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)   September 24, 2012

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:

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

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

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

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

Section 5 – CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On September 24, 2012, the Board of Directors of Hormel Foods Corporation (the Company) received notice of the upcoming retirements of Richard A. Bross and Ronald W. Fielding.  Mr. Bross will retire as group vice president of the Company and president of Hormel Foods International Corporation, effective December 31, 2012.  Mr. Fielding’s retirement as executive vice president of corporate strategy, planning and development for the Company is tentatively planned for January 27, 2013.

A press release announcing the retirements of Richard A Bross and Ronald W. Fielding, as well as executive advancements for the Company, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Section 9 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)Exhibits pursuant to Item 5.02

99.1Press release, dated September 26, 2012, announcing the retirements of Richard A. Bross and Ronald W. Fielding and executive advancements for the Company

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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: September 26, 2012	By /s/ JEFFREY M. ETTINGER
	JEFFREY M. ETTINGER
	Chairman of the Board, President
	and Chief Executive Officer
Dated: September 26, 2012	By /s/ JAMES N. SHEEHAN
	JAMES N. SHEEHAN
	Vice President and Controller

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Contact:	Julie H. Craven
	507-437-5345
	media@hormel.com

Hormel Foods announces retirements, advancements

AUSTIN, Minn. (Sept. 26, 2012) — Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL),  today announced the upcoming retirements of Richard A. Bross, group vice president of Hormel Foods, president of Hormel Foods International Corporation (HFIC), and Ronald W. Fielding, executive vice president of corporate strategy, planning and development.

“Thank you to Rick and Ron for their long-term careers at Hormel Foods. We greatly appreciate their leadership and wish them both the best in their retirements,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods.

The following advancements will take place as a result of the retirements:

James P. Snee, vice president of Hormel Foods, senior vice president of HFIC, will replace Bross in the position of group vice president of Hormel Foods, president of HFIC, effective Oct. 29.

Fred D. Halvin, director of corporate development, will assume responsibility for corporate development in the position of vice president, corporate development, effective Oct. 29.

“Congratulations to Jim and Fred on their advancements,” Ettinger said. “We look forward to their continued leadership.”

Bross
In 1973, Bross began his career at Hormel Foods in Grocery Products sales in the Pittsburgh, Pa., area. In 1981, he became a product marketing manager in the Grocery Products division at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.), where he held a variety of manager and director level positions. In 1995, he became the vice president of Grocery Products and in 1999 was promoted to vice president of Hormel Foods, president of HFIC. In 2001, he assumed his current position as group vice president of Hormel Foods, president of HFIC.

Fielding
Fielding joined Hormel Foods in 1994 as a meat products regional sales manager in Arlington, Texas. In 1995, he became the vice president of HFIC at the Corporate Office and was named president of HFIC the next year. In 1997, he moved to vice president of Hormel Foods, president of HFIC. Fielding was named group vice president, meat products, in 1999 and held several other group vice president positions until 2007 when he was promoted to executive vice president of Grocery Products, mergers and acquisitions. He moved to executive vice president of Grocery Products, corporate development, in 2008 and to his current position as executive vice president of corporate strategy, planning and development in 2010.

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Snee
Snee began his career at Hormel Foods in Hayward, Calif., in 1989 in the foodservice division where he held various sales positions before being named foodservice territory manager in San Francisco, Calif., in 1991. In 1992, Snee became an associate product manager in foodservice at the Corporate Office and moved to manager of inventory and distribution for Refrigerated Foods in 1995. He moved back to the foodservice division in Lebanon, N.J., in 1996 and held various manager positions before being named director of purchasing at the Corporate Office in 2006. In 2008, he was named vice president of affiliated business units, Refrigerated Foods, and in 2011 was promoted to vice president of Hormel Foods and senior vice president, HFIC.

Halvin
Halvin joined Hormel Foods in 1985 as an accountant at the Fremont (Neb.) Plant. In 1990, he moved to the Corporate Office where he held a variety of positions, including cost analyst, assistant controller, treasurer and director of investor relations. In 2007, Halvin was promoted to director of mergers, acquisitions and strategy, and he assumed his current position as the director of corporate development in 2008.

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 (S&P) 500 Index, S&P Dividend Aristocrats for 2012, Maplecroft Climate Innovation Indexes, Global 1000 Sustainable Performance Leaders and was again named one of “The 100 Best Corporate Citizens” by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the fourth year in a row. 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.

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