Conagra Brands
An American consumer packaged foods company whose portfolio spans frozen meals, snacks, refrigerated foods, grocery products and food-service offerings.
Last updated November 3, 2026
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Overview
Conagra Brands is an American consumer packaged foods company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Its products are sold through supermarkets, mass merchants, convenience stores, restaurants and food-service channels. Rather than operating primarily as a single consumer-facing label, Conagra functions as a portfolio owner and food manufacturer, marketing products under brands such as Healthy Choice, Marie Callender’s, Slim Jim, Hunt’s, Reddi-wip, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, Egg Beaters, Hebrew National, Udi’s and Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP. The business traces its origins to Nebraska Consolidated Mills, formed in 1919 by combining four grain-milling companies. It moved its headquarters from Grand Island to Omaha in 1922 and gradually expanded beyond flour and milling. In the 1950s it helped establish Duncan Hines cake mixes, although those assets were later sold to Procter & Gamble. The company adopted the name ConAgra in 1971 and became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1973. A major strategic turning point came in the mid-1970s after losses associated with investments and commodities speculation placed the company under severe financial pressure. C. Michael Harper was brought in to stabilize the business. He sold noncore assets, reduced debt and redirected the company toward food production and branded consumer products. During the 1980s and 1990s ConAgra pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy, buying businesses including Banquet Foods, Armour, Monfort, Lamb Weston and Beatrice Foods. This made the company a major meat processor and food manufacturer, while also giving it the scale to develop branded frozen meals such as Healthy Choice. The company was highly vertically integrated during part of this period, with operations connected to agriculture, livestock, processing and food distribution. From the early 2000s onward, however, it progressively reduced its exposure to fresh meat and other activities that did not fit its packaged-foods strategy. It sold or separated businesses including Swift, refrigerated meats, Ralcorp and Lamb Weston, while adding branded grocery, frozen and snack assets. The company changed its name to ConAgra Foods in 2000 and later to Conagra Brands in 2016. Conagra’s modern portfolio was shaped by acquisitions including the licensed P.F. Chang’s and Bertolli ready-meal brands, Blake’s All Natural Foods, Angie’s Artisan Treats and Pinnacle Foods. The 2018 Pinnacle Foods transaction brought brands such as Duncan Hines, Birds Eye, Wish-Bone and Earth Balance into the portfolio, although Conagra subsequently divested Peter Pan. The company’s current business is centered on branded packaged food, with particular strength in frozen meals, snacks, grocery products, refrigerated foods and cooking aids. The company has also faced product-safety, labor, environmental and regulatory controversies. Significant incidents include recalls involving ground beef, peanut butter and frozen pot pies, as well as litigation related to lead-based paint liabilities inherited through corporate predecessor relationships. Conagra has participated in industry campaigns opposing proposed mandatory genetically modified food labeling in Oregon and California. In sustainability, it announced a commitment to source cage-free eggs by 2024. Company-reported fiscal 2025 figures cited in the supplied reference material describe approximately 18,300 employees, 38 United States manufacturing facilities and net sales of $11.6 billion.
