10-K405 1 a2057835z10-k405.htm 10-K405 Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-K

(Mark One)


/x/

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

For the fiscal year ended May 27, 2001

OR

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

For the transition period from                to               

Commission File No. 1-7275


CONAGRA FOODS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant, as specified in its charter)

A Delaware Corporation
(State of incorporation or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  47-0248710
(I.R.S. Employer Number)

One ConAgra Drive
Omaha, Nebraska

(Address of principal executive office)

 

68102-5001
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (402) 595-4000

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

Title of each class
  Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $5.00 par value   New York Stock Exchange

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


   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 (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes /x/ No / /

   Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (229.405 of this chapter) 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/

   At July 31, 2001, 537,298,994 common shares were outstanding. The aggregate market value of the voting common stock of ConAgra Foods, Inc. held by non-affiliates on July 31, 2001, was approximately $11.5 billion.

   Documents incorporated by reference are listed on page 2




Documents Incorporated by Reference

   Portions of the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2001 are incorporated into Part I, Item 1; Part II, Items 5, 7, 7A, and 8; and Part IV, Item 14.

   Portions of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement filed for Registrant's 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated into Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, and 13.

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PART I


ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

a) General Development of Business

    ConAgra Foods, Inc. ("ConAgra Foods" or the "company") is one of the world's largest branded food companies. The company is North America's largest manufacturer and marketer of food for the foodservice channel and second-largest manufacturer and marketer of food for the retail food channel. The company's food sales are approximately $22 billion of its $27 billion in total annual sales.

    Nebraska Consolidated Mills Company, which was originally incorporated in Nebraska on September 29, 1919, changed its name to ConAgra, Inc. on February 25, 1971, and since December 5, 1975, has been incorporated in Delaware. On September 28, 2000, ConAgra, Inc. changed its name to ConAgra Foods, Inc. to indicate a focus on serving food customers.

    Acquisitions have contributed substantially to the company's sales and earnings growth, both in the years of acquisition and in subsequent years. Major acquisitions have included International Home Foods, Seaboard Poultry, Nabisco's margarine and egg alternative businesses, GoodMark Foods, Gilroy Foods, Canada Malting Company, Van Camp's canned bean and Wolf Brand Chili businesses, MC Retail Foods, Universal Frozen Foods, Golden Valley Microwave Foods, the assets of Elders' beef, malt and wool businesses in Australia, Beatrice Company, eight U.S. flour mills acquired from International Multifoods, Pillsbury's grain merchandising business, the assets of Armour Food Company, SIPCO (formerly Swift Independent Packing Company), Chun King and Patio frozen foods businesses, Morton, Monfort of Colorado, Peavey Company, Country Pride Foods, Banquet Foods, and United Agri Products.

b) Financial Information about Reporting Segments

    The company's businesses are classified into three reporting segments: Packaged Foods, Refrigerated Foods and Agricultural Products. The contributions of each reporting segment to net sales and operating profit, and the identifiable assets attributable to each reporting segment are set forth in Note 20 "Business Segments and Related Information" on pages 56 through 58 of the company's 2001 Annual Report to Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

c) Narrative Description of Business

    The company competes in multiple segments of the food business and focuses on adding value for customers in the retail food, foodservice, and agricultural products channels.

    ConAgra Food's reporting segments are described below. The ConAgra Foods companies and locations, including distribution facilities, within each reporting segment are described in Item 2.

    Packaged Foods

    In its Packaged Foods segment, ConAgra Foods produces shelf-stable foods, frozen foods, dairy case products, and foodservice products for retail, foodservice and specialty markets.

    Shelf-stable products include tomato products, pasta products, cooking oils, popcorn, soup, puddings, meat snacks, canned beans, canned pasta, tuna, canned chili, cocoa mixes, and peanut butter. Shelf-stable major brands include Hunt's, Healthy Choice, Chef Boyardee, Wesson, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, Slim Jim, Act II, Peter Pan, Van Camp's, Gulden's, Beanee Weenee, Manwich, Hunt's Snack Pack, Swiss Miss, Knott's Berry Farm, Chun King, Bumble Bee, La Choy, Gebhardt, Wolf Brand, Pemmican, Penrose, and Andy Capp's.

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    Frozen Foods' products include dinners, pizzas, entrees, snacks, ice cream, and seafood. Frozen food major brands include Healthy Choice, Banquet, Marie Callender's, Kid Cuisine, MaMa Rosa's, Papa G's, Gilardi's, The Max, Morton, Patio, Chun King, LaChoy, Artel, and Wolfgang Puck.

