HORMEL FOODS TO SHOWCASE INDUSTRY-LEADING BRANDS, INNOVATION AND SHOWSTOPPING MENU ITEMS AT NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SHOW

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May 17, 2023, 08:00 ET

With record attendance expected at the foodservice industry's premier event, the company is once again bringing expert chefs and a full-service restaurant to the showroom floor

AUSTIN, Minn., May 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Attending the prestigious National Restaurant Association Show has long been a tradition of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), an annual opportunity for the Fortune 500 global-branded food company to highlight its extensive product offerings to foodservice operators from around the country. This year's show takes place May 20-23 at McCormick Place in Chicago and will feature more than 2,100 exhibits hosted by hundreds of U.S. manufacturers and suppliers. But none of those exhibits promises to be as eye popping as what Hormel Foods is bringing to the showroom floor.

For the second straight year, Hormel Foods will feature a full-service restaurant as part of its multifaceted exhibit at the annual National Restaurant Association Show, which takes place May 20-23 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

For the second straight year, Hormel Foods will feature a full-service restaurant as part of its multifaceted exhibit. As for the kitchen within it, the company is bringing its incredible culinary talent to prepare and serve samples far beyond the quality of typical event offerings.

"We've got fryers, flattop grills and convection ovens, not to mention a full staff of extremely talented and inspired chefs. The exhibit really is one of a kind," said Blake Flores, Hormel Foods Foodservice innovation team lead. "This is the marquee event of food shows, so it's a big deal for us. It's always a tremendous opportunity for the company to showcase what it's bringing to the table in terms of innovation and quality, and to provide value-added and labor-saving products that can really make a difference for foodservice operators everywhere."

The new Hormel Foods Culinary Collective — the company's corps of in-house chefs, which will be on site preparing food throughout the show — has dedicated considerable time and effort into developing not only a delectable menu, but also the overall layout and design of the exhibit as a whole.

"There are a lot of hands on deck to make sure that everything is up to par," said Patty Riedl, Hormel Foods Foodservice director of marketing. "With this innovative exhibit, we're able to deliver on site the food quality that we expect our restauranteurs would be able to deliver from their own kitchens. Our guests will be treated to a true restaurant experience, complete with delicious food, of course."

As for the menu, eight mouthwatering options will be made available to guests, including flank steak shashlik, a dish that will feature the company's FIRE BRAISED^™ flank steak, served alongside golden couscous with a pine-nut vinaigrette, pomegranate and fresh herbs. All eight menu items — not to mention a build-your-own-flatbread option, meant to showcase the company's prowess in the pizza game — will spotlight at least one of the company's foodservice products, giving showroom attendants a firsthand opportunity to experience Hormel Foods products as prepared in a restaurant setting, perhaps inspiring them to implement the same products within their own culinary operations. The taste tests won't be limited to the restaurant area, either. Guests can also sample foodservice products at seven additional stations within the exhibit, where items from the company's house of brands will be available for passersby to try.

"We put an extensive game plan together for how we want to execute this as one house of brands," Flores said. "We look forward to connecting with everyone who stops by our exhibit and giving them a real taste of what we have to offer."

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters^®, SKIPPY^®, SPAM^®, Hormel^® Natural Choice^®, Applegate^®, Justin's^®, WHOLLY^®, Hormel^® Black Label^®, Columbus^®, Jennie-O^® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.