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The J. M. Smucker Company SJM continues to strengthen marketing initiatives to drive sales. In the latest development, the company announced the expansion of its collaboration with Acosta Group, a prominent sales and marketing agency collective. This will include offering a comprehensive North American solution for headquarter sales, retail merchandising, and digital commerce.

As part of the expanded partnership, Acosta Group will deliver a full set of sales and marketing solutions for J.M. Smucker's brands across U.S. grocery and mass retail. Also, the agency will activate its unparalleled In-Store Services merchandising team to ensure that SJM’s brands are easily available to be purchased in-store, on-shelf, and online.

This move reflects J. M. Smucker’s confidence in Acosta Group's wide range of services and proven track record in supporting the company's diverse portfolio of brands across different channels and markets. Incidentally, Acosta Group has a long-standing history of providing support to J.M. Smucker’s portfolio, and this extended partnership will help the company cater to the needs of its retail customers and consumers.

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J.M. Smucker on Growth Path?

Superior execution and disciplined cost management have been working well for J.M. Smucker amid a dynamic operating landscape. The company’s transformed portfolio, bolstered by the recent buyout of Hostess Brands, has set the stage for long-term growth across key platforms such as coffee, uncrustables frozen sandwiches, dog snacks, cat food and sweet baked snacks. J. M. Smucker intends to remain committed to investing in brands, capabilities and talented employees in fiscal 2025, staying confident about achieving long-term growth and boosting shareholder value.

The company recently refined its strategic priorities to better align the organization. These include focusing on growing volume and net sales, operating with excellence and prioritizing resources to capitalize on the fastest growth opportunities. Next, it concentrates on integrating and delivering on the acquired Hostess business. Thirdly, the company intends to achieve its transformation, cost discipline and cash generation aspirations. J.M. Smucker is committed to increasing its focus and resources to reshape its portfolio to achieve sustainable growth across pet food and pet snacks, coffee as well as snacking categories.

Strategic initiatives like these, along with favorable net price realization, are likely to keep SJM well-positioned amid inflated cost hurdles. Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have lost 0.2% in the past three months compared with the industry’s decline of 4.6%.

Better-Ranked Food Bets

Vital Farms Inc. VITL offers a range of produced pasture-raised foods. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). VITL has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 102.1%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vital Farms’ current financial-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 22.6% and 62.7%, respectively, from year-ago reported numbers.

Freshpet, Inc. FRPT, a pet food company, has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 118.2%, on average. FRPT currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet’s current financial-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 24.8% and 177.1%, respectively, from the prior-year reported level.

Utz Brands Inc. UTZ, which manufactures a diverse range of salty snacks, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). UTZ has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2%, on average.

The consensus estimate for Utz Brands’ current financial-year earnings indicates growth of 26.3% from year-ago reported numbers.

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