    Dairy Foods' products include tablespreads, cheeses, egg alternatives and dessert toppings. Dairy Foods major brands include Parkay, Blue Bonnet, Fleischmann's, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, County Line, Reddi-wip, and Treasure Cave.

    Foodservice products include potato products, ethnic food products, hand-held dough-based products, specialty meats, and other products primarily for foodservice markets. Foodservice major brands include Lamb Weston, Fernando's, Casa de Oro, Holly Ridge, Rosarita, and Zoll.

    Refrigerated Foods

    In its Refrigerated Foods segment, ConAgra Foods produces and markets fresh and branded processed meats, beef and pork products, chicken and turkey products and meat alternative products for retail, foodservice, institutional and specialty markets.

    The processed meat products include hot dogs, bacon, ham, sausages, cold cuts, turkey products and kosher products. Fresh meat products include beef, pork and lamb. The poultry businesses include chicken and turkey products. Meat alternative products include soy-based items like meatless hot dogs and patties.

    Refrigerated Foods' major brands include Armour, Butterball, Cook's, Country Pride, Decker, Monfort, Eckrich, Healthy Choice, To-Ricos, Texas BBQ, Ready Crisp, Hebrew National, Brown "N Serve, Golden Star, Lightlife, National Deli and Swift Premium. In addition, the company owns Australia Meat Holdings Pty Ltd., a major Australian beef processor and exporter.

    Agricultural Products

    In the segment's food ingredients sector, ConAgra Foods primarily processes and distributes ingredients for food and beverage products and meat and poultry production. The ingredient processing businesses include flour milling, specialty food ingredients and manufacturing, oat and corn milling, dry edible bean processing and merchandising and barley malting. ConAgra Foods also markets bulk agricultural commodities throughout the world through its grain procurement and merchandising, food-related commodity trading and commodity services.

    Through its Agricultural Products segment, ConAgra Foods distributes crop protection chemicals, fertilizers, seeds and information systems at wholesale and retail levels. Major agricultural brands include Clean Crop, ACA, Awaken mPower3 (e-merge), Savage, Shotgun, Saber, Signature, and Loveland Industries.

    The Agricultural Products businesses experience some seasonality. This seasonality coincides with normal agricultural growing seasons.

    General

    The following comments pertain to each of the company's reporting segments.

    ConAgra Foods is a food company that operates in many different areas of the food business, from basic agricultural inputs to production and sale of branded consumer products. As a result, ConAgra Foods uses many different raw materials, the bulk of which are commodities. Raw materials are generally available from several different sources and ConAgra Foods presently believes that it can obtain these as needed.

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    The company experiences intense competition for sales of its principal products in its major markets. The company's products compete with widely advertised, well-known, branded products, as well as private label products. The company has major competitors in all of its reporting segments.

    Quality control processes at principal manufacturing locations emphasize applied research and technical services directed at product improvement and quality control. In addition, the Refrigerated Foods and the Packaged Foods segments conduct research activities related to the development of new products.

    Many of ConAgra Foods' facilities and products are subject to various laws and regulations administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Federal Food and Drug Administration and other federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies relating to the quality of products, sanitation, safety and environmental control. The company believes that it complies with such laws and regulations in all material respects, and that continued compliance with such regulations will not have a material effect upon capital expenditures, earnings or the competitive position of the company.

    ConAgra Foods and its subsidiaries have more than 89,000 employees, primarily in the United States.

d) Foreign Operations

    Foreign operations information is set forth in Note 20 "Business Segments and Related Information" on pages 56 through 58 of the company's 2001 Annual Report to Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

    The company's corporate headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska. The headquarters and principal operating locations of each business are set forth in the following list of ConAgra Foods' locations.

    The company maintains a number of distribution facilities, in addition to distribution facilities and warehouse space available at substantially all of its manufacturing facilities.

    Utilization of manufacturing capacity varies by type of product manufactured, plant and week. In general, ConAgra Foods operates most of its manufacturing facilities in excess of 80% of standard industry capacity. Standards vary by industry from 40 hours per week to 144 hours per week.

    Most principal manufacturing facilities are held in fee. However, certain parcels of land, machinery and buildings, and substantially all of ConAgra Foods' transportation equipment used in its processing and merchandising operations, are leased.

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PACKAGED FOODS

ConAgra Frozen Prepared Foods
Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.

    ConAgra Frozen Foods
    Headquarters and corporate sales office in Omaha, Nebraska.
    Eight manufacturing facilities in Arkansas, Iowa and Missouri. Three manufacturing facilities and one sales office in Canada. Product development facility in Omaha, Nebraska.

    Gilardi Foods
    Headquarters and corporate sales office in Omaha, Nebraska. Two manufacturing facilities in Ohio.

