8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   December 13, 2010

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-2402	41-0319970
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification Number)

1 Hormel Place

Austin, MN 55912

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (507) 437-5611

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 8 — OTHER EVENTS

Item 8.01 Other Events

On December 13, 2010, Hormel Foods Corporation (the Company) issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors has authorized a two-for-one split of the Company’s common stock.  Stockholder approval of the stock split is required during the Company’s upcoming Annual Meeting to be held on January 31, 2011.  A copy of the release is furnished as Exhibit 99 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Section 9 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)       Exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 8.01

99        Press release issued December 13, 2010

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION
			(Registrant)
Dated:	December 13, 2010	By	/s/J. H. FERAGEN
			J. H. FERAGEN
			Executive Vice President
			and Chief Financial Officer
Dated:	December 13, 2010	By	/s/J. N. SHEEHAN
			J. N. SHEEHAN
			Vice President and Controller

2

EX-99

Exhibit 99

Contact

Julie H. Craven

Hormel Foods

507-437-5345

media@hormel.com

Hormel Foods Announces Two-For-One Stock Split

AUSTIN, MINN. (Dec. 13, 2010) — Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced its Board of Directors has authorized a two-for-one split of the company’s common stock. This would be the first split in 10 years and the 9th in company history.

“We are excited to announce this proposed two-for-one stock split following a decade of strong performance,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “This decision acknowledges our track record of providing our shareholders solid long-term returns and demonstrates our confidence that we will continue to grow our sales and earnings in the future. We anticipate this will also put our stock price in a more attractive trading range for a number of individual investors.”

Stockholder approval of the stock split is required during the company’s Annual Meeting being held on Monday, Jan. 31, 2011. Under the proposal, the number of authorized shares of voting common stock would increase from 400 million to 800 million.

The Board of Directors established Jan. 31, 2011, as the record date for stockholders who will be entitled to receive the split shares. One additional share of common stock will be issued to stockholders around Feb. 14, 2011, for each share of common stock they hold on the record date.

About Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring branded, value-added products to the global marketplace. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, Maplecroft Climate Innovation Indexes, Global 1000 Sustainable Performance Leaders and was named one of “The 100 Most Trustworthy Companies” by Forbes in 2010. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit http://www.hormelfoods.com.