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BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION
12 Months Ended
May 28, 2017
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION
BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION
During fiscal 2017, we reorganized our reporting segments. We now reflect our results of operations in five reporting segments: Grocery & Snacks, Refrigerated & Frozen, International, Foodservice, and Commercial. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the revised segment presentation.
In the second quarter of fiscal 2017, we completed the Spinoff of Lamb Weston. The Lamb Weston business had previously been included in the Commercial segment. The results of operations of the Lamb Weston business have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
The Grocery & Snacks reporting segment principally includes branded, shelf-stable food products sold in various retail channels in the United States.
The Refrigerated & Frozen reporting segment includes branded, temperature controlled food products sold in various retail channels in the United States.
The International reporting segment principally includes branded food products, in various temperature states, sold in various retail and foodservice channels outside of the United States.
The Foodservice reporting segment includes branded and customized food products, including meals, entrees, sauces and a variety of custom-manufactured culinary products packaged for sale to restaurants and other foodservice establishments in the United States.
The Commercial reporting segment included commercially branded and private label food and ingredients, which were sold primarily to commercial, restaurant, foodservice, food manufacturing, and industrial customers. The segment's primary food items included a variety of vegetable, spice, and frozen bakery goods, which were sold under brands such as Spicetec Flavors & Seasonings®. The Spicetec and JM Swank businesses were sold in the first quarter of fiscal 2017.
We do not aggregate operating segments when determining our reporting segments.
Intersegment sales have been recorded at amounts approximating market. Operating profit for each of the segments 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.
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
Grocery & Snacks
$
3,208.8

 
$
3,377.1

 
$
3,509.9

Refrigerated & Frozen
2,652.7

 
2,867.8

 
2,986.6

International
816.0

 
846.6

 
942.7

Foodservice
1,078.3

 
1,104.5

 
1,120.1

Commercial
71.1

 
468.1

 
474.7

Total net sales
$
7,826.9

 
$
8,664.1

 
$
9,034.0

Operating profit
 
 
 
 
 
Grocery & Snacks
$
653.7

 
$
592.9

 
$
589.9

Refrigerated & Frozen
445.8

 
420.4

 
376.3

International
(168.9
)
 
66.7

 
90.3

Foodservice
105.1

 
97.7

 
109.4

Commercial
202.6

 
45.4

 
43.5

Total operating profit
$
1,238.3

 
$
1,223.1

 
$
1,209.4

Equity method investment earnings
71.2

 
66.1

 
79.4

General corporate expenses
313.3

 
818.5

 
296.6

Interest expense, net
195.5

 
295.8

 
328.2

Income tax expense
254.7

 
46.4

 
212.7

Income from continuing operations
$
546.0

 
$
128.5

 
$
451.3

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of continuing operations
1.9

 
1.9

 
2.5

Income from continuing operations attributable to Conagra Brands, Inc.
$
544.1

 
$
126.6

 
$
448.8


Net sales by product type were:
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Shelf-stable
$
4,682.4

 
$
5,256.8

 
$
5,511.5

Temperature-controlled
3,144.5

 
3,407.3

 
3,522.5

Total net sales
$
7,826.9

 
$
8,664.1

 
$
9,034.0


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 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. In the event that management determines a particular derivative entered into as an economic hedge of a forecasted commodity purchase has ceased to function as an economic hedge, we cease recognizing further gains and losses on such derivatives in corporate expense and begin recognizing such gains and losses within segment operating results, immediately.
The following table presents the net derivative gains (losses) from economic hedges of forecasted commodity consumption and the foreign currency risk of certain forecasted transactions, under this methodology:
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Net derivative gains (losses) incurred
$
0.6

 
$
(7.4
)
 
$
(70.8
)
Less: Net derivative gains (losses) allocated to reporting segments
5.7

 
(23.8
)
 
(46.2
)
Net derivative gains (losses) recognized in general corporate expenses
$
(5.1
)
 
$
16.4

 
$
(24.6
)
Net derivative gains (losses) allocated to Grocery & Snacks
$
3.4

 
$
(14.4
)
 
$
(26.7
)
Net derivative gains (losses) allocated to Refrigerated & Frozen
0.8

 
(6.2
)
 
(11.8
)
Net derivative gains (losses) allocated to International
1.6

 
(0.5
)
 
(4.0
)
Net derivative losses allocated to Foodservice

 
(1.0
)
 
(3.4
)
Net derivative losses allocated to Commercial
(0.1
)
 
(1.7
)
 
(0.3
)
Net derivative gains (losses) included in segment operating profit
$
5.7

 
$
(23.8
)
 
$
(46.2
)

As of May 28, 2017, the cumulative amount of net derivative losses from economic hedges that had been recognized in general corporate expenses and not yet allocated to reporting segments was $3.0 million. This amount reflected net losses of $3.3 million incurred during the fiscal year ended May 28, 2017, as well as net gains of $0.3 million incurred prior to fiscal 2017. Based on our forecasts of the timing of recognition of the underlying hedged items, we expect to reclassify to segment operating results losses of $1.2 million in fiscal 2018 and losses of $1.8 million in fiscal 2019 and thereafter.
In the second quarter of fiscal 2015, management determined that certain derivatives that had been previously entered into as an economic hedge of forecasted commodity purchases had ceased to function as economic hedges. We recognized derivative losses of $10.8 million, $6.3 million, and $2.7 million, and derivative gains of $0.9 million within the operating results of the Grocery & Snacks, Refrigerated & Frozen, International, and Foodservice segments, respectively, during fiscal 2015 in connection with these derivatives. Management effectively exited these derivative positions in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

Assets by Segment

The majority of our manufacturing assets are shared across multiple reporting segments. Output from these facilities used by each reporting segment can change over time. Also, working capital balances are not tracked by reporting segment. Therefore, it is impracticable to allocate those assets to the reporting segments, as well as disclose total assets by segment. Total depreciation expense for fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015 was $234.4 million, $243.9 million, and $258.3 million, respectively.
Other Information
At May 28, 2017, Conagra Brands and its subsidiaries had approximately 12,600 employees, primarily in the United States. Approximately 47% of our employees are parties to collective bargaining agreements. Of the employees subject to collective bargaining agreements, approximately 6% are parties to collective bargaining agreements scheduled to expire during fiscal 2018.
Our operations are principally in the United States. With respect to operations outside of the United States, no single foreign country or geographic region was significant with respect to consolidated operations for fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015. Foreign net sales, including sales by domestic segments to customers located outside of the United States, were approximately $887.2 million, $937.9 million, and $1.0 billion in fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Our long-lived assets located outside of the United States are not significant.
Our largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates, accounted for approximately 24%, 23%, and 20% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively, significantly impacting the Grocery & Snacks and Refrigerated & Frozen segments.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates accounted for approximately 26% and 25% of consolidated net receivables as of May 28, 2017 and May 29, 2016, respectively.
We offer certain suppliers access to a third-party service that allows them to view our scheduled payments online. The third party service also allows suppliers to finance advances on our scheduled payments at the sole discretion of the supplier and the third party. We have no economic interest in these financing arrangements and no direct relationship with the suppliers, the third-party, or any financial institutions concerning this service. All of our accounts payable remain as obligations to our suppliers as stated in our supplier agreements. As of May 28, 2017, $24.6 million of our total accounts payable is payable to suppliers who utilize this third-party service.