ConAgra Grocery Products Companies
Headquarters in Irvine, California.

    ConAgra Grocery Products Company
    Headquarters in Irvine, California.
    Product development facility in Irvine. 17 manufacturing plants, 11 distribution centers and over 20 grocery and foodservice sales offices serving the U.S. and Canada:

      ConAgra Grocery Products Company International

      ConAgra Grocery Products Company—Grocery Brands

      Hunt-Wesson Foodservice Company

      Hunt-Wesson Grocery Products Sales Company

    Golden Valley Microwave Foods
    Headquarters in Edina, Minnesota.
    Six plants in Iowa, Minnesota and Ohio. Popcorn storage warehouse in Nebraska, product development facility in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and microwave packaging production facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

      ConAgra Foods Ltd.
      Headquarters in Manchester, England.
      Manufacturer of microwave meals and snacks, supplying UK and other European countries.

    GoodMark Foods, Inc.
    Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina
    Manufacturer of branded meat snacks, specialty snacks and other convenient food products, supplying mass-merchandisers, vending machines and grocery, drug, club, convenience and video stores. Plants in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and California.

    ConAgra Store Brands
    Headquarters in Lakeville, Minnesota
    Manufacturer and distributor of private label food products for the retail grocery, club and mass-merchandise markets. One manufacturing facility in Minnesota and two manufacturing facilities in Illinois.

    Bumble Bee Seafoods
    Headquarters in San Diego, California
    Six processing/packaging facilities in Ecuador, Puerto Rico, California, Louisiana and Minnesota. Processor of canned tuna and specialty seafood items and frozen/refrigerated surimi products.

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    Cloverleaf Seafoods
    Headquarters in Markham, Ontario, Canada
    Market/distribute canned tuna and specialty seafood items and refrigerated surimi products.

ConAgra Foodservice Company
Headquarters in Boise, Idaho

    Lamb-Weston, Inc.
    Headquarters in Tri-Cities, Washington.
    14 plants in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota (50-percent owned) and Alberta, Canada. Four plants in The Netherlands (50-percent owned) and one plant in Turkey (50-percent owned). Farming operations in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Product development facility in Richland, Washington. Sales, marketing and international business development center in Boise, Idaho.

    Fernando's Foods Corporation
    Headquarters in Los Angeles, California
    One Mexican food processing facility in California.

    Casa de Oro
    Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska
    Flour and corn tortilla processing facilities in Nebraska and Kentucky.

    ConAgra Signature Meats Group
    Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado

      Choice One Foods
      Headquarters in Los Angeles, California
      One meat processing facility in California

      ConAgra Signature Meats—Montgomery
      Headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama
      One meat processing facility in Alabama

      ConAgra Signature Meats—Orlando
      Headquarters in Sanford, Florida
      One meat processing facility in Florida

      ConAgra Signature Meats—San Antonio
      Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas
      One meat processing facility in Texas

      Zoll Foods
      Headquarters in South Holland, Illinois
      One meat processing facility in Illinois

    ConAgra Seafood Companies

      Singleton Seafood
      Headquarters in Tampa, Florida
      One seafood processing facility in Florida.

      Meridian Products
      Headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California
      Seafood trading company with facilities in New Jersey, Texas and Washington.

Dairy Foods
Headquarters in Downers Grove, Illinois

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Eight facilities located in eight states include natural cheese, aerosol, margarine and egg product manufacturing and indirect retail sales and foodservice sales.

REFRIGERATED FOODS

Processed Meats Companies
Headquarters in Downers Grove, Illinois.

    Armour Swift-Eckrich
    Product development in Downers Grove and 25 plants in 14 states, processed meat plant in Panama, distribution centers in Kansas, Michigan, Illinois and Puerto Rico, serving:

      ASE Consumer Products Company

      ASE Deli

      ASE Foodservice Company

      ASE International

      Butterball Turkey Company

      Decker Food Company

      National Foods, Inc.

      Louis Kemp

    Lightlife Foods, Inc.
    Headquarters and manufacturing facility in Massachusetts.

    Cook Family Foods, Ltd.
    Headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.
    Three plants in Nebraska, Kentucky and Missouri.

    Renewable Environmental Solutions
    Headquarters in Downers Grove, Illinois.

ConAgra Beef Companies
Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado

    Australia Meat Holdings Pty Ltd.
    Headquarters in Dinmore, Australia.
    Eight plants and feedlots in Australia.

    ConAgra Cattle Feeding Company
    Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado.
    Three feedlots in Colorado. One feedlot in Texas.

    ConAgra Refrigerated Foods International Sales Corporation
    Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado.

