1028 ET - Food companies are still challenged by cost-wary shoppers, according to Mizuho. At the recent Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference, snack makers including Mondelez, Hershey and Kraft Heinz used the term "value" twice the amount they used it a year ago, analyst John Baumgartner says. Companies are prepping for limited pricing power into 2026, which is likely to drag down growth, as inflationary pricing is still weighing on consumers, Baumgartner says. Shrinking package sizes could help offset some challenges, but 2025 is also likely to see more baseline pricing adjustments, Baumgartner adds. (katherine.hamilton@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 24, 2025 10:28 ET (15:28 GMT)

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