011

General Mills, Inc. (Vice President Marketing, Cereal Partners Worldwide, Asia)

2003 to 2007

Steven J. Venenga

39

Vice President (Meat Products Marketing - Refrigerated Foods)

10/31/11 to Present

2011

Director (Meat Products)

11/01/10 to 10/30/11

Group Product Manager (Meat Products)

03/07/05 to 10/31/10

No family relationship exists among the executive officers.

Executive officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  Vacancies may be filled and additional officers elected at any time.

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Table of Contents

Item 1A.  RISK FACTORS

Information on the Company's risk factors included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages 27 through 29 of the Annual Stockholders' Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

Item 2.  PROPERTIES

Location

Principal Segment (1)

Approximate Area
(Square Feet,
Unless Noted)

Owned or
Leased

Lease
Expiration
Date

Harvest and Processing Plants

Austin, Minnesota

Refrigerated Foods

Grocery Products

Specialty Foods

All Other

1,352,000

Owned

Barron, Wisconsin

JOTS

392,000

Owned

Faribault, Minnesota

JOTS

173,000

Owned

Fremont, Nebraska

Refrigerated Foods

Grocery Products

Specialty Foods

All Other

700,000

Owned

Melrose, Minnesota

JOTS

134,000

Owned

Vernon, California

Refrigerated Foods

632,000

Owned

All Other

93,000

Leased

March 2014

Willmar, Minnesota

JOTS

338,000

Owned

Processing Plants

Albert Lea, Minnesota

Refrigerated Foods

78,000

Owned

Algona, Iowa

Refrigerated Foods

153,000

Owned

Alma, Kansas

Refrigerated Foods

66,000

Owned

Aurora, Illinois

Specialty Foods

141,000

Owned

Beijing, China

All Other

95,000

80.0% Owned

Beloit, Wisconsin

Grocery Products

Specialty Foods

339,000

Owned

Grocery Products

Specialty Foods

5,000

Leased

Monthly

Bremen, Georgia

Specialty Foods

156,000

Owned

Browerville, Minnesota

Refrigerated Foods

95,000

Owned

Dubuque, Iowa

Grocery Products

342,000

Owned

Duluth, Georgia

Specialty Foods

80,000

Owned

Ft. Dodge, Iowa

Grocery Products

17,000

Owned

Knoxville, Iowa

Refrigerated Foods

130,000

Owned

Lathrop, California

Refrigerated Foods

85,000

Owned

Long Prairie, Minnesota

Refrigerated Foods

86,000

Owned

Mitchellville, Iowa

Specialty Foods

81,000

Owned

Montevideo, Minnesota

JOTS

89,000

Owned

Nevada, Iowa

Refrigerated Foods

139,000

Owned

New Berlin, Wisconsin

Grocery Products

70,000

Leased

February 2016

Osceola, Iowa

Refrigerated Foods

365,000

Owned

Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

JOTS

373,000

Owned

Perrysburg, Ohio

Specialty Foods

183,000

Owned

Quakertown, Pennsylvania

Specialty Foods

10,000

Owned

9


Table of Contents

Item 2.  PROPERTIES - Continued

Location

Principal Segment (1)

Approximate Area
(Square Feet,
Unless Noted)

Owned or
Leased

Lease
Expiration
Date

Processing Plants (continued)