    E. A. Miller, Inc.
    Headquarters in Hyrum, Utah.
    Processing facilities in Utah and a feedlot in Idaho.

    Monfort Beef and Lamb Company
    Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado.
    Ten plants in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Indiana.

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    Monfort Food Distribution Co.
    Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado.
    Eight sales and distribution branches in eight states.

    Monfort Fresh Meats Company
    Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado.
    Two plants in Idaho & Nebraska.

ConAgra Poultry Company
Headquarters in Duluth, Georgia.

    ConAgra Broiler Company
    Headquarters in Duluth, Georgia.
    14 broiler growing and processing divisions in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico. Four further processing cook plants in Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Louisiana.

    Professional Food Systems
    Headquarters in El Dorado, Arkansas.
    14 sales and distribution units in nine states.

Swift & Company
Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado.
Three pork processing plants in Iowa, Minnesota and Kentucky. One further processing plant in California.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

ConAgra Food Ingredients Companies
Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.

    Grain Processing
    Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
    25 flour mills in 14 states. Two joint ventures in the United States, one flour mill and one elevator. Corn merchandising and processing facility in Kansas. Two oat processing facilities in Nebraska and Canada. A flour mill, a dry corn mill and grain trading in Puerto Rico.

    International
    Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
    Poultry, animal feed and processed meat facilities in Portugal and feed plants in Spain. Four malt joint ventures with barley malting facilities in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, doing business as ConAgra Malt. A food products distribution joint venture in Mexico doing business as Verde Valle. Edible oil processing and grain trading joint venture in India, doing business as Agro Tech Foods Limited. Joint venture oilseed processing plant in Argentina, doing business as Pecom Agra. A specialty marketing business with processed eggs, Mexican food products, and food oils business headquartered in Texas. Two animal feed plants in Georgia and Alabama.

    Ingredients
    Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
    A spice plant and research and development facility in Illinois. A seasoning plant and research and development facility in New Jersey. Flavorings plants in New Jersey and Utah. Food ingredients distribution business headquartered in Iowa with distribution centers in Texas, Illinois and Colorado. A distributor of supplies and equipment for the food processing industry in Texas. Chili products plants located in California, New Mexico, and Santiago, Chile, with a research and

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    development facility in California. A garlic and onion dehydration and processing facility with a supporting research and development facility in California and dehydration and processing plants in Nevada and Oregon. A vegetable dehydration and processing facility in California.

ConAgra Trade Group
Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.

    Agricultural Division
    Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
    The Agricultural Division is a global merchandiser and marketer of grains, oilseeds and feed ingredients, including vegetable and animal products. The division consists of an extensive network of grain merchandising offices and grain elevators in the United States and Canada. International marketing is facilitated through offices in Mexico, Italy, Hong Kong, Brazil and Australia, and with representative agents throughout the world.

    KBC Edible Beans
    Headquarters in Stockton, California.
    KBC Edible Beans is an international leader in the sourcing, processing, distribution and marketing of dry edible beans. KBC operates an extensive network of facilities in the United States and a facility in Argentina. International marketing is facilitated through offices in Argentina, China, Chile, Switzerland and Hong Kong, and with representative agents throughout the world.

    ConAgra International Fertilizer
    Headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.
    ConAgra International Fertilizer originates, transports and markets bulk fertilizer products throughout the world. International sourcing and distribution is facilitated through offices in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Singapore.

    ConAgra Energy Services and Financial Products
    Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
    ConAgra Energy Services originates and markets petroleum and other energy products throughout the United States. The financial products group provides strategic risk management services for ConAgra Foods, its customers and suppliers.

ConAgra Agri Products Companies
Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado.

    United Agri Products Companies
    Headquarters in Greeley, Colorado.
    Over 525 field sales, administration, warehouse, rail, formulation and joint venture locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, South Africa, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, France, Peru, Taiwan and Zimbabwe. Businesses are involved with crop protection products, seed, liquid and dry fertilizer operations.


ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

    In fiscal 1991, the company acquired Beatrice Company ("Beatrice"). As a result of the acquisition and the significant pre-acquisition contingencies of the Beatrice businesses and its former subsidiaries, the consolidated post-acquisition financial statements of the company reflect significant liabilities associated with the estimated resolution of these contingencies. These include various litigation and environmental proceedings related to businesses divested by Beatrice prior to its acquisition by the company. The environmental proceedings include litigation and administrative proceedings involving Beatrice's status as a potentially responsible party at 41 Superfund, proposed Superfund or state-equivalent sites. Beatrice has paid or is in the process of paying its liability share at 35 of these sites. Substantial reserves for these matters have been established based on the company's best estimate of its

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undiscounted remediation liabilities, which estimates include evaluation of investigatory studies, extent of required cleanup, the known volumetric contribution of Beatrice and other potentially responsible parties and its experience in remediating sites.

