Hormel Foods appoints interim CFO; Ms. Smiley steps down Oct 26

Hormel Foods (HRL) announced a leadership change.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Hormel Foods (HRL) announced a leadership change. Ms. Jacinth Smiley is no longer serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective October 26, 2025, and is expected to remain employed until November 30, 2025. The Board appointed Mr. Paul Kuehneman, 54, as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Controller, effective October 27, 2025. The Company expects to enter into a separation agreement with Ms. Smiley, with material terms to be disclosed once finalized and approved.

The Company stated that Ms. Smiley’s departure is not the result of any disagreement regarding its financial statements, internal control over financial reporting, operations, policies, or practices. The filing also notes a furnished press release that included outlook for the fourth quarter ended October 26, 2025. Pursuant to Item 404(a), Mr. Kuehneman’s spouse previously received approximately $151,000 in total compensation in fiscal 2025 and retired on October 22, 2025.

Insights

Corporate governance analyst

CFO transition announced; internal interim named; no stated disagreement.

Hormel Foods disclosed that its EVP & CFO, Jacinth Smiley, stepped down effective October 26, 2025, with an internal executive, Paul Kuehneman, appointed interim CFO and Controller effective October 27, 2025. The company explicitly stated the departure was not due to disagreements on financial reporting or operations.

An internal interim (tenured since 1993) suggests continuity in finance processes while the company finalizes separation terms. The filing also notes a Q4 outlook press release was furnished, though specific figures are not included in this excerpt.

Pursuant to Item 404(a), the company disclosed that Kuehneman’s spouse received $151,000 in fiscal 2025 compensation and retired on October 22, 2025. Overall, this reads as a routine governance update; market impact will depend on subsequent disclosures about permanent CFO selection.

8-K Event Classification

3 items: 2.02, 5.02, 9.01

3 items

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition Financial

Disclosure of earnings results, typically an earnings press release or preliminary financials.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did Hormel Foods (HRL) announce in its 8-K?

Hormel disclosed that Ms. Jacinth Smiley is no longer serving as EVP & CFO, effective October 26, 2025, and named Mr. Paul Kuehneman as Interim CFO and Controller effective October 27, 2025.

Did Hormel Foods cite any disagreements related to the CFO’s departure?

No. The company stated her departure is not the result of any disagreement regarding financial statements, internal control over financial reporting, operations, policies, or practices.

Who is the interim CFO at Hormel Foods and what is his background?

Mr. Paul Kuehneman, 54, was appointed Interim CFO and Controller. He joined the company in 1993 and most recently served as Vice President and Controller.

Will Hormel Foods disclose Ms. Smiley’s separation terms?

Yes. The company expects to enter into a separation agreement, and material terms will be disclosed once finalized and approved.

Did Hormel provide an earnings outlook with this filing?

A press release furnishing the outlook for the fourth quarter ended October 26, 2025, was included as Exhibit 99.1.

Were there any related party disclosures for the interim CFO?

Yes. Pursuant to Item 404(a), the company disclosed Mr. Kuehneman’s spouse received approximately $151,000 in fiscal 2025 and retired on October 22, 2025.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 10/29/2025 - 06:54 AM Learn about SEC filing dates

0000048465false00000484652025-10-232025-10-23

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 23, 2025

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware			1-2402						41-0319970
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)			(Commission File Number)						(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1 Hormel Place, Austin, Minnesota						55912-3680
(Address of principal executive offices)						(Zip Code)

(507) 437-5611

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

Title of each class

Trading Symbol

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock $0.01465 par value

HRL

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). 

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 2.02    Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 29, 2025, Hormel Foods Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release that included its outlook for the fourth quarter ended October 26, 2025. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.02    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On October 29, 2025, the Company announced that Ms. Jacinth Smiley is no longer serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective October 26, 2025. Ms. Smiley is expected to remain employed by the Company until November 30, 2025. The Company expects to enter into a separation agreement with Ms. Smiley, the material terms of which will be disclosed once they have been finalized and approved. Ms. Smiley’s departure is not the result of any disagreement with the Company regarding its financial statements, internal control over financial reporting, operations, policies, or practices.

In connection with Ms. Smiley’s departure, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Mr. Paul Kuehneman, 54, as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Controller, effective October 27, 2025. Mr. Kuehneman joined the Company in 1993 and has held various accountant, controller, and finance leadership roles, including most recently as Vice President and Controller from February 2022 to October 2025, Assistant Controller from January 2021 to February 2022, and Vice President and CFO, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc. (a subsidiary of the Company), from May 2016 to January 2021. The material terms of the compensation for Mr. Kuehneman related to this transition will be disclosed once they have been finalized and approved.

Pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, the Company is hereby disclosing that Mr. Kuehneman’s spouse, Kari Kuehneman, was previously employed by the Company and received total compensation of approximately $151,000 in fiscal year 2025. On October 22, 2025, Ms. Kuehneman retired from the Company. There are no other transactions in which Mr. Kuehneman has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits

Exhibit Number			Description
99.1			Press release issued October 29, 2025.
104			The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted as Inline XBRL.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

			HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION
Dated: October 29, 2025			By:			/s/ Colleen Batcheler
						Name: Colleen Batcheler
						Title: Senior Vice President, External Affairs,          General Counsel & Corporate Secretary