Business Segments

6 Months Ended

May 31, 2011

Business Segments

Business Segments

9. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

We operate in two business segments: consumer and industrial. The consumer and industrial segments manufacture, market and distribute spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products throughout the world. Our consumer segment sells to retail outlets, including grocery, mass merchandise, warehouse clubs, discount and drug stores under the "McCormick" brand and a variety of brands around the world, including "Lawry's", "Zatarain's", "Simply Asia", "Thai Kitchen", "Old Bay", "El Guapo", "Ducros", "Vahine", "Silvo", "Schwartz", "Club House", "Billy Bee" and "Aeroplane". Our industrial segment sells to food manufacturers and the foodservice industry both directly and indirectly through distributors.

In each of our segments, we produce and sell many individual products which are similar in composition and nature. With their primary attribute being to provide flavor, we regard the products within each of our segments to be fairly homogenous. It is impracticable to segregate and identify sales and profits for each of these individual product lines.

We measure segment performance based on operating income. Although the segments are managed separately due to their distinct distribution channels and marketing strategies, manufacturing and warehousing are often integrated to maximize cost efficiencies. We do not segregate jointly utilized assets by individual segment for internal reporting, evaluating performance or allocating capital. Because of manufacturing integration for certain products within the segments, products are not sold from one segment to another but rather inventory is transferred at cost. Intersegment sales are not material.

	Consumer		Industrial		Total
	(in millions)
Three months ended May 31, 2011
Net sales	$	499.0	$	384.7	$	883.7
Operating income		77.0		32.3		109.3
Income from unconsolidated operations		4.5		1.6		6.1
Three months ended May 31, 2010
Net sales	$	452.7	$	345.6	$	798.3
Operating income		68.2		29.3		97.5
Income from unconsolidated operations		5.2		1.5		6.7
	Consumer		Industrial		Total
	(in millions)
Six months ended May 31, 2011
Net sales	$	953.1	$	713.4	$	1,666.5
Operating income		163.9		56.0		219.9
Income from unconsolidated operations		10.5		3.5		14.0
Six months ended May 31, 2010
Net sales	$	906.2	$	656.6	$	1,562.8
Operating income		148.0		50.4		198.4
Income from unconsolidated operations		10.5		2.6		13.1