    On June 22, 2001, the company filed an amended annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2000. The filing includes restated financial information for fiscal years 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. The restatement, due to accounting and conduct matters at its United Agri Products, Inc. subsidiary, was based upon an investigation undertaken by the company and the Audit Committee of its Board of Directors. That investigation, and an informal inquiry by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, are continuing. The restatement was principally related to revenue recognition for deferred delivery sales and vendor rebates, advance vendor rebates, and bad debt reserves.

    On August 10, 2001, a purported class action lawsuit was filed against the company and certain of its executive officers. The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the federal securities laws in connection with the events resulting in the company's restatement of its financial statements. The complaint seeks (a) a declaration that the action is maintainable as a class action and that the plaintiff is a proper class representative, (b) unspecified compensatory damages, (c) reasonable attorneys' fees, and (d) any other relief deemed proper by the court. The lawsuit was filed in United States District Court for Nebraska and is entitled Gebhardt v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., et. Al. Case No. 810CV427. The company believes the lawsuit is without merit and plans to vigorously defend the action.

    The company is a party to a number of other lawsuits and claims arising out of the operation of its businesses. After taking into account liabilities recorded for all of the foregoing matters, management believes the ultimate resolution of such matters should not have a material adverse effect on the company's financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

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ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

    Not applicable.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT AS OF AUGUST 24, 2001

Name

  Title & Capacity
  Age
  Year Assumed
Present Office

Bruce C. Rohde   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President   52   1998
James P. O'Donnell   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary   53   1997
Dwight J. Goslee   Executive Vice President, Operations Control and Development   51   2001
Owen C. Johnson   Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Administration   55   1998
Jay D. Bolding   Senior Vice President, Controller   41   1999
Kenneth W. Gerhardt   Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer   51   1998
Timothy P. McMahon   Senior Vice President, Communications and Corporate Marketing   47   2000
Stephen J. Tibey   Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Management   53   1999
Kevin W. Tourangeau   Senior Vice President, Operational Effectiveness   49   1999
Michael D. Walter   Senior Vice President, Commodity Procurement and Economic Strategy   52   2000

    The foregoing have held executive officer positions with ConAgra Foods for the past five years, except as follows:

    Owen C. Johnson was Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Corporate Communications and Administration of NISOURCE from 1990 to 1998. He joined ConAgra as Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration in June 1998 and was named Executive Vice President in 2001.

    Jay D. Bolding joined ConAgra Foods in 1997 as Vice President, Business Processes and Financial Analysis. He became Vice President, Controller in February 1999 and was named Senior Vice President in June 2000. He was Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Allen & O'Hara, Inc., a construction and property management company from 1995 to 1997.

    Kenneth W. Gerhardt was Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Ameriserve Distribution, Inc. from 1997 to 1998. Prior to 1997, he worked for Pepsico, Inc. in various capacities, including Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Pepsico Food Services from 1996 to 1997; and Senior Director, Information Technology for Pepsi Cola North American from 1994 to 1996.

    Timothy P. McMahon was Vice President, Marketing for ConAgra Trading and Processing Companies from June 1997 to October 1997. Prior to that, he was President of McMahon Marketing Communications Company for ten years. He became Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing Development in October 1997 and was named to his current position in 2000.

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    Stephen J. Tibey joined ConAgra in November 1999 as Senior Vice President Supply Chain Management. Prior to his joining the company, Mr. Tibey was with Kraft where he served as Vice President, Operation Services from 1998 to 1999 and Vice President, Distribution Operations from 1994 to 1998.

    Kevin W. Tourangeau joined ConAgra Foods in his current position in March 1999. Previously he was with Randol Management Consultants, which he founded in 1998, where he worked with major corporations, including ConAgra Foods, to improve operations and profitability.

    Michael D. Walter joined ConAgra Foods in 1989 as President of ConAgra Specialty Grain Products. He was named to his current position in October 1996.

