** Stocks of U.S. packaged food makers took a hit in 2024, hurt by a slowdown in demand for branded kitchen staples, as customers preferred cheaper private-label alternatives

** Kraft Heinz falls ~17%, its biggest decline since 2019, while General Mills , Conagra and Campbell's slip nearly 3% each, continuing declines from 2023

** PepsiCo down ~11%, in its worst year since 2008, as consumers in North America cut back spending on sodas and savory snacks, while Coca-Cola rebounded from last year's dip to rise 5%

** Bucking the weakness in consumer goods, spice maker McCormick gains ~11%, snapping two straight years of decline, while Kellanova outperforms with a 44% rise, boosted by its August buyout deal with Mars

** Plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat falls about 56%, extending a four-year losing streak, while frozen potato fries maker Lamb Weston snaps a two-year winning streak to slump 40% this year, navigating a CEO change under activist investor pressure

** Ongoing cocoa price inflation hurt chocolate makers, with Mondelez down about 17% after five years of gains, Hershey slips ~10%

** The S&P Composite 1500 Packaged Foods & Meats

sub-index has fallen about 7% this year, compared with a 23.8% rise in the S&P 500 index

Company RIC shares 2023 2022

as of

last

close,

YTD

Beyond Meat -56.63% -27.70% -81.11%

Lamb Weston -39.89% 20.96% 40.99%

Mondelez -18.43% 8.67% 0.51%

International

Kraft Heinz -17.90% -9.16% 13.40%

J M Smucker -13.06% -20.24% 16.67%

Pepsico -10.67% -5.99% 4.00%

Hershey -9.53% -19.49% 19.69%

Campbell's -4.19% -23.82% 30.58%

Conagra Brands -3.91% -25.94% 13.32%

Hormel Foods -2.83% -29.51% -6.68%

General Mills -2.72% -22.31% 24.44%

Coca-Cola Co 5.26% -7.36% 7.43%

McCormick 10.27% -17.46% -14.20%

Kellanova 44.55% -16.36% 10.59%

(Reporting by Neil J Kanatt in Bengaluru)

((Neil.JKanatt@thomsonreuters.com;))