History
Conagra Brands began in September 1919 as Nebraska Consolidated Mills, a combination of four grain-milling companies organized by Alva Kinney. The business moved to Omaha in 1922 after acquiring Updike Mill and opened its first facility outside Nebraska in Decatur, Alabama, in 1941. Its early strategy centered on flour and grain processing, but research into new uses for flour led it to support the creation of Duncan Hines cake mixes in 1951. Those assets were sold to Procter & Gamble in 1956 and later returned to Conagra’s portfolio through the 2018 Pinnacle Foods acquisition. Nebraska Consolidated Mills expanded geographically in the 1950s, including the construction of a Puerto Rico plant in 1957. In 1971 it adopted the name ConAgra, combining elements associated with cooperation and agriculture, and became a public company on the New York Stock Exchange in 1973. Commodity speculation and unsuccessful investments produced substantial losses in 1974. C. Michael Harper joined the company and led a restructuring based on asset sales, debt reduction and concentration on food operations. By 1976, the company had sold numerous properties and divisions and had reduced debt. The following two decades were defined by acquisitions. ConAgra purchased Banquet Foods in 1980, Peavey in 1982, Armour and Company in 1983, Monfort in 1987, Lamb Weston in 1988 and Beatrice Foods in 1990. These transactions made it a major meatpacker and food processor. The company also introduced Healthy Choice as a lower-fat and health-oriented frozen-meal label. At its peak, ConAgra owned operations extending from agricultural inputs and animal production to processing and distribution, although this breadth exposed it to operational, regulatory and reputational risks. The 1980s and 1990s included several controversies. ConAgra was found responsible for tampering with scales used to weigh poultry supplied by Alabama farmers. It later settled litigation alleging catfish price fixing and pleaded guilty in a federal case involving the addition of water to grain and bribery of federal officials. The company was also criticized for meat-processing sanitation and labor conditions, pesticide practices and the demolition of Omaha’s Jobbers Canyon historic district to make way for a headquarters complex. In 2000 the company became ConAgra Foods. It then began a strategic retreat from fresh and refrigerated meat. Swift was sold in 2002, and refrigerated meat businesses including Butterball, Eckrich and Armour were sold to Smithfield Foods in 2006. ConAgra continued building its branded packaged-food business, acquiring or licensing assets such as Marie Callender’s frozen products, Egg Beaters, Parkay, Blue Bonnet, P.F. Chang’s and Bertolli ready meals. Ralcorp was acquired in 2012 and sold to TreeHouse Foods in 2015. Lamb Weston was spun off as an independent company in 2016. The company moved its headquarters from Omaha to Chicago in 2016, cut approximately 1,500 jobs and adopted the name Conagra Brands. It acquired Angie’s Artisan Treats in 2017 and Pinnacle Foods in 2018. Pinnacle brought a large portfolio of frozen and grocery brands, strengthening Conagra’s position in categories such as frozen vegetables, desserts, baking products, dressings and plant-based foods. Peter Pan was sold to Post Holdings in 2021. Conagra’s recent identity is that of a focused branded packaged-food company rather than a vertically integrated meat and agricultural conglomerate. Its portfolio combines legacy grocery names with convenience-oriented frozen meals and snacks. Alongside portfolio management and product development, the company has dealt with recalls, litigation and sustainability expectations. In 2019 it reached a $305 million settlement concerning lead-paint abatement liabilities inherited through predecessor companies. In 2022 it agreed to an $18 million settlement in a California wage-law class action. As described in the supplied reference material, the company reported fiscal 2025 net sales of $11.6 billion, about 18,300 employees and 38 United States manufacturing facilities.
- 2021
Peter Pan divested
[1]Conagra completed the sale of Peter Pan to Post Holdings.
- 2018
Pinnacle Foods acquisition completed
[3]The acquisition broadened Conagra’s frozen and grocery portfolio.
- 2016
Chicago relocation and Conagra Brands name
[1]The company relocated its headquarters to Chicago and changed its name to Conagra Brands.
- 2000
Renamed ConAgra Foods
[1]The company adopted the ConAgra Foods corporate name.
- 1990
Beatrice Foods acquired
[1]The transaction substantially expanded ConAgra’s food-processing and branded-food operations.
- 1980
Banquet Foods acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthened ConAgra’s frozen-food business.
- 1973
Public listing
[1]ConAgra began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
- 1971
Company renamed ConAgra
[1]Nebraska Consolidated Mills adopted the ConAgra name.
- 1922
Headquarters move to Omaha
[1]The company moved from Grand Island to Omaha after acquiring Updike Mill.
- 1919
Nebraska Consolidated Mills is formed
[1]Alva Kinney organized a company combining four grain-milling businesses in Nebraska.