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OTHER SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES OF THE REGISTRANT AS OF AUGUST 24, 2001

Name

  Title & Capacity
  Age
  Year Assumed
Present Office

Larry A. Carter   President and Chief Operating Officer, ConAgra Food Ingredients   49   2000
Raymond J. De Riggi   President and Chief Operating Officer, ConAgra Grocery Products Companies   53   1998
Timothy M. Harris   President and Chief Operating Officer, ConAgra Refrigerated Prepared Foods   45   1997
Gregory A. Heckman   President and Chief Operating Officer, ConAgra Trade Group   39   1996
R. Dean Hollis   President and Chief Operating Officer, ConAgra Frozen Prepared Foods   41   2000
Blake D. Lovette   President and Chief Operating Officer, ConAgra Poultry Company   58   1998
Floyd McKinnerney   President and Chief Operating Officer, United Agri Products Companies   64   1998
Richard A. Porter   President and Chief Operating Officer, ConAgra Foodservice Company   52   1998
Richard G. Scalise   President and Chief Operating Officer, ConAgra Dairy Food Companies   46   2000
John S. Simons   President and Chief Operating Officer, ConAgra Beef Companies   40   1999
F. Martin Thrasher   President, ConAgra Retail Food Products Company   50   2001

    Larry A. Carter joined the company in 1994 as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ConAgra's Trading and Processing Companies. He was named to his current position in 2000.

    Raymond J. De Riggi was President of United Specialty Food Ingredients Cos. since 1995. He was named to his current position in June 1998.

    Timothy M. Harris was President of ConAgra Refrigerated Prepared Foods from 1995 to 1997. He was named to his current position in 1997.

    Gregory A. Heckman joined the company in 1984 and was named Vice President and General Manager of ConAgra Commodity Services in 1995. He was named to his current position in 1996.

    R. Dean Hollis was Vice President, Trade Development ConAgra Frozen Foods from 1995 to 1998 and President of Gilardi Foods from 1998 to March 2000. He was named to his current position in 2000.

    Blake D. Lovette was named to his current position upon joining the company in 1998. Prior to joining the company he owned and operated The Lovette Company, a transportation and distribution company located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

    Floyd McKinnerney was named to his current position in 2000. He previously served in other executive postitions with United Agri Products Companies.

    Richard A. Porter was President of Lamb Weston, Inc. from 1990 to 1998. He was named to his current position in June 1998.

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    Richard G. Scalise joined the company in 1997 as President of the ASE Deli/Foodservice Company. He was named to his current position during 2000. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Scalise was President and Chief Operating Officer of H&M Corporation.

    John S. Simons was Vice President, Red Meat Business Development with Excel from 1996 to 1999. He was Vice President and General Manager, Canada for Excel from 1993 to 1996. He was named to his current position in 1999.

    F. Martin Thrasher was named to his current position upon joining the company in 2001. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Thrasher was with Campbell Soup Company where he served in various positions since 1996 including President North America from 2000 to 2001.

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PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

    ConAgra Foods' common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Ticker symbol: CAG. At the end of fiscal 2001, 537.1 million shares of common stock were outstanding, including 12.8 million shares held in the company's Employee Equity Fund. There were 34,000 shareholders of record, 31,000 holders via ConAgra Foods' 401(k) plan for employees and more than 190,000 "street-name" beneficial holders whose shares are held in names other than their own. During fiscal 2001, 419 million shares were traded, a daily average of approximately 1.7 million shares.

    Quarterly sales price and dividend information is incorporated herein by reference to Note 21 "Quarterly Results (Unaudited)" on page 58 of the company's 2001 Annual Report to Stockholders.

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ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

    The following table presents selected consolidated financial data for the company for each of the five fiscal years 1997 through 2001. All amounts are in millions except per share data. Prior years per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split which was effective October 1, 1997.

For the Fiscal Years Ended May

  2001*
  2000
  1999
  1998
  1997
Net sales   $ 27,194.2   $ 25,534.6   $ 24,844.4   $ 24,544.6     24,407.7
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting     682.5     382.3**     330.2***     632.3     630.9
Net income     638.6     382.3**     330.2***     617.5     630.9
Basic income per share                              
  Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting     1.33     .80**     .70***     1.36     1.35
  Net income     1.24     .80**     .70***     1.33     1.35
Diluted income per share                              
  Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting     1.33     .80**     .69***     1.33     1.32
Net income     1.24     .80**     .69***     1.30     1.32
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock     .8785     .7890     .6918     .6050     .5275
At Year End                              
Total assets   $ 16,480.8   $ 12,196.6   $ 12,081.5   $ 11,781.5   $ 11,440.3
Senior long-term debt (noncurrent)     3,359.5     1,816.8     1,793.1     1,753.5     1,628.5
Subordinated long-term debt (noncurrent)     750.0     750.0     750.0     750.0     750.0
Preferred securities of subsidiary company     525.0     525.0     525.0     525.0     525.0
*
On August 24, 2000, ConAgra Foods acquired International Home Foods.

**
2000 amounts include restructuring and restructuring-related charges: before tax, $621.4 million; after tax, $385.3 million. Excluding the charges, basic earnings per share were $1.61 and diluted earnings per share were $1.60.