Rochelle, Illinois

Refrigerated Foods

Grocery Products

Specialty Foods

404,000

Owned

San Leandro, California

Refrigerated Foods

41,000

Leased

November 2021

Savannah, Georgia

Specialty Foods

300,000

Owned

Shanghai, China

All Other

33,000

80.7% Owned

Sparta, Wisconsin

Specialty Foods

385,000

Owned

St. Paul, Minnesota

Refrigerated Foods

58,000

Owned

Stockton, California

Grocery Products

Specialty Foods

139,000

Owned

Tucker, Georgia

Grocery Products

Refrigerated Foods

Specialty Foods

284,000

Owned

Visalia, California

Specialty Foods

107,000

Owned

Wichita, Kansas

Refrigerated Foods

87,000

Owned

Warehouse/Distribution Centers

Austin, Minnesota

Refrigerated Foods

Grocery Products

83,000

Owned

Bondurant, Iowa

Specialty Foods

99,000

Owned

Dayton, Ohio

Refrigerated Foods

Grocery Products

Specialty Foods

140,000

Owned

Eldridge, Iowa

Grocery Products

Specialty Foods

424,000

Leased

July 2019

Fresno, California

Refrigerated Foods

25,000

Owned

Nevada, Iowa

Refrigerated Foods

93,000

Owned

Osceola, Iowa

Refrigerated Foods

233,000

Owned

Shanghai, China

All Other

26,000

Leased

June 2016

Stockton, California

Grocery Products

330,000

Leased

December 2014

Tucker, Georgia

Grocery Products

Refrigerated Foods

Specialty Foods

96,000

Leased

October 2012

Vernon, California

Refrigerated Foods

118,000

Owned

Willmar, Minnesota

JOTS

119,000

Owned

1,000

Leased

December 2011

Hog Production Facilities

Albin, Wyoming

Refrigerated Foods

458,000

Owned

Corcoran, California

Refrigerated Foods

816,000

Owned

Las Animas, Colorado

Refrigerated Foods

653,000

Owned

Pine Bluffs, Wyoming

Refrigerated Foods

64,000

Owned

Snowflake, Arizona

Refrigerated Foods

1,506,000

Owned

Hatcheries

Barron, Wisconsin

JOTS

29,000

Owned

Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

JOTS

27,000

Owned

Henning, Minnesota

JOTS

21,000

Owned

10


Table of Contents

Item 2.  PROPERTIES - Continued

Location

Principal Segment (1)

Approximate Area
(Square Feet,
Unless Noted)

Owned or
Leased

Lease
Expiration
Date

Feed Mills

Albin, Wyoming

Refrigerated Foods

6,000

Owned

Atwater, Minnesota

JOTS

19,000

Owned

Barron, Wisconsin

JOTS

26,000

Owned

Corcoran, California

Refrigerated Foods

5,000

Owned

Dawson, Minnesota

JOTS

37,000

Owned

Faribault, Minnesota

JOTS

25,000

Owned

Henning, Minnesota

JOTS

5,000

Owned

Northfield, Minnesota

JOTS

17,000

Owned

Perham, Minnesota

JOTS

26,000

Owned

Snowflake, Arizona

Refrigerated Foods

28,000

Owned

Swanville, Minnesota

JOTS

29,000

Owned

Turkey Farms

Minnesota and Wisconsin

JOTS

15,500

(2)

Owned

Research and Development

Austin, Minnesota

All Segments

83,000

Owned

Shanghai, China

All Other

5,000

80.7% Owned

Willmar, Minnesota

JOTS

10,000

Owned

Administrative Offices

Austin, Minnesota

All Segments

259,000

Owned

Beijing, China

All Other

4,000

Leased

May 2012

Gainesville, Georgia

Refrigerated Foods

5,000

Leased

November 2014

Las Animas, Colorado

Refrigerated Foods

4,000

Leased

January 2014

Moorabbin, Australia

All Other

3,000

Leased

September 2013

Savannah, Georgia

Specialty Foods

14,000

Owned

Shanghai, China

All Other

10,000

Leased

September 2012

Taylor, Arizona

Refrigerated

5,000

Leased

January 2015

Spicer, Minnesota

JOTS

14,000

Leased

June 2013

Vernon, California

Refrigerated Foods

17,000

Leased

March 2014

Willmar, Minnesota

JOTS

21,000

Owned

(1) Many of the Company's properties are not exclusive to any one segment, and a few of the properties are utilized in all five segments.  For locations that support multiple segments, but with a substantial percentage of activity attributable to certain segments, only the principal segments have been listed. 

(2) Acres

The Company believes its operating facilities are well maintained and suitable for current production volumes, and expansion plans are either completed or in process to accommodate all volumes anticipated in the foreseeable future.

