Lancaster Colony (LANC)

Risks

• We may be subject to business disruptions, product recalls or other claims for real or perceived safety issues regarding our food products.
• We may be subject to a loss of sales or increased costs due to adverse publicity or consumer concern regarding the safety, quality or healthfulness of food products, whether with our products, competing products or other related food products.
• Epidemics, pandemics or similar widespread public health concerns and disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19, have disrupted and may cause future disruptions to consumption, supply chains, management, operations and production processes, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
• Cyber attacks, data breaches or other breaches of our information security systems could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
• A disruption of production at certain manufacturing facilities could result in an inability to meet our customers’ demands for certain products, which could also negatively impact our ability to maintain adequate levels of product placement with our customers on a long-term basis.
• Manufacturing capacity constraints may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
• Increases in the costs or limitations to the availability of raw materials we use to produce and package our products could adversely affect our business by increasing our costs to produce goods.
• We may experience difficulties in designing and implementing our new enterprise resource planning system.
• The availability and cost of transportation for our products is vital to our success, and the loss of availability or increase in the cost of transportation could have an unfavorable impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
• We may require significant capital expenditures to maintain, improve or replace aging infrastructure and facilities, which could adversely affect our cash flows.
• Our inability to successfully renegotiate collective bargaining contracts and any prolonged work stoppages could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
• Increases in energy-related costs could negatively affect our business by increasing our costs to produce goods.
• The loss of the services of one or more members of our senior management team could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
• We may not be able to successfully consummate proposed acquisitions or divestitures, and integrating acquired businesses may present financial, managerial and operational challenges.
• We rely on the value of the brands we sell, and the failure to maintain and enhance these brands could adversely affect our business.
• Competitive conditions within our Retail and Foodservice markets could impact our sales volumes and operating profits.
• Walmart is our largest Retail customer. The loss of, or a significant reduction in, Walmart’s business, or an adverse change in the financial condition of Walmart, could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
• Chick-fil-A represents a significant portion of our Foodservice segment sales. The loss of, or a significant reduction in, this national chain restaurant’s business, or an adverse change in Chick-fil-A’s financial condition, could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
• McLane is our largest Foodservice customer. An adverse change in the financial condition of McLane could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
• We rely on the performance of major retailers, mass merchants, wholesalers, food brokers, distributors and foodservice customers for the success of our business and, should they perform poorly or give higher priority to other brands or products, our business could be adversely affected.
• Technology failures could disrupt our operations and negatively impact our business.
• We are subject to federal, state and local government regulations that could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
• We may incur liabilities related to a multiemployer pension plan which could adversely affect our financial results.
• Anti-takeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us.