Lancaster Colony reported record third-quarter sales, driven by growth in both Retail and Foodservice segments. However, significant cost inflation, supply chain disruptions, and higher labor costs led to a decrease in gross profit and operating income, resulting in a net loss for the quarter.
Consolidated net sales increased by 12.9% to a record $403.5 million.
Retail net sales grew by 7.4% to $213.1 million, driven by licensed products and frozen dinner rolls.
Foodservice net sales advanced by 19.8% to $190.4 million due to inflationary pricing and higher demand.
The company reported a net loss of $0.17 per diluted share, impacted by a restructuring and impairment charge for the Bantam Bagels business.
Looking ahead to the fiscal fourth quarter, Lancaster Colony anticipates that pricing actions will contribute to sales gains in both segments. However, the company expects that unfavorable impacts of higher commodity and packaging costs, increased freight and warehousing costs, broad-based supply chain challenges, and higher labor costs will remain a headwind to financial results. Pricing actions, cost savings programs, and net price realization efforts will help to partially offset these higher costs.
Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income