1245 ET - Demand for protein-rich foods has remained strong despite inflation and a spike in fuel prices weighing on consumers, Hormel Foods President John Ghingo says on CNBC. He describes consumers as "strained" and seeking value from their purchases, noting that traffic is slow in away-from-home food channels. Still, he says some premium brands, such as Applegate and Jennie-O, are performing well amid strong demand for leaner meats like ground turkey and chicken sausage. "There's a lot of opportunities for consumer demand of protein," he says. Given the state of the consumer, "it's not good enough to just be in the protein game. We have to make sure we're actually getting more convenient, better taste, more health. Whatever the consumer's looking for, we need to be one step ahead." (elias.schisgall@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 28, 2026 12:45 ET (16:45 GMT)

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