Taking a Great Portfolio in New Directions: Kraft Foods Announces Growth Strategy at CAGNY Conference.Provides 2007 Earnings Guidance, Long-Term Outlook NORTHFIELD, Ill. -- Irene Rosenfeld, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : KFT KFT Korlátolt Felelõsségû Társaság (Hungarian: limited liability corporation) KFT Kraft Foods International (stock symbol) KFT Kilo-Feet KFT Kung Fu Tzu (Confucius) ), today is announcing a comprehensive strategy to accelerate the company's growth at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. The company also provided 2007 earnings guidance and its long-term financial outlook. "This is a pivotal time in Kraft's history, and while there are things we have to fix, our organization is energized about pursuing a number of trajectory-changing initiatives," said Rosenfeld. "I am confident that our new strategies will return Kraft to predictable and consistent growth." The company's four strategies are: * Rewire re·wire v. re·wired, re·wir·ing, re·wires v.tr. To provide with new wiring: rewired the old house. v.intr. To install new wiring. the organization for growth * Reframe Re`frame´ v. t. 1. To frame again or anew. Kraft's categories to make them more relevant to consumers * Exploit Kraft's sales capabilities * Drive down costs without compromising quality The company expects a return to consistent growth in three stages. In 2007, Kraft expects to: * Grow its top line 3% to 4% organically; * Invest all of its growth, as well as restructuring savings, back into the first wave of trajectory-changing growth initiatives. This represents an incremental $300 million to $400 million investment in quality, marketing, R&D and capability-building. As a result of this investment, a higher tax rate, spin-related dilution and divestitures (included in Kraft's fourth quarter 2006 earnings release), in 2007 Kraft expects earnings per share of $1.50 to $1.55, or $1.75 to $1.80, excluding 25 cents of restructuring costs. In 2008, the company expects its operational turnaround to gain momentum. Kraft will again grow revenue 3% to 4% organically, with operating income Operating Income The profit realized from a business' own operations. Notes: This would not include income from things such as investments in other firms. Also referred to as operating profit or recurring profit. exceeding revenue growth. The company will invest a portion of its growth back into the business, including further marketing spending, toward a long-term target of 8% to 9% of net revenue. "By 2009, we'll hit our stride," Rosenfeld said. "We'll fully realize the financial benefits of our investments and deliver our long-term targets of at least 4% organic net revenue growth and 7% to 9% EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) A PostScript file format used to transfer a graphic image between applications and platforms. EPS files contain PostScript code as well as an optional preview image in TIFF, WMF, PICT or EPSI, the latter being an ASCII-only format. growth." Kraft Foods (NYSE:KFT) is one of the world's largest food and beverage F&B is a common abbreviation in the United States and Commonwealth countries, including Hong Kong. F&B is typically the widely accepted abbreviation for "Food and Beverage," which is the sector/industry that specializes in the conceptualization, the making of, and delivery of foods. companies. For more than 100 years, we've offered consumers delicious and wholesome foods that fit the way they live. Millions of times a day, in more than 150 countries, consumers reach for their favorite Kraft brands. Whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack, consumers at home and on the go choose: Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; Oscar Mayer meats, DiGiorno pizzas, Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers and chips, Philadelphia cream cheese, Milka and Cote d'Or chocolates, Planters nuts, Honey Bunches of Oats Honey Bunches of Oats is a cold cereal introduced in 1989 by Post Cereals, a subdivision of Kraft Foods. The cereal is made up of three kinds of flakes and crunchy oat clusters baked with a touch of honey. It is also a good source of whole grain. cereals, Jacobs, Gevalia and Maxwell House coffees; Capri Sun, Crystal Light and Tang refreshment beverages; and a growing range of South Beach Diet and better-for-you Sensible Solution options. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains projections of future results and other forward-looking statements. One can identify these forward-looking statements by use of words such as "strategy," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "will," "continues," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning. One can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements are based on the Company's current assumptions and estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties. In connection with the "safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995, the Company is hereby identifying important factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward looking statement made by or on behalf of the Company. These factors include: (a) the effect on the Company of competition in its markets, changes in consumer preferences and demand for its products, including diet trends, changing prices for its raw materials and local economic and market conditions; (b) the Company's continued ability to promote brand equity successfully, to anticipate and respond to new consumer trends, to develop new products and markets, to broaden brand portfolios, to compete effectively with lower priced products in a consolidating environment at the retail and manufacturing levels and to improve productivity; (c) the Company's ability to consummate and successfully integrate acquisitions and to realize the cost savings and improved asset utilization contemplated by its restructuring program; (d) the impact of gains or losses, or lost operating income, from the sales of businesses that are less of a strategic fit within the Company's portfolio; (e) the effects of foreign economies, changes in tax requirements and currency movements; (f) fluctuations in levels of customer inventories and credit and other business risks related to the operations of the Company's customers; (g) the Company's access to credit markets, borrowing costs and credit ratings; (h) the Company's benefit expense, which is subject to the investment performance of pension plan assets, interest rates and cost increases for medical benefits offered to employees and retirees; (i) the impact of recalls if products become adulterated a·dul·ter·ate tr.v. a·dul·ter·at·ed, a·dul·ter·at·ing, a·dul·ter·ates To make impure by adding extraneous, improper, or inferior ingredients. adj. 1. Spurious; adulterated. 2. Adulterous. or misbranded mis·brand tr.v. mis·brand·ed, mis·brand·ing, mis·brands To brand or label misleadingly or fraudulently. Adj. 1. , liability if product consumption causes injury, ingredient disclosure and labeling laws and regulations, potential claims relating to false or deceptive advertising under consumer protection or other laws and the possibility that consumers could lose confidence in the safety and quality of certain food products; (j) consumer concerns regarding genetically modified organisms and the health implications of obesity and trans fatty acids; and (k) potential short-term volatility in the trading volume Trading volume The number of shares transacted every day. As there is a seller for every buyer, one can think of the trading volume as half of the number of shares transacted. That is, if A sells 100 shares to B, the volume is 100 shares. and market price of the Company's stock as a result of the spin-off of the Company from Altria Group, Inc. Developments in any of these areas could cause the Company's results to differ materially from results that have been or may be projected by or on behalf of the Company. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. For additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's forward-looking statements, see the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and 8-K. Any forward looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake to update any forward looking statement. |
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