
Duncan Hines is the baking products brand of Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), a publicly traded food company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Named for the midcentury food critic Duncan Hines, the brand covers cake mixes, frostings, brownie kits, and dessert products as one of the leading US baking-mix names.
Parent Company
Founded
1952
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Duncan Hines | Conagra Brands, Inc. | Brand division |
The brand takes its name from Duncan Hines, the traveling food critic whose midcentury restaurant guides made his endorsement among the most trusted in American food.
Hines licensed his name to a line of food products in the 1950s, with the baking mixes launched in 1952 becoming the enduring business.
The brand passed through Procter & Gamble and Pinnacle Foods before Conagra's 2018 Pinnacle acquisition brought it into the current portfolio alongside Birds Eye and other frozen and grocery names.
What does Conagra Brands own?
Conagra Brands owns approximately 25 packaged food brands across frozen meals, frozen vegetables, shelf-stable grocery, meat snacks, and dairy. Its most recognized brands include Healthy Choice, Birds Eye, Slim Jim, Duncan Hines, Hunt's, Orville Redenbacher's, Marie Callender's, Banquet, Vlasic, and Reddi-Wip. The company acquired many of these brands through acquisitions, most notably the $10.9 billion Pinnacle Foods deal in 2018.
Is Conagra Brands publicly traded?
Yes, Conagra Brands trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker CAG. The company has been publicly traded for decades and has approximately 478 million shares outstanding. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake.
Who founded Conagra Brands?
Conagra was founded in 1919 as Nebraska Consolidated Mills in Grand Island, Nebraska by Frank Little, Lahman H. Baldridge, and Alva Kinney. The company was originally a flour milling operation. It was renamed ConAgra, Inc. in 1971 and later rebranded as Conagra Brands in 2018 following the Pinnacle Foods acquisition.
Where is Conagra Brands headquartered?
Conagra Brands is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The company's corporate offices house its executive team, marketing, finance, and administrative functions. Conagra moved its headquarters to Chicago from Omaha, Nebraska in 2016 as part of its transformation under then-CEO Sean Connolly.
How many brands does Conagra Brands own?
Conagra Brands owns approximately 25 brands across its four business segments. The exact count fluctuates as the company acquires and divests brands. Its largest brands by revenue are Birds Eye, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim, and Hunt's. The company does not publicly disclose individual brand revenue figures.
Who owns Conagra Brands?
Conagra Brands is a publicly traded corporation owned by its shareholders. Ownership is broadly distributed among institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. No single shareholder or family holds a controlling stake. The company is governed by a board of directors elected by shareholders, with John Brase serving as president and CEO as of July 2026.
What is Conagra Brands' revenue?
Conagra Brands reported net sales of approximately $11.3 billion for fiscal year 2026 (ended May 31, 2026), a decrease of 2.9% from the prior year. The company generated adjusted EPS of $1.72 and free cash flow of $979 million. For FY2027, Conagra projects organic net sales to decline 1% to 3%.
Flour-related recalls: Periodic recalls tied to flour pathogen risk, standard across the baking-mix category.
No defining controversies are on record.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conagra Brands | USA | 1948 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Conagra Brands | USA | 1948 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Food BeverageOwned by Conagra Brands, Inc.
The frozen meals and pies brand of Conagra Brands, originating from the California restaurant chain founded by Marie Callender.
Food BeverageOwned by Conagra Brands, Inc.
The whipped cream topping brand of Conagra Brands, the leading US aerosol whipped topping invented in 1948.
Market Positioning: Duncan Hines competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Conagra Brands, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food BeverageOwned by Kohlberg & Company
American food brand with origins in Chicago bakeries, founded in 1939 by Charles Lubin. The Sara Lee brand is now split across three owners: Sara Lee Frozen Bakery (Kohlberg & Company), Sara Lee deli meats (Tyson Foods), and Sara Lee fresh bakery (Bimbo Bakeries USA).
Sara Lee is privately owned, unlike Duncan Hines which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by AG1
Daily green powder supplement formerly known as Athletic Greens, sold by subscription by AG1, a private wellness company valued above $1 billion.
AG1 is privately owned, unlike Duncan Hines which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by Sazerac Company, Inc.
UK-based premium vodka and ready-to-drink cocktail brand known for gold bottles, founded in 2015 in Swansea, Wales. Acquired by Sazerac in August 2026 for a reported valuation of approximately £500 million.
Au Vodka is privately owned, unlike Duncan Hines which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by Ferrero
American chocolate candy bar with peanuts, caramel, and chocolate, founded in 1921 by Curtiss Candy Company and owned by Ferrero Group since January 2018.
Baby Ruth is privately owned, unlike Duncan Hines which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by Barilla Group
Italian pasta and food brand owned by Barilla Group, a leading global pasta and sauce manufacturer.
Barilla is privately owned, unlike Duncan Hines which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
Foodservice chicken brand of Brakebush Brothers, the Westfield, Wisconsin processor acquired by Hormel Foods for $1.06 billion in 2026.
Brakebush is privately owned, unlike Duncan Hines which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Discover popular brands and companies in the Food & Beverage category and related searches from other users.

American lemon-lime flavored carbonated soft drink brand known for its crisp, clean taste and caffeine-free formula.

Probiotic yogurt brand owned by Danone SA, sold in more than 70 countries. Activia is positioned as a digestive health product and is one of Danone's highest-revenue dairy brands globally.

British chocolate brand known for its distinctive aerated, bubbly texture, produced and distributed by Nestle and sold primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, and select international markets.