Brace yourselves for the quarterly numbers of yet another food inflation victim. Sysco
Let's dig deeper.
Number crunching
Sysco's sales rose to $10.6 billion, an 8.6% increase compared with the previous year's quarter. This was mainly because the company raised the prices of its products to compensate for higher raw material costs.
Sysco's bottom line grew just 1.2%, remaining nearly flat at $303 million. Barring one-time business transformation expenses, the company reported earnings per share of $0.55.
Pinching pennies
With increasing labor costs and a rapidly growing middle-class population around the world, food crops are falling short of global demand and soaring in price, forcing companies dependent on agricultural products to pay higher raw material costs. Meat processors such as Tyson Foods
Not surprisingly, Sysco saw its food costs rise to 7.3% compared with 3.3% in the same period the previous year. Additionally, the company also incurred higher costs for other items like payroll and fuel.
Sysco's income was hurt not just by higher costs, but also by fewer eaters. The company distributes food to restaurants, hotels, college campuses, schools, and hospitals. In the wake of economic uncertainties and weak consumer spending, fewer customers visited restaurants, thereby slowing down many of the businesses that Sysco distributes to. This scenario may change if the economy improves. But until then, Sysco will have to put up with weak demand.
The Foolish bottom line
Sysco is burdened with cost and demand problems, which are pinching both the top and bottom lines. With no relief in sight as far as costly raw materials are concerned, it looks to me like tough times are here to stay for Sysco.
What do you think?
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