Products and positioning
Mass-market branded packaged foods with a broad portfolio across frozen meals, snacks, grocery, refrigerated and food-service categories.
Frozen meals · 1989
Healthy Choice
A frozen-food brand associated with portion-conscious meals, frozen entrées and other convenience products. It became one of Conagra’s most recognizable health-oriented brands after being developed during the company’s expansion into branded frozen foods.
Frozen meals and desserts · 1994
Marie Callender’s
A comfort-food brand used for frozen dinners, side dishes, pies and desserts. Conagra expanded the brand through frozen products after acquiring the relevant business in the 1990s.
Meat snacks
Slim Jim
A meat-snack brand known for shelf-stable meat sticks and related convenience snacks. It gives Conagra a prominent position in the impulse and snacking channel.
Canned and jarred foods
Hunt’s
A grocery brand focused on tomatoes, tomato sauces, pasta sauces and related pantry products.
Refrigerated and dairy toppings
Reddi-wip
A whipped-topping brand sold primarily in aerosol format and used with desserts, beverages and other prepared foods.
Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher’s
A popcorn brand spanning microwave popcorn and related popcorn products. It is one of Conagra’s major snack and at-home entertainment brands.
Cooking sprays
PAM
A cooking-spray brand used to reduce sticking and support food preparation. It operates in the cooking-aids portion of Conagra’s grocery portfolio.
Popcorn snacks
Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP
A popcorn snack brand acquired through Angie’s Artisan Treats. Its positioning emphasizes flavored and ready-to-eat popcorn for the packaged-snack market.
Egg products · 1998
Egg Beaters
A refrigerated egg-product brand acquired from RJR Nabisco assets. It provides liquid egg and egg-substitute products for household cooking and breakfast occasions.
Packaged meats
Hebrew National
A branded packaged-meat business associated with kosher hot dogs and other prepared meat products.
Controversies
2021
Conagra Brands recalls Birds Eye Broccoli Tots
Conagra Brands voluntarily recalled certain 12-ounce packages of Birds Eye Broccoli Tots due to the potential presence of small rocks and metal fragments. The company reported two injury complaints involving dental damage and advised consumers to dispose of the affected product.
2020
Conagra recalls Healthy Choice chicken bowl products
Conagra Brands is recalling certain Healthy Choice chicken bowl products after consumer complaints about small rocks in the products. The recall covers about 130,763 pounds of products; no adverse reactions from consumption had been reported.
2020
Conagra recalls frozen chicken bowl products over possible foreign matter contamination
Conagra Brands recalled around 131,000 pounds of chicken bowl products after consumers reported small rocks in the food. The affected products were distributed in the United States and Canada; the article reports no confirmed adverse reactions.
2007
Peter Pan Salmonella outbreak
Peter Pan peanut butter linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak was recalled. ConAgra later agreed to plead guilty to distributing adulterated products in interstate commerce.
1997
Peavey grain-weight fraud case
The company pleaded guilty in a federal case involving water added to grain to increase recorded weight and allegations of bribery of federal officials.
1989
Poultry weighing-scale tampering
ConAgra was found guilty of tampering with scales used to measure poultry supplied by Alabama farmers.
1989
Jobbers Canyon demolition controversy
ConAgra’s pressure for a new Omaha headquarters contributed to the demolition of the protected Jobbers Canyon warehouse district, provoking major historic-preservation criticism.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013National GMO-labeling standards initiative
United States
ConAgra joined Walmart and other companies in seeking a national framework for genetically modified food labeling rather than differing state-by-state rules.
Outcome. The initiative did not immediately produce a nationwide labeling standard.
- 2012Opposition to California Proposition 37
California, United States
ConAgra participated with other major food companies in opposing a California proposal that would have required labeling of genetically engineered foods.
Outcome. The proposition was defeated.
