McCormick reported a strong Q2 with 14% total sales growth driven by the McCormick de Mexico acquisition and 2% organic growth. Flavor Solutions momentum accelerated, while Consumer Americas experienced volume declines due to price sensitivity and competition. Management reaffirmed full-year guidance, expects gross margin expansion of 100-120 bps, and provided an upbeat update on the Unilever Foods integration. The tone is cautiously optimistic, with targeted actions to improve consumer volumes in the back half. Total sales grew 14% constant currency (12% from acquisition; 2% organic). Organic growth was price-led; global consumer volumes declined in the Americas but grew in EMEA and APAC.
McCormick reported a strong Q2 with 14% total sales growth driven by the McCormick de Mexico acquisition and 2% organic growth. Flavor Solutions momentum accelerated, while Consumer Americas experienced volume declines due to price sensitivity and competition. Management reaffirmed full-year guidance, expects gross margin expansion of 100-120 bps, and provided an upbeat update on the Unilever Foods integration. The tone is cautiously optimistic, with targeted actions to improve consumer volumes in the back half. Total sales grew 14% constant currency (12% from acquisition; 2% organic). Organic growth was price-led; global consumer volumes declined in the Americas but grew in EMEA and APAC.
Management's overall tone is confident, driven by strong Q2 results, accelerated flavor solutions momentum, and progress on Unilever integration; no notable shift in confidence from prior calls.
Flavor solutions volume growth exceeded expectations. Management's overall tone is confident, driven by strong Q2 results, accelerated flavor solutions momentum, and progress on Unilever integration; no notable shift in confidence from prior calls.
Reported gross margin was 40.18%, reinforcing the quarter's better-than-guided profitability.
Guidance tone
Flavor solutions volume growth exceeded expectations. Management's overall tone is confident, driven by strong Q2 results, accelerated flavor solutions momentum, and progress on Unilever integration; no notable shift in confidence from prior calls.
Management's overall tone is confident, driven by strong Q2 results, accelerated flavor solutions momentum, and progress on Unilever integration; no notable shift in confidence from prior calls.
| Metric | Period | Range | Midpoint | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | FY2026 | 1%–1.2% | 1.1% | GUIDED |
McCormick is actively planning the integration of Unilever Foods, with dedicated teams and TSAs, signaling confidence in the deal's execution and synergy realization.
“we have made strong progress on integration planning. We have established a dedicated integration management office led by Andrew Foust, supported by 20 functional teams to ensure a seamless transition.”
Moving to flavor solutions.
… briefs remains strong, and we're focusing resources where we have the greatest opportunity to win across our four taste competencies, savory heat, naturally sweet, and citrus and fruit. In fact, in the second quarter, a majority of the briefs were tied to health and wellness innovation and renovation. Reformulation projects are increasing, particularly with large CPG customers, and we're beginning to see the benefit of this project activity launch to the marketplace. And finally, in branded food service, we expect to sustain the momentum from this quarter. The environment remains competitive and value conscious. Targeted investments in menu placements, innovation, and disciplined execution are expected to drive pockets of growth across customer channels. Before turning it over to Marcos, I'd like to provide a brief update on the Unilever Foods transaction on slide seven. Since the announcement on March 31st, we have made strong progress on integration planning. We have established a dedicated integration management office led by Andrew Foust, supported by 20 functional teams to ensure a seamless transition. Andrew previously helped successfully lead our RB Foods, Celula, and Fona integrations. Unilever has established parallel teams. Altogether, there is more than 200 individuals fully dedicated to working across integration streams. From a separation standpoint, approximately 80% of Unilever Foods operates as a standalone organization, which reduces complexity. In addition, we are mapping integration plans country by country. This includes focusing on the 10 markets that represent nearly 75% of combined sales, where we have direct operational overlap in the top six. We expect TSA agreements, generally up to two years post-close, to ensure continuity across IT, distribution, and back-office functions. In addition, we are entering a second phase of detailed synergy planning. Based on the work completed to date, we remain confident in our previously announced targets for sales growth, operating margin, and adjusted EPS accretion. We expect mid to high single-digit adjusted EPS accretion within the first 12 months post-close and mid to high teens accretion in year three. Looking ahead, we expect to deliver several key milestones in the coming months. By the end of July, we expect to announce the location of a secondary listing on a European exchange. By the …