***
1999 amounts include restructuring charges: before tax, $440.8 million; after tax, $337.9 million. Excluding the charges, basic earnings per share were $1.42 and diluted earnings per share were $1.40.

17



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

    Incorporated herein by reference to "Management's Discussion & Analysis" on pages 32 through 40 of the company's 2001 Annual Report to Stockholders.


ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

    Incorporated herein by reference to the subsection "Market Risk" in "Management's Discussion & Analysis" on pages 38 and 39 of the company's 2001 Annual Report to Stockholders.


ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

    The following consolidated financial statements of ConAgra Foods and Subsidiaries and Independent Auditors' Report set forth on pages 41 through 59 of the company's 2001 Annual Report to Stockholders are incorporated herein by reference:

    Consolidated Statements of Earnings—Years ended May 27, 2001, May 28, 2000 and May 30, 1999

    Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income—Years ended May 27, 2001, May 28, 2000 and May 30, 1999

    Consolidated Balance Sheets—May 27, 2001 and May 28, 2000

    Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholders' Equity—Years ended May 27, 2001, May 28, 2000 and May 30, 1999

    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Years ended May 27, 2001, May 28, 2000 and May 30, 1999

    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

    The supplementary data regarding quarterly results of operations are set forth in Note 21 "Quarterly Results (Unaudited)" on page 58 of the company's 2001 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

    Independent Auditors' Report


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

    None.

18



PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

    Incorporated herein by reference to "Board of Directors and Election" on page 3 of the company's Proxy Statement for its 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information concerning all Executive Officers of the company is included in Part I above.


ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    Incorporated herein by reference to (i) "Executive Compensation" through "Benefit Plans and Retirement Programs" on pages 5 through 7 of the company's Proxy Statement, and (ii) information on director compensation on page 4 of the company's Proxy Statement for its 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.


ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

    Incorporated herein by reference to "Voting Securities Owned by Certain Beneficial Owners" and "Voting Securities Owned by Executive Officers and Directors" on page 2 of the company's Proxy Statement for its 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.


ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

    Incorporated herein by reference to (i) the last paragraph of "Directors' Meetings and Compensation" on page 4 of the company's Proxy Statement, and (ii) the last paragraph of "Benefit Plans and Retirement Programs" on page 9 of the company's Proxy Statement for its 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

19



PART IV

ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

a)
List of documents filed as part of this report:

1.
Financial Statements

      All financial statements of the company as set forth under Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.

    2.
    Financial Statement Schedules

Schedule
Number

  Description
  Page
Number

S-II   Valuation and Qualifying Accounts   24

    All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements, notes thereto.

    3.
    Exhibits

      All exhibits as set forth on the Exhibit Index, which is incorporated herein by reference.

b)
Reports on Form 8-K

    The company filed a report on Form 8-K dated May 23, 2001 relating to its intention to restate financial statements based on an investigation of its UAP subsidiary undertaken by the company and the Audit Committee of its Board of Directors.

20



SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, ConAgra Foods, Inc. has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on the 24th day of August, 2001.

 
  CONAGRA FOODS, INC.


 

 

/s/ 
BRUCE C. ROHDE   
Bruce C. Rohde
Chairman, Chief Executve Officer and President

 

 

/s/ 
JAMES P. O'DONNELL   
James P. O'Donnell
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

 

 

/s/ 
DWIGHT J. GOSLEE   
Dwight J. Goslee
Executive Vice President, Operations
Control and Development

 

 

/s/ 
JAY D. BOLDING   
Jay D. Bolding
Senior Vice President, Controller

21


    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 indicated on the 24th day of August, 2001.

Bruce C. Rohde*
Mogens C. Bay*
John T. Chain, Jr.*
Charles M. Harper*
Alice B. Hayes
Robert A. Krane*
Mark Rauenhorst*
Carl E. Reichardt*
Ronald W. Roskens*
Marjorie M. Scardino*
Walter Scott, Jr.*
Kenneth E. Stinson*
Clayton K. Yeutter*
  Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director

    * Bruce C. Rohde, by signing his name hereto, signs this annual report on behalf of each person indicated. A Power-of-Attorney authorizing Bruce C. Rohde to sign this annual report on Form 10-K on behalf of each of the indicated Directors of ConAgra Foods, Inc. has been filed herein as Exhibit 24.

