More than $12.5 million in profit-sharing contributions were distributed to Hormel Foods employees Wednesday, making it the largest distribution ever to company workers.

The event is a Hormel tradition that started 64 years ago to eligible hourly and salaried employees companywide on Thanksgiving Eve Day.

Under the company's profit-sharing distribution program, each eligible employee received, on average, a check for the equivalent of 2.6 extra base weekly paychecks.

Joel Johnson, Hormel's chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer, said the profit sharing program is strictly voluntary and paid at the discretion of the company's board of directors.

"Profit sharing enables us to recognize the dedicated employees who contributed to the company's strong results despite a challenging economic climate in fiscal 2002," Johnson said. "We are very pleased to make a profit sharing distribution to those eligible individuals who played a key role in our success this past year."

Also, Hormel recently announced its regular quarterly divided at 10 and one-half cents per share on the company's common capital stock.

The dividend will be paid on Feb. 15, 2003. This is the 298th consecutive quarterly divided for the company.

Dan Fields can be reached at 434-2230 or by e-mail at dan.fields@austindailyherald.com