- 2002Opposition to Oregon Measure 27
United States
ConAgra joined food manufacturers and trade associations in opposing an Oregon ballot initiative that would have required labeling of genetically modified foods.
Outcome. The measure was defeated.
Brand decisions
2020
Sell Peter PanM&ABackground
Conagra continued to manage its portfolio around selected branded-food categories.
Action taken
The company announced the sale of Peter Pan to Post Holdings and completed the transaction in January 2021.
Aftermath
Peter Pan left the Conagra portfolio.
2018
Acquire Pinnacle FoodsM&ABackground
Conagra sought greater scale in frozen foods, grocery products and snacks.
Action taken
It completed the acquisition of Pinnacle Foods for approximately $8.1 billion.
Aftermath
The transaction added brands including Birds Eye, Duncan Hines, Wish-Bone and Earth Balance.
Transaction value. $8.1 billion (2018)
2016
Separate noncore businesses and reposition the companyStrategyBackground
ConAgra was reducing exposure to meat and other businesses while emphasizing branded packaged foods.
Action taken
The company spun off Lamb Weston, moved its headquarters to Chicago, reduced approximately 1,500 jobs and adopted the Conagra Brands name.
Aftermath
The change established the company’s current portfolio-oriented identity.
1974
Refocus on core food operationsStrategyBackground
Losses from investments and commodities speculation created serious financial pressure and raised the risk of failure.
Action taken
Under C. Michael Harper, ConAgra sold noncore properties and divisions, reduced debt and concentrated on food production and branded products.
Aftermath
The restructuring enabled a long period of acquisition-led expansion and made the company a major food processor.
Recent events
Conagra recalls Birds Eye Broccoli Tots[5]
Reported:
Conagra Brands voluntarily recalled certain 12-ounce packages of Birds Eye Broccoli Tots because of the potential presence of small rocks and metal fragments. The company reported two injury complaints involving dental damage and advised consumers to dispose of the affected product.
Conagra Brands appoints Manny Chirico to its board[8]
Reported:
Conagra Brands announced that it had appointed Manny Chirico to its board of directors, effective February 1, 2021.
- Unconfirmed
Conagra recalls Healthy Choice chicken bowl products[6]
Reported:
Conagra Brands is recalling certain Healthy Choice chicken bowl products after consumer complaints about small rocks in the products. The recall covers about 130,763 pounds of products; no adverse reactions from consumption had been reported.
Conagra recalls frozen chicken bowl products over possible foreign matter contamination[7]
Reported:
Conagra Brands recalled around 131,000 pounds of chicken bowl products after consumers reported small rocks in the food. The affected products were distributed in the United States and Canada; the article reports no confirmed adverse reactions.
Ring and Conagra collaborate on a new Hunt's ketchup bottle[9]
Reported:
Ring Container Technologies announced its collaboration with Conagra Brands on a new bottle for Hunt's Ketchup. The bottle, made using Ring's BarrierGuard OxygenSmart technology, was available on store shelves at the time of the announcement.
Sources11 sources
- 1Conagra Brandsen.wikipedia.org
- 2Conagra Brands leadershipconagrabrands.com
- 3Conagra Brands completes acquisition of Pinnacle Foodsconagrabrands.com
- 4CDC report on the 2006–2007 Salmonella outbreakcdc.gov
- 5Conagra Brands recalls Birds Eye Broccoli Totsprnewswire.com
- 6Conagra recalls Healthy Choice chicken bowl productsfinanznachrichten.de
- 7Conagra recalls frozen chicken bowl products over possible foreign matter contaminationntd.com
- 8Conagra Brands任命Manny Chirico为董事powderbulksolids.com
- 9Ring与Conagra合作推出Hunt's新番茄酱瓶prnewswire.com
- 10CONAGRA RECALLS CERTAIN PRODUCTSkmmo.com
- 11Conagra Recalls Chicken, Turkey Bowl Products For Small Rocksfinanznachrichten.de
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