Marzetti Q1 Revenue and EPS Miss Forecast as Weather Dampens Sales

Marzetti’s Q1 results show flat year‑over‑year revenue and a 5.6% decline in sales volumes. The company’s adjusted EBITDA of $66.85 million also fell short of the $70.32 million consensus. Operating margin held steady at 10.3%, matching the same quarter last year.

Revenue reached $451.8 million, 2.6% below the $463.9 million analysts expected. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.33, 15.1% under the $1.57 forecast. The shortfall reflects weaker retail segment performance, where volume fell 5.6% from a year ago.

CEO David Ciesinski attributed the miss to “weather is difficult to plan for,” pointing to January and February disruptions that reduced retail traffic. He added that softness in refrigerated dressings and the lag from last year’s club‑channel pipeline builds further pressured sales. Category weakness in produce dressings also weighed on the top line.

Analysts probed the company on soybean oil coverage, protein‑forward product launches, and club‑channel friction. Management highlighted intermediate‑term soybean oil coverage through summer, rapid uptake of portable dip cups, and new multipack innovations aimed at club channels.

The earnings miss triggered a negative market reaction, with Marzetti’s market cap standing at $3.12 billion. While operating efficiency remains intact, the company must navigate weather volatility and lingering category softness to meet future targets.

What it means: Marzetti’s near‑term outlook hinges on stabilizing retail volumes and mitigating weather risk. Watch the company’s upcoming Q2 guidance and any adjustments to its product‑mix strategy for signs of recovery.