The company anticipates net sales growth between 0% and 2% in 2025, including a 1% unfavorable impact from foreign currency rates, or 1% to 3% on an organic basis. This growth is expected to be driven by favorable volume and product mix.

The company plans to increase brand marketing investments in 2025 by a high-single-digit percentage compared to 2024. This indicates a strategic focus on driving volume growth through enhanced brand visibility and customer engagement.

The company focuses on acquisition opportunities that meet the growing demand for flavor and health. Geographically, their focus is on acquisitions that build scale where they currently have presence in both developed and emerging markets.

The 10-K filing highlights the Comprehensive Continuous Improvement (CCI) program and Global Operating Effectiveness (GOE) program as key drivers of cost savings and efficiency improvements. These initiatives contributed to the improvement in gross profit margin.

The company continues to implement a multi-year business transformation initiative, including in its Global Business Services (GBS) operating model. This initiative aims to provide a scalable platform for future growth while reducing costs.

The company regularly evaluates changes to its organization structure to reduce fixed costs and improve competitiveness. These actions may result in a deterioration of employee relations at impacted locations.

The 10-K filing identifies deterioration of global economic conditions, economic recession, inflation, and geopolitical conflicts as key risks. These factors may adversely affect customer and consumer spending, as well as demand for products.

The company acknowledges the risk that damage to its reputation or brand name, loss of brand relevance, increase in use of private label or other competitive brands, or product quality or safety concerns could negatively impact its business.

The company acknowledges that its information technology systems are subject to cyber-attacks and security incidents. Such incidents could result in unauthorized access to information, disruptions to operations, and other adverse consequences.

The 10-K filing states that each segment operates in highly competitive markets around the world. This competitive environment necessitates customer engagement and product innovation based on consumer insights.

The company recognizes that customers may reevaluate their mix of product offerings and consumers have the option to purchase private label or other competitive products instead of branded products.

The company acknowledges that customer consolidation could present a challenge to margin growth and profitability in that it has produced large, sophisticated customers with increased buying power.

The company states that damage or disruption to raw material supplies or manufacturing/distribution capabilities could impair their ability to manufacture or sell products. Production of certain products is highly concentrated, and some are manufactured at a single location.

The company acknowledges that labor shortages, turnover, and labor cost increases could negatively affect their ability to efficiently operate manufacturing and distribution facilities.

The company states that attempts to offset cost pressures through price increases may not be successful and could result in reductions in sales volume. Consumers may be less willing to pay a price differential for branded products.

As technology provides the backbone for greater process alignment, information sharing and scalability, the company is also making investments in its information systems, including a multi-year program to replace its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

The company utilizes cloud-based services and systems and networks managed by third-party vendors to process, transmit and store information and to conduct certain of its business activities and transactions.

Certain competitors may also be more successful at utilizing data analytics, artificial intelligence, and other new and emerging technologies and digital experiences as part of their advertising practices.

The company continues to have a balanced use of cash for debt repayment, capital expenditures, and the return of cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

The company is using its cash to fund shareholder dividends, with annual increases in each of the past 39 years, and to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions.

As of November 30, 2024, approximately $448 million remained of a $600 million share repurchase authorization approved by the Board of Directors in November 2019.

The company establishes and publicly announce goals and commitments, including to reduce its impact on the environment. For example, it established science-based target 2025 – 2030 goals for Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions.

The company's ability to achieve any stated goal, target or objective is subject to numerous factors and conditions, many of which are outside of its control. Examples of such factors include evolving regulatory requirements affecting sustainability standards or disclosures or imposing different requirements.

The company could be criticized by environmental, social and governance (ESG) detractors for the scope or nature of its ESG initiatives or goals or for any revisions to these goals. It could also be subjected to negative responses by governmental actors or consumers.

The company is subject to numerous laws and regulations relating to the growing, sourcing, manufacturing, storage, labeling, marketing, advertising and distribution of food products.

The recent change in the presidential administration could impact U.S. trade and other policies and result in substantial changes that may impact the company's business.

There are various compliance obligations for companies that process personal data of certain individuals, including such obligations required by the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).