hrl-20251216

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☒ Definitive Proxy Statement

☐ Definitive Additional Materials

☐ Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

Hormel Foods Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

☒ No fee required.

☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

☐ Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

Table of Contents

Proxy Statement

2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time

Austin, Minnesota

Table of Contents

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

AUSTIN, MINNESOTA

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To the Stockholders:

The 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Hormel Foods Corporation, a Delaware corporation, will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time in the Richard L. Knowlton Auditorium of the Austin High School, 300 NW 4th Street, Austin, Minnesota 55912.

The items of business are:

1.Election of the 12 director nominees named in the Proxy Statement, for a term expiring at the next annual meeting;

2.Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 25, 2026;

3.Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers;

4.Approval of the Hormel Foods Corporation 2026 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan; and

5.Such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

The Board of Directors has fixed November 28, 2025, at the close of business, as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Colleen Batcheler

Senior Vice President, External Affairs,

General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

December 17, 2025


Important Notice Regarding the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to be Held on January 27, 2026

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Stockholders
are available at proxyvote.com

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS


GENERAL INFORMATION			1
ITEM 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS			4
DIRECTOR NOMINEES			5
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE			10
Corporate Governance Guidelines			10
Board Leadership Structure			10
Board Independence			11
Board of Director Meetings			11
Board Committees			12
Board Role in Risk Oversight

SEC Form DEF 14A filed by Hormel Foods Corporation