Item 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is a party to various legal proceedings related to the on-going operation of its business, including claims both by and against the Company.  At any time, such proceedings typically involve claims related to product liability, contract disputes, wage and hour laws, employment practices, or other actions brought by employees, consumers, competitors, or suppliers.  Resolution of any currently known matters, either individually or in the aggregate, is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

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Table of Contents

PART II

Item 5 .   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The high and low sales price of the Company's common stock and the dividends per share declared for each quarter of fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, respectively, are shown below:

2011

High

Low

Dividend

First Quarter

$

26.135

$

22.515

$

0.1275

Second Quarter

29.480

24.525

0.1275

Third Quarter

30.500

27.600

0.1275

Fourth Quarter

30.060

25.880

0.1275

2010

High

Low

Dividend

First Quarter

$

19.900

$

18.010

$

0.1050

Second Quarter

21.340

19.125

0.1050

Third Quarter

21.435

19.380

0.1050

Fourth Quarter

22.965

21.145

0.1050

On November 22, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized a two-for-one split of the Company's common stock, which was subsequently approved by shareholders at the Company's Annual Meeting on January 31, 2011, and effected on February 1, 2011.  All numbers in the table above reflect the impact of this stock split.

Additional information about dividends, principal market of trade, and number of stockholders on pages 60 and 61 of the Annual Stockholders' Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.  The Company's common stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since January 16, 1990.

Issuer purchases of equity securities in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011 are shown below:

Period

Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
1

Average
Price Paid
Per Share

Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
2

Maximum Number of
Shares that May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs
2

August 1, 2011 – September 4, 2011

1,110,084

$

27.75

1,110,000

4,841,200

September 5, 2011 – October 2, 2011

950,085

27.34

950,000

3,891,200

October 3, 2011 – October 30, 2011

559,300

27.73

559,300

3,331,900

Total

2,619,469

$

27.60

2,619,300

1 The 169 shares repurchased during the quarter, other than through publicly announced plans or programs, represent purchases for the Company's employee awards program.

2 On May 26, 2010, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the Company to repurchase up to 5,000,000 shares of common stock with no expiration date.  On November 22, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized a two-for-one split of the Company's common stock.  As part of the Board's approval of that stock split, the number of shares remaining to be repurchased was adjusted proportionately.  The stock split was approved by shareholders and was subsequently effected on February 1, 2011.  All numbers in the table above reflect the impact of this stock split.

Item 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Selected Financial Data for the five fiscal years ended October 30, 2011, on page 12 of the Annual Stockholders' Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.

12


Table of Contents

Item 7.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Information in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages 13 through 30 of the Annual Stockholders' Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Information on the Company's exposure to market risk included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages 29 and 30 of the Annual Stockholders' Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Consolidated Financial Statements, including unaudited quarterly data, on pages 34 through 59 and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on page 33 of the Annual Stockholders' Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

Item 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report (the Evaluation Date), the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)).  In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.  Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission  rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

(a) The report entitled "Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting" on page 31 of the Annual Stockholder's Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) The report entitled "Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" on page 32 of the Annual Stockholder's Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.

(c) During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, there has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION

None.

13


Table of Contents

PART III

Item 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information under "Item 1 - Election of Directors" on pages 2 through 5, information under "Board Independence" on page 7, and information under "Board of Director and Committee Meetings" on pages 7 through 9 of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held January 31, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference.

Information concerning Executive Officers is set forth in Part I, Item 1(f) of this Annual Report of Form 10-K, pursuant to Instruction 3 to Paragraph (b) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K.

Information under "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance," on page 31 of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held January 31, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethical Business Conduct in compliance with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that applies to its principal executive officer, its principal financial officer, and its principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions.  A copy of the Code of Ethical Business Conduct is available on the Company's Web site at www.hormelfoods.com, free of charge, under the caption, "Investors - Corporate Governance."  The Company intends to satisfy any disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of this Code of Ethical Business Conduct by posting such information on the Company's Web site at the address and location specified above.

