• by Sarah Mahoney , Yesterday

Campbell’s is the latest food giant to come out with gloomy results, with sales declines -- particularly in snacks -- and a downbeat forecast for the months ahead. And,  like rival Kraft Heinz, Campbell’s says the solution is a shake-up to its marketing strategy.

On its earnings call, Mick Beekhuizen, Campbell’s president and CEO, said the company will move away from a balanced approach to brand spending, instead investing more heavily in winners. That means nurturing the brands that are doing best, including Campbell's, Rao's, Goldfish and Pepperidge Farm.

New national ad campaigns are currently in the works for Rao’s, Goldfish and Pepperidge Farm, he said, along with “a robust omnichannel and influencer-led media plan to drive trial of innovation, notably across two new platforms under the Campbell’s brand.”

The shift toward digital is intensifying, and Beekhuizen said 85% of the company’s working media budget will go to social, influencer and e-commerce channels, as well as newer AI-enabled platforms.

“Let me be clear: we are not walking away from any business or brand. However, our marketing investments must work harder for us,” Beekhuizen said.

To pay for those stepped-up brand investments, the company is embarking on an enterprise-wide efficiency effort, targeting $500 million by 2030. That includes a reduction of 13% of its salaried workforce.

The Camden, New Jersey-based company posted fourth-quarter sales of $2.1 billion, an 8% decline. For the full fiscal year, sales fell 5% to $9.7 billion.

Throughout the CPG category, companies are trying to keep up with price-wary consumers, who are cutting back on some discretionary food purchases, and increasingly switching to private label.

“Campbell's has fallen victim to a challenging macro and competitive environment,” writes Erin Lash, an analyst who follows the company for Morningstar. The pressure is most acute in snacks, down 6%, “where the firm lacks the scale and negotiating heft of larger rivals like PepsiCo.”

She points out that there are already bright spots, with the company’s core Goldfish business returned to growth (up 1.6%), aided by a high-profile Pokémon collab, and an 8.9% increase in Rao's consumption, supported by new offerings such as its Creamy red sauce line.

“We don't expect Campbell's to siphon brand spending to boost profitability and cash flow,” Lash adds. “Rather, we expect investments in research, development, and marketing to average 5% of sales over the next decade, near historic levels and generally consistent with peers.”