COLUMBUS® Craft Meats Launches New Entertaining Tray Featuring Ready-to-Serve Charcuterie and Cheese Pairings

Rhea-AI Summary

COLUMBUS Craft Meats (HRL) on Jan. 21, 2026 introduced the COLUMBUS Entertaining Tray, a ready-to-serve 12-ounce charcuterie and cheese pairing aimed at convenient at-home hosting. The tray includes COLUMBUS Italian Dry Salame, COLUMBUS Peppered Salame, white cheddar and gouda, is gluten-free, and carries a suggested retail price of $15.49. It will be sold at select national retailers including Hy-Vee, Target and Wakefern. The launch cites consumer data emphasizing convenience and increased informal gatherings.

Key Figures

Fiscal 2025 net sales: $12.1 billion Diluted EPS 2025: $0.87 Prior-year diluted EPS: $1.47 +5 more

8 metrics

Fiscal 2025 net sales $12.1 billion Fiscal 2025, up 2 percent year over year

Diluted EPS 2025 $0.87 Fiscal 2025, down from $1.47 prior year

Prior-year diluted EPS $1.47 Fiscal year before 2025 for comparison

Record dividends $633 million Dividends paid in fiscal 2025

Gen Z & Millennial gathering 61% Use micro-moments to gather more frequently

Convenience importance 86% Gen Z and Millennials rating convenience extremely important

Tray size 12 ounces COLUMBUS® Entertaining Tray package size

Suggested retail price $15.49 COLUMBUS® Entertaining Tray at select retailers

Market Reality Check

Price: $24.43 Vol: Volume 4,130,384 vs 20-da...

normal vol

$24.43 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,130,384 vs 20-day average 4,543,802 ahead of this launch-focused news. normal

Technical Price at 24.56, below 200-day MA of 26.78 and between 52-week high 32.07 and low 21.03.

Peers on Argus

HRL gained 1.4% while peers were mixed: MKC, SJM, PPC up, GIS and K slightly dow...

1 Down

HRL gained 1.4% while peers were mixed: MKC, SJM, PPC up, GIS and K slightly down. This suggests a company-specific response to the COLUMBUS® tray launch rather than a broad packaged foods move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 15 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 15	Leadership appointment	Positive	-2.0%	Named new executive vice president of Retail to lead growth engine.
Jan 13	Annual meeting notice	Neutral	+4.2%	Announced details for 2026 in-person annual stockholder meeting.
Jan 12	Executive retirements	Neutral	+2.8%	Disclosed upcoming retirements of two long-tenured leaders.
Jan 06	Product launch	Positive	-0.5%	Introduced two new MARY KITCHEN® skillet varieties at select retailers.
Dec 18	CMO appointment	Positive	+0.0%	Created and filled new enterprise-wide chief marketing officer role.

Pattern Detected

Recent HRL news shows mixed reactions: management and product launches sometimes align with modest gains, but occasionally draw negative or muted responses.

Recent Company History

Over the last months, Hormel announced several leadership and product developments. A new enterprise-wide CMO was appointed on Dec. 18, 2025, and on Jan. 12, 2026 the company detailed retirements of two long-tenured leaders. Retail leadership changes were highlighted on Jan. 15, 2026. Product innovation continued with new MARY KITCHEN® skillet varieties on Jan. 6, 2026. The current COLUMBUS® Entertaining Tray launch fits this pattern of innovation within branded retail, supporting the broader strategy around convenient, value-added meal and entertaining solutions.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-12-05

Hormel has an effective universal shelf on Form S-3ASR dated Dec. 5, 2025, allowing issuance of senior unsecured debt securities over time for general corporate purposes, including working capital, acquisitions, capital spending, debt repayment, or stockholder returns.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Hormel’s continued emphasis on convenient entertaining through the COLU...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Hormel’s continued emphasis on convenient entertaining through the COLUMBUS® Entertaining Tray, pairing salame with cheeses in a ready-to-serve format at a suggested price of $15.49. It complements prior innovation and leadership changes while the stock trades below its 200-day moving average and well under the 52-week high. Investors may watch how this launch contributes within a portfolio that generated $12.1 billion in fiscal 2025 net sales but saw EPS decline to $0.87.

Key Terms

restricted stock units, stock options, exercise price, form s-3, +4 more

8 terms

restricted stock units financial

"received 5,558 shares of Hormel Foods common stock as an award of restricted stock units"

Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.

stock options financial

"was granted stock options to purchase 36,000 shares of Hormel Foods common stock"

Stock options are agreements that give a person the right to buy or sell a company's stock at a specific price within a certain time frame. They are often used as a reward or incentive, similar to a coupon that can be used later if the stock price rises, allowing the holder to make a profit.

exercise price financial

"stock options to purchase 36,000 shares ... at an exercise price of $23.39 per share"

The exercise price is the fixed amount at which you can buy or sell an asset, like a stock, when using an options contract. It matters because it helps determine whether exercising the option will be profitable or not, depending on the current market price. Think of it as the set price you agree on today to buy or sell later.

form s-3 regulatory

"has filed a universal shelf registration on Form S-3 to allow it to issue"

Form S-3 is a legal document companies use to register their stock sales with the government, making it easier and faster for them to raise money by selling shares to investors. It’s like having a pre-approved shopping list that lets a company quickly sell new shares when they need funds, without going through a lengthy approval process each time.

senior unsecured debt securities financial

"universal shelf registration on Form S-3 to allow it to issue senior unsecured debt securities"