Item 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information commencing with "Executive Compensation" on page 14 through "Potential Payments Upon Termination at Fiscal 2011 Year End" on pages 30 and 31, and information under "Compensation of Directors" on pages 10 through 12 of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held January 31, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Information regarding the Company's equity compensation plans as of October 30, 2011, is shown below:

Plan Category

Number of
Securities to be
Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
of Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights

Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance
under Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column (a))

(a)

(b)

(c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

19,932,015

$

17.89

32,588,098

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

-

-

-

Total

19,932,015

$

17.89

32,588,098

Information under "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners" and "Security Ownership of Management" on pages 13 and 14 of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held January 31, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information under "Related Party Transactions" on page 31 and "Board Independence" on page 7 of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held January 31, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference.

14


Table of Contents

Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

Information under "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees" and "Audit Committee Preapproval Policies and Procedures" on pages 12 and 13 of the Company's definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held January 31, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The response to Item 15 is submitted as a separate section of this report.

15


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

By:

/s/ JEFFREY M. ETTINGER

December 21, 2011

JEFFREY M. ETTINGER, Chairman of the

Date

Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name

Date

Title

/s/ JEFFREY M. ETTINGER

12/21/11

Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

JEFFREY M. ETTINGER

/s/ JODY H. FERAGEN

12/21/11

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Director (Principal Financial Officer)

JODY H. FERAGEN

/s/ JAMES N. SHEEHAN

12/21/11

Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

JAMES N. SHEEHAN

/s/ TERRELL K. CREWS*

12/21/11

Director

TERRELL K. CREWS

/s/ GLENN S. FORBES*

12/21/11

Director

GLENN S. FORBES

/s/ STEPHEN M. LACY*

12/21/11

Director

STEPHEN M. LACY

/s/ SUSAN I. MARVIN*

12/21/11

Director

SUSAN I. MARVIN

/s/ MICHAEL J. MENDES*

12/21/11

Director

MICHAEL J. MENDES

/s/ JOHN L. MORRISON*

12/21/11

Director

JOHN L. MORRISON

/s/ ELSA A. MURANO*

12/21/11

Director

ELSA A. MURANO

/s/ ROBERT C. NAKASONE*

12/21/11

Director

ROBERT C. NAKASONE

/s/ SUSAN K. NESTEGARD*

12/21/11

Director

SUSAN K. NESTEGARD

/s/ DAKOTA A. PIPPINS*

12/21/11

Director

DAKOTA A. PIPPINS

*By: /s/ JAMES N. SHEEHAN

12/21/11

JAMES N. SHEEHAN,

as Attorney-In-Fact

16


Table of Contents

F-1

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

ITEM 15

LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

LIST OF EXHIBITS

FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 30, 2011

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

Austin, Minnesota

17


Table of Contents

F-2

Item 15

LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following consolidated financial statements of Hormel Foods Corporation included in the Annual Stockholders' Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, are incorporated herein by reference in Item 8 of Part II of this report:

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position -October 30, 2011, and October 31, 2010.

Consolidated Statements of Operations -Fiscal Years Ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010, and October 25, 2009.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Investment -Fiscal Years Ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010, and October 25, 2009.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -Fiscal Years Ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010, and October 25, 2009.

Notes to Financial Statements -October 30, 2011.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The following consolidated financial statement schedule of Hormel Foods Corporation required pursuant to Item 15(c) is submitted herewith:

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves...F-3

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES OMITTED

Condensed parent company financial statements of the registrant are omitted pursuant to Rule 5-04(c) of Article 5 of Regulation S-X.

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted.

18


Table of Contents

F-3

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

(In Thousands)

Additions/(Benefits)

Balance at

Charged to

Charged to

Balance at

Beginning

Costs and

Other Accounts-

Deductions-

End of

Classification

of Period

Expenses

Describe

Describe

Period

Valuation reserve deduction from assets account:

Fiscal year ended October 30, 2011

Allowance for doubtful accounts

$

233

(1)

receivable

$

4,000

$

(149

)

$

0

(382

)(2)

$

4,000

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2010

Allowance for doubtful accounts

$

340

(1)

receivable

$

4,064

$

(307

)

$

0

(583

)(2)

$

4,000

Fiscal year ended October 25, 2009

Allowance for doubtful accounts

$

1,112

(1)

receivable

$

3,144

$

1,821

$

0

(211

)(2)

$

4,064

Note (1) Uncollectible accounts written off.

