ST. LOUIS — Pet food witnessed declines in volume for Post Holdings, as shared in the company’s first quarter 2025 financial results for the period ended Dec. 31, 2024. Despite this, Post remains optimistic about its pet food segment, sharing it benefited from improved costs and plant performance.

Net sales for Post Consumer Brands’ segment, which includes North American ready-to-eat, cereal, pet food and peanut butter, were $963.9 million, a 2.5% decrease from the first quarter of 2024. This included $54.4 million in net sales from the acquisition of Perfection Pet Foods. Excluding this acquisition, volume dropped 8.8%, according to Post. Segment profit was $131 million, a decrease of 1.3% compared to the prior year.

Regarding pet food specifically, Post shared that its pet food volumes decreased 13%, mostly due to pricing in low-margin products, shift in customer inventories and consumption declines. 

“Pet category consumption was down approximately 1%, with our portfolio declining 5% as we continue to lap lost distribution points to Nutrish and experienced price elasticity in Gravy Train,” shared Jeff Zadoks, chief operating officer and executive vice president of Post, during the company’s first quarter earnings call on Feb. 6. “Our overall share was down slightly. We are now turning our attention to innovation for pet in Q2, led by the relaunch of Nutrish, which is underway now with phasing throughout the balance of the fiscal year.”

In addition to the relaunch of Nutrish, Post also plans to introduce new products for its Nature’s Recipe line. 

Overall, net sales for the first quarter were reported at $1.97 billion, a 0.4% (or $8.8 million) increase compared to $1.96 billion from the first quarter of 2024. This includes $60.8 million and $21.8 million in net sales from acquisitions.

Gross profit was $595.3 million, a 4% increase compared to $572.6 million from the prior year. Gross profit accounted for 30.1% of net sales, an increase from 29.1% from the prior year. Operating profit was reported as $214.1 million, a 2.3% increase compared to $209.3 million from the prior year. 

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were reported at $331.6 million, a 2.7% increase compared to $322.9 million from the prior year. These expenses included $15.6 million in integration costs related to pet food acquisitions. 

Net earnings were $113.3 million, a 28.6% increase compared to $88.1 million from the prior year. 

Following these results, Post raised its guidance for the fiscal year 2025. Adjusted EBITDA is now expected between $1.42 billion to $1.46 billion. Capital expenditures are expected to range between $380 million and $420 million, which includes continued investment in network optimization and pet food capacity and safety. 

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