By:   /s/ BRUCE C. ROHDE   
Bruce C. Rohde
Attorney-In-Fact

22



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Omaha, Nebraska

    We have audited the consolidated financial statements of ConAgra Foods, Inc. and subsidiaries as of May 27, 2001 and May 28, 2000, and for each of the three years in the period ended May 27, 2001, and have issued our report thereon dated July 13, 2001 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to change in methods of accounting for revenue recognition relating to the shipping terms for certain of its product sales, retailer sales incentives, and consumer sales incentives); such financial statements and report are included in your 2001 Annual Report to Stockholders and are incorporated herein by reference. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of ConAgra Foods, Inc. and subsidiaries, listed in Item 14. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP  
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Omaha, Nebraska
July 13, 2001

23



Schedule II

CONAGRA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

    For the Fiscal Years ended May 27, 2001, May 28, 2000 and May 30, 1999
(in millions)

 
   
  Additions
Description
  Balance at
Beginning
of Period

  Charged
to Income

  Other
  Deductions
from
Reserves

  Balance at
Close of
Period

Year ended May 27, 2001                        
  Allowance for doubtful receivables   $ 62.8   61.4   3.5(2 ) 27.2(1 ) $ 100.5
Year ended May 28, 2000                        
  Allowance for doubtful receivables   $ 60.0   51.4   .4(2 ) 49.0(1 ) $ 62.8
Year ended May 30, 1999                        
  Allowance for doubtful receivables   $ 68.2   57.9   .2(2 ) 66.3(1 ) $ 60.0

(1)
Bad debts charged off, less recoveries.

(2)
Primarily reserve accounts of acquired businesses less reserve accounts of divested businesses and foreign currency translation adjustments.

24



EXHIBIT INDEX

Number

  Description
  Page No.
3.1   ConAgra Foods' Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to ConAgra Foods' quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 27, 2000    

3.2

 

ConAgra Foods' Bylaws, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to ConAgra Foods' quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 1999

 

 

4.1

 

Rights Agreement dated as of July 12, 1996, Certificate of Adjustment dated October 1, 1997 and Amendment dated July 10, 1998

 


27

4.2

 

Form of documents establishing Series A, Series B and Series C Preferred Securities of ConAgra Capital, L.L.C., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.8 and Exhibit 4.14 of ConAgra Foods' registration on Form S 3 (033 56973)

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Employment Agreement between ConAgra Foods and its executive officers, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998

 

 

10.2

 

ConAgra Foods' Employee Flexible Bonus Payment Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 1997

 

 

10.3

 

ConAgra Foods Non-Qualified CRISP Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 1999

 

 

10.4

 

ConAgra Foods Non-Qualified Pension Plan, and First Amendment thereto, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 1999

 

 

10.5

 

ConAgra Foods Supplemental Pension and CRISP Plan for Change of Control, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 1999

 

 

10.6

 

ConAgra Foods Incentives and Deferred Compensation Change of Control Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 1999

 

 

10.7

 

ConAgra Foods 1990 Stock Plan, and amendments thereto incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2000

 

 

10.8

 

ConAgra Foods 1995 Stock Plan incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2000

 

 

10.9

 

ConAgra Foods 2000 Stock Plan incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of ConAgra Foods' quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 27, 2000

 

 

10.10

 

ConAgra Foods Directors' Unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan

 

79

25



10.11

 

ConAgra Foods Employee Equity Fund Trust Agreement, with Stock Purchase Agreement and Revolving Promissory Note executed in connection therewith, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10 K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 1997

 

 

10.12

 

Employment Contract between ConAgra Foods and Bruce C. Rohde, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of ConAgra Foods' quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 23, 1997

 

 

10.13

 

Amendment dated February 16, 1998 to Bruce C. Rohde Employment Contract, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998

 

 

10.14

 

C. M. Harper Deferred Compensation Agreement dated March 15, 1976, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998

 

 

10.15

 

ConAgra Foods Executive Incentive Plan incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of ConAgra Foods' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 1999

 

 

12

 

Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 

81

13

 

Pages 32 through 59 of ConAgra Foods, Inc.'s Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2001

 


82

21

 

Subsidiaries of ConAgra Foods

 

110

23

 

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

114

24

 

Powers of Attorney

 

115

    Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4) of Regulation S-K, certain instruments with respect to ConAgra Foods' long-term debt are not filed with this Form 10-K. ConAgra Foods will furnish a copy of any such long-term debt agreement to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

    Except for those portions of ConAgra Foods, Inc.'s Annual Report to Stockholders for its fiscal year ended May 27, 2001 (such portions filed hereto as Exhibit 13) specifically incorporated by reference in the report on Form 10-K, such annual report is furnished solely for the information of the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be deemed "filed" as part of this filing.

    Items 10.1 through 10.15 are management contracts or compensatory plans filed as exhibits pursuant to Item 14(c) of Form 10-K.

26




QuickLinks

PART I
PART II
PART III
PART IV
SIGNATURES
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
EXHIBIT INDEX