Note (2) Recoveries on accounts previously written off.

19


Table of Contents

LIST OF EXHIBITS

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

NUMBER

DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT

3.1 (1)

Certificate of Incorporation as amended to date. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Hormel's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 30, 2011, File No. 001-02402.)

3.2 (1)

Bylaws as amended to date. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Hormel's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 24, 2010, File No. 001-02402.)

4.1 (1)

Indenture dated as of April 1, 2011, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Hormel's Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on April 4, 2011, File No. 333-173284.)

4.2 (1)

Form of 4.125% Notes due 2021. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 11, 2011, File No. 001-02402.)

4.3 (1)

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, copies of instruments defining the rights of holders of certain long-term debt are not filed. Hormel agrees to furnish copies thereof to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

10.1 (1)(3)

Hormel Foods Corporation Operators' Shares Incentive Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Hormel's definitive Proxy Statement filed on December 19, 2007, File No. 001-02402.)

10.2 (1)(3)

Hormel Foods Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (2007 Restatement). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 21, 2011, File No. 001-02402.)

10.3 (1)(3)

First Amendment of Hormel Foods Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (2007 Restatement). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 21, 2011, File No. 001-02402.)

10.4 (1)(3)

Second Amendment of Hormel Foods Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (2007 Restatement). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 21, 2011, File No. 001-02402.)

10.5 (1)(3)

Third Amendment of Hormel Foods Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (2007 Restatement). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 21, 2011, File No. 001-02402.)

10.6 (1)(3)

Hormel Foods Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (Amended 1-31-2006). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2006, File No. 001-02402.)

10.7 (1)(3)

Hormel Foods Corporation Executive Deferred Income Plan II (November 21, 2011 Restatement). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 21, 2011, File No. 001-02402.)

10.8 (1)(3)

Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Hormel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 26, 2002, File No. 001-02402.)

10.9 (1)(3)

Hormel Foods Corporation Nonemployee Director Deferred Stock Plan (Plan Adopted October 4, 1999; Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Hormel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 26, 2008, File No. 001-02402.)

10.10 (1)(3)

Hormel Foods Corporation 2009 Nonemployee Director Deferred Stock Plan (Plan Adopted November 24, 2008). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Hormel's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 25, 2009, File No. 001-02402.)

10.11 (1)(3)

Hormel Foods Corporation 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2009, File No. 001-02402.)

20


Table of Contents

LIST OF EXHIBITS (CONTINUED)

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

NUMBER

DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT

10.12 (1)(3)

Hormel Survivor Income Plan for Executives (1993 Restatement). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Hormel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 29, 2006, File No. 001-02402.)

10.13 (1)

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2011, by and between the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, & Smith Incorporated as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule 1 thereto. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 11, 2011, File No. 001-02402.)

11.1 (1)

Statement re: computation of per share earnings. (Included in Exhibit 13.1 filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011.)

13.1 (2)

Pages 12 through 62 of the Annual Stockholders' Report for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011.

21.1 (2)

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

23.1 (2)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

24.1 (2)

Power of Attorney.

31.1 (2)

Certification Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2 (2)

Certification Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1 (2)

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

99.1 (1)

U.S. $300,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2010, between the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders identified on the signature pages thereof. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 25, 2010, File No. 001-02402.)

99.2 (1)

First Amendment to U.S. $300,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2010, between the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders identified on the signature pages thereof. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99 to Hormel's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 22, 2011, File No. 001-02402.)

101.INS (2)

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH (2)

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL (2)

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF (2)

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB (2)

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document

101.PRE (2)

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

(1) Document has previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference.

(2) These exhibits transmitted via EDGAR.

(3) Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

21