Business Segments and Related Information

3 Months Ended

Aug. 28, 2011

Business Segments and Related Information [Abstract]

BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION

17. BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION

We report our operations in two reporting segments: Consumer Foods and Commercial Foods. The Consumer Foods reporting segment includes branded, private label, and customized food products, which are sold in various retail and foodservice channels, principally in North America. The products include a variety of categories (meals, entrees, condiments, sides, snacks, and desserts) across frozen, refrigerated, and shelf-stable temperature classes. The Commercial Foods reporting segment includes commercially branded foods and ingredients, which are sold principally to foodservice, food manufacturing, and industrial customers. The Commercial Foods segment’s primary products include: specialty potato products, milled grain ingredients, a variety of vegetable products, seasonings, blends, and flavors which are sold under brands such as Lamb Weston^®, ConAgra Mills^®, and Spicetec Flavors & Seasonings^TM. We do not aggregate operating segments when determining our reporting segments.

Intersegment sales have been recorded at amounts approximating market. Operating profit for each segment is based on net sales less all identifiable operating expenses. General corporate expense, net interest expense, and income taxes have been excluded from segment operations. In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we changed the manner in which the expenses associated with certain administrative functions are recognized in segment results. Accordingly, segment results of the prior period have been reclassified to reflect these changes.

	Thirteen weeks ended
	August 28,		August 29,
	2011		2010
Net sales
Consumer Foods	$	1,891.7	$	1,811.5
Commercial Foods		1,180.3		992.8
Total net sales	$	3,072.0	$	2,804.3
Operating profit
Consumer Foods	$	196.2	$	207.7
Commercial Foods		97.5		113.1
Total operating profit	$	293.7	$	320.8
Equity method investment earnings
Consumer Foods	$	1.0	$	1.1
Commercial Foods		5.2		5.1
Total equity method investment earnings	$	6.2	$	6.2
Operating profit plus equity method investment earnings
Consumer Foods	$	197.2	$	208.8
Commercial Foods		102.7		118.2
Total operating profit plus equity method investment earnings	$	299.9	$	327.0
General corporate expenses	$	117.9	$	79.5
Interest expense, net		52.9		37.3
Income tax expense		43.6		66.9
Income from continuing operations		85.5		143.3
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		0.3		(0.1	)
Income from continuing operations attributable to ConAgra Foods, Inc.	$	85.2	$	143.4

Presentation of Derivative Gains (Losses) for Economic Hedges of Forecasted Cash Flows in Segment Results

Derivatives used to manage commodity price risk and foreign currency risk are not designated for hedge accounting treatment. We believe these derivatives provide economic hedges of certain forecasted transactions. As such, these derivatives (except those related to our milling operations, see Note 6 to our condensed consolidated financial statements) are recognized at fair market value with realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized in general corporate expenses. The gains and losses are subsequently recognized in the operating results of the reporting segments in the period in which the underlying transaction being economically hedged is included in earnings.

The following table presents the net derivative losses from economic hedges of forecasted commodity consumption and the foreign currency risk of certain forecasted transactions, under this methodology:

	Thirteen weeks ended
	August 28,			August 29,
	2011			2010
Net derivative losses incurred	$	(12.3	)	$	(7.9	)
Less: Net derivative gains (losses) allocated to reporting segments		21.2			(2.1	)
Net derivative losses recognized in general corporate expenses	$	(33.5	)	$	(5.8	)
Net derivative gains (losses) allocated to Consumer Foods	$	18.3		$	(1.9	)
Net derivative gains (losses) allocated to Commercial Foods		2.9			(0.2	)
Net derivative gains (losses) included in segment operating profit	$	21.2		$	(2.1	)

Based on our forecasts of the timing of recognition of the underlying hedged items, we expect to reclassify gains of $8.0 million and losses of $9.2 million to segment operating results in fiscal 2012 and 2013 and thereafter, respectively. Amounts allocated, or to be allocated, to segment operating results during fiscal 2012 and thereafter include $32.3 million of gains recognized prior to fiscal 2012, which had not been allocated to segment operating results.

Our largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates, accounted for approximately 18% and 19% of consolidated net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily in the Consumer Foods segment.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates accounted for approximately 15% of consolidated net receivables as of both August 28, 2011 and May 29, 2011, primarily in the Consumer Foods segment.