JM Smucker’s rapidly growing Uncrustables brand reached a milestone for the food and beverage giant in Q4, passing the $1 billion mark, according to CEO and President Mark Smucker.
The achievement by the Orrville, Ohio-based snacks and spreads company “reflects years of ambition, investment and disciplined execution,” said Smucker, adding that over the past year, the frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches attracted 3 million new households.
The company also was bolstered by strong revenue growth in its Café Bustelo coffee portfolio and its Meow Mix and Milk-Bone pet food brands, Smucker said.
“These brands represent our largest growth opportunities, and we will continue to build on their momentum through our world-class marketing, commercial and manufacturing capabilities,” he said.
Along with the Uncrustables news, JM Smucker reported better-than-expected financial results for the quarter, catapulting its stock value by more than 10%, reaching $112.98 per share in after-hours trading.
The company reported earnings of $2.77 per share on revenue of $2.27 billion for the quarter, beating analyst estimates of $2.65 per share on revenue of $2.27 billion, according to Earnings Whispers.
Despite ending the fiscal year in a strong position, JM Smucker still has work to do in its spreads and snacks businesses.
JM Smucker’s strong Q4
JM Smucker reported net sales growth of $124.3 million, roughly 6%, year over year for the quarter. Net sales revenue reached $9.1 billion for the fiscal year, up 4% year over year, the company reported.
“Our strong fourth quarter results demonstrate the continued strength of our focused strategy and portfolio enhancement efforts, which have transformed the company over time,” Smucker said. “We delivered positive net sales and earnings growth in the quarter, while navigating a dynamic external environment, and we are entering fiscal year 2027 with meaningful momentum.”
Smucker noted that the close of the fiscal year on April 30 marked the company’s seventh consecutive year of comparable top-line growth.
The momentum is driven partly by innovation, according to Smucker, explaining that $300 million in net sales for the fiscal year come from new products launched in 2025 and 2026.
Café Bustelo going strong
Despite price hikes last year, net coffee sales grew 12% for the quarter, driven by JM Smucker’s popular Café Bustelo coffee brand.
JM Smucker, which also owns Folgers and Dunkin’ Donuts, increased prices across the coffee category in May and August, but the hikes did not deter growth, Smucker said.
The price increases were largely a pass-through, due to commodity volatility related to tariffs and other factors.
President Donald Trump rolled back tariffs on a range of commodities in mid-November, including coffee, tea, tropical fruits, fruit juices, cocoa and more. The administration’s tariff policy was further restricted in February, when the US Supreme Court ruled the tariff regime imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) unconstitutional.
Smucker said the company expects to reduce prices across the category as the price of green coffee commodities drop.
“We are now beginning to see moderation in the green coffee commodity, supported by positive early indications for this year’s crop. As we have done historically, we will adjust pricing as our cost structure improves to continue to deliver value to our consumers. We have started to lower prices through trade investments, and in a sustained deflationary environment we have planned a list price decrease.”
Smucker said Café Bustelo remains a key growth driver for the company, with net sales up 39% in fiscal year 2026.
“The brand is now approximately $550 million in net sales, and we will continue to fuel this strong momentum,” he said, noting that JM Smucker plans to expand distribution in the Central and West Coast regions of the US.
That expansion includes differentiated roast profiles and marketing campaigns to engage a broader audience “while staying true to the brand’s Latin roots.”
“Amplified by our brand-building efforts, the Café Bustelo brand is resonating with Gen Z and Millennials and is demonstrating strong growth in brand awareness and household penetration, both of which have significant runway,” Smucker said.
Uncrustables and spreads
Net sales for JM Smucker’s Frozen Handhelds and Spreads Division were up a modest 1%, with most of the heavy lifting coming from the Uncrustables portfolio.
“Net sales for the Uncrustables brand accelerated sequentially, increasing 8% in the quarter – its strongest quarterly growth rate this fiscal year,” Smucker said.
Spreads sales were down, reflecting JM Smucker’s decision to ramp down some promotional activity, while the company sharpens its focus on its strongest product lines, Smucker said.
“As we look ahead, we remain focused on continuing to scale the Uncrustables brand as a key growth platform, while driving profitability in our category-leading spreads business and advancing its modernization through innovation and brand building,” Smucker added.
That includes Uncrustables’ new refrigerator-friendly varieties that come ready to eat without thawing. Smucker said those will be available across all flavors beginning this summer.
Hostess a work in progress
JM Smucker reiterated that it also is sharpening its sword with its Hostess brand, focusing on winning product lines, similar to its approach with spreads.
The snack portfolio is now dominated by miniature donuts sold under the Donette brand, which grew net sales 13% for the quarter in the company’s snacks division.
“The brand represents approximately 40% of the Sweet Baked Snacks portfolio, underscoring its importance as a key driver of the segment,” Smucker said. “We continue to execute on our Sweet Baked Snacks stabilization plan and are encouraged by the improvement in profitability this quarter, driven by the actions we are taking across the business.”
Pet food key for JM Smucker
Although dog food sales might be slipping, JM Smucker’s cat food sales are keeping the category afloat.
Pet food sales were up 2% in Q4, with Meow Mix as the standout brand, reaching 8% net sales growth, according to JM Smucker. Dry cat food represents roughly 85% of JM Smucker’s cat food portfolio.
Dog food sales dipped 1% for the quarter, the company reported.
“We are beginning to see stabilization in the Pup‑Peroni brand as we sharpen its positioning, focused on highlighting its differentiated, high-quality offering, and expanding household penetration through marketing and increased trial,” Smucker said. “Milk‑Bone remains a key focus area, and we are taking actions to return the brand to growth.”