Debt securities issued by a company that are not backed by specific assets but have priority over other unsecured creditors for repayment if the issuer defaults. Think of them as an IOU that places you ahead of most other unsecured lenders in line for repayment, though behind any secured lenders; they matter to investors because they balance higher priority (and thus lower risk) than subordinated debt with typically lower yields than secured loans.

sale-leaseback transactions financial

"including limitations on certain liens and sale‑leaseback transactions, events of default"

A sale-leaseback transaction is when an owner sells a property or asset and immediately rents it back from the buyer, like selling your house and signing a lease to keep living in it. For investors, it matters because the seller converts a fixed asset into cash while taking on a new rent expense, which can boost short-term liquidity but change long-term earnings, debt levels and risk profiles that affect valuation and creditworthiness.

events of default financial

"limitations on certain liens and sale‑leaseback transactions, events of default tied to missed payments"

Events of default are specific breaches or failures listed in a loan, bond, or credit agreement that give lenders the right to act, such as demanding immediate repayment, raising interest rates, or taking secured assets. They matter to investors because triggering one is like setting off a financial alarm: it raises the chance of foreclosure, restructuring, or bankruptcy and can sharply reduce the value of a company’s stock or bonds and increase borrowing costs.

indenture financial

"the ability to modify indenture terms only with required bondholder consents"

An indenture is a legal agreement between a company that borrows money by issuing bonds and the people who buy those bonds. It explains the rules the company must follow, like paying back the money and keeping certain financial promises. This document helps both sides understand their rights and responsibilities.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Latest offering responds to growing consumer demand for convenient hosting options

AUSTIN, Minn., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- COLUMBUS^® Craft Meats, a leading brand in premium salumi, is introducing a new charcuterie product designed for easy entertaining and hosting: COLUMBUS^® Entertaining Tray. 

With at-home entertaining on the rise, consumers are looking for solutions that make gathering feel special without added stress. In response to this demand, the COLUMBUS^® Craft Meats brand has unveiled a ready-to-serve charcuterie and cheese tray designed for modern hosts who value both flavor and efficiency. From Galentine's Day celebrations to game nights, today's gatherings are more frequent, more casual and centered around connection.

With 61% of Gen Z and Millennials using micro-moments to gather more frequently and 86% of these consumers saying convenience is extremely important to them when choosing what to eat,* a hosting option that requires zero prep, leaves no mess and wins on convenience as much as flavor is the perfect answer.

"Consumers are gravitating toward convenience and looking for easy ways to serve delicious charcuterie," said Katie Yan, brand manager for COLUMBUS^® Craft Meats. "One-third of consumers incorporate charcuterie boards when entertaining or hosting, and 35% of shoppers say they would purchase a pre-made charcuterie board.* Products like this make charcuterie even more accessible to everyone."

With Italian heritage and San Francisco roots, COLUMBUS^® Craft Meats has existing success in the charcuterie category, leading the growing premade charcuterie tray segment with its COLUMBUS^® Tasting Board item. This new COLUMBUS^® Entertaining Tray offering, featuring COLUMBUS^® Italian Dry Salame and COLUMBUS^® Peppered Salame removes the need to identify pairings and make separate purchases by providing white cheddar and gouda as complements for easy charcuterie combinations. COLUMBUS^® Italian Dry Salame and COLUMBUS^® Peppered Salame, two top-selling products, are crafted with select cuts of pork, cracked black pepper, a signature blend of spices and burgundy wine—giving it a unique richness and aroma, as well as a nice bite from the slow curing. The tray also is gluten-free.

The COLUMBUS^® Entertaining Tray is available at select retailers nationwide, including Hy-Vee, Target and Wakefern. The item is sold in a 12-ounce tray with a suggested retail price of $15.49.

* Sources: Deloitte 2024, Numerator 2023, Mintel 2025

About Columbus^® Craft Meats
Founded in 1917 by Italian immigrants in San Francisco, Columbus Manufacturing, Inc. produces premium salumi and deli meats sold in grocery deli departments nationwide. The company's craft meats are made authentically from traditional recipes that bring out the bold, unique flavors of the finest cuts of meat, making the brand a leader in today's market. Columbus Manufacturing, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL). More information can be found at columbuscraftmeats.com.

About Hormel Foods — Inspired People. Inspired Food.^™
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue. Its brands include PLANTERS^®, SKIPPY^®, SPAM^®, HORMEL^® NATURAL CHOICE^®, APPLEGATE^®, WHOLLY^®, HORMEL^® BLACK LABEL^®, COLUMBUS^®, JENNIE-O^® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America's most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World's Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.^™ — to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com.

Contact:	Media Relations
	Hormel Foods
	media@hormel.com

 

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SOURCE Columbus Craft Meats

FAQ

What is included in the COLUMBUS Entertaining Tray from HRL?

The 12-ounce tray includes COLUMBUS Italian Dry Salame, COLUMBUS Peppered Salame, white cheddar and gouda; it is labeled gluten-free.

How much does the COLUMBUS Entertaining Tray (HRL) cost and what is the size?

The tray is sold in a 12-ounce pack with a suggested retail price of $15.49.

Where can I buy the new COLUMBUS Entertaining Tray (HRL)?

The product is available at select retailers nationwide, including Hy-Vee, Target and Wakefern.

When was the COLUMBUS Entertaining Tray for HRL announced?

The product was announced on January 21, 2026.

What consumer trends does HRL cite for launching the Entertaining Tray?

The launch cites data showing more frequent informal gatherings and high consumer demand for convenience when choosing food.