Conagra CEO Says Labor Issues Sparked a Shortage of Metal Cans

Quality issues with the metal cans used for Conagra Brands Inc.’s beans, pasta, meat and chili nicked sales in the latest quarter, the chief executive officer said, underscoring the knock-off effects of a tight US labor market.

The shortfall affected results in the quarter ended Feb. 26, causing some products to go out of stock, CEO Sean Connolly told analysts on the company’s earnings call. In an interview, he said that finding employees has been a challenge for suppliers as many factory workers retired during the pandemic. That leaves “more inexperienced workers in the manufacturing supply chain.”

Sean Connolly

Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg

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