Latest news with #AlisonLewis
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Army veteran who had to give up everything he worked for does something incredible
Army veteran who had to give up everything he worked for does something incredible Phil Lewis has a life-changing condition meaning he could no longer work or drive and said it has had 'devastating' impact on his life Phil Lewis (Image: Alison Lewis ) For Phil Lewis, vision loss took away everything he had worked for his entire life. Although he knew the day was coming, with a hereditary condition affecting his grandparents, mother and siblings, the moment it happened was not any easier. In 2020, coinciding with the coronavirus pandemic, the 61-year-old's condition retinitis pigmentosa, which makes cells in the retina break down slowly over time, causing vision loss, forced him to stop work. He has entirely lost his side vision and all he can see is directly in front of him, but it is very limited, only in dark and light shades, just allowing him to manoeuvre himself around. He said: "I was first diagnosed with my sight loss when I served in the Royal Engineers at about 21-22 years old. It was night vision that was the issue. I was devastated when I had to come out of the army, It was my career path, and I was only in it for four years, but I did my apprenticeship as carpenter and joiner, in the army, and luckily I came out and carried on with my trade. "At that point, I thought my eyesight was fine, but it wasn't good enough to be in the military. "It was fine to work, and I carried on with my trade during my working life for the next 35 years, self-employed with my company Tradesmen Carpentry Services, but it very gradually got worse over the years. It didn't really affect me at all until 2020. I had to stop then, because it was getting dangerous with scaffolding and roofs and things, it was a bit hairy. Article continues below "I didn't have a choice, and it was devastating as I loved my job and my work and everything I had worked for, I had to just give up and stop overnight. I had no intention of stopping. I'd still be working today if I could. "My grandparents had it, and my mother had it, my two brothers and two sisters have got it as well. I think that's why I worked so much, and worked so hard, knowing that when I get older I wasn't going to be able to support myself. I needed to work as hard as I could and get everything done up until the point I knew I wouldn't be able to do it. Unfortunately, it's come a bit quicker than I anticipated. "The first three and a half years after I finished was depressing, it knocked my confidence and I lost the motivation to do anything as well. I couldn't drive or anything so it was awkward getting out and about." In 2023, Mr Lewis took the decision to reach out for help from Blind Veterans UK, a not-for-profit organisation looking to support anyone who has served in the Armed Forces or who has done national service and is now living with significant sight loss. The Fforestfach, Swansea resident, began receiving support from them, including the use of a cane for which he had training, which proved to be a game-changer for him. "I had been at a bit of a loss really as to what to do next," he said. "I by chance had a conversation with the optician that I had been in the army, and he mentioned the Blind Veterans, and I thought I'd give it a go and see what they could offer, and they have been fantastic. "They came to see me and there was a bit of an assessment as to what I used to do and where I was in life. They couldn't believe I didn't have a cane and they got some pretty much straight away. They gave me a bit of cane training and stuff, and it gave me my confidence to get back out again. "Up until that point, I'd been walking into people and getting into arguments all the time, but once I started using the cane properly, it changed my life and gave me confidence to get out there and do things again. "I've got good mates who come here every week and we go out walking together, which has been a real boost. I'm married and I've got three daughters and six grandkids so it keeps me busy. I do the school runs every day, it all helps, and feels you have a bit of worth to help out." Mr Lewis said he was keen to do something to give back to the charity which supported him when he most needed it. Together with his friends Chris Hannon and Colin Barry, as well as Sam Thomas who works as a rehabilitation officer for the visually impaired at the charity, he set off on an ambitious 26-mile walk along the Gower coast to raise £1,000 for the good cause, as part of its armed forces month campaign, which calls on people to organise activities to celebrate and commemorate key dates in the month of June. Mr Lewis together with Chris Hannon, Colin Barry and Sam Thomas at the Big Apple in Mumbles (Image: Alison Lewis ) Mr Lewis said: "These three men have been a great support to me throughout my sight loss journey and have helped me to prepare for this challenge. I couldn't have done it without them. 'The terrain on the route was extremely challenging; only the last four miles of the coastal path was an actual proper pathway. The rest was more like a coastal climb than a coastal walk! 'Sam was my guide during the walk. It must have been as exhausting for him as it was for me, if not more so. Sam gave me constant instructions in the tricky sections and had to watch my steps as well as his own. We had planned to go for a pint when we finished, but instead we all went home to bed.' The men taking part in the challenge (Image: Alison Lewis ) Mr Thomas added: 'When I first met Phil, he was unable to travel independently around his local area and relied on his family when getting around. He required skills that would enable him to feel safe and confident. 'We began with short routes around the park and eventually started branching into unfamiliar areas. With the use of the long cane and the skills he learnt he soon felt confident with asking for support and relying on his own skills to walk longer and more complicated routes. Article continues below 'Phil has proved that sight loss does not prevent you from reaching your potential. He's met stumbling blocks on the way but has always found solutions to meeting his goals. It was an honour to take part in this walk with Phil. I have learnt so much in the short time we have worked together and am looking forward to our next challenge.' If you would like to raise funds for the charity you can learn more on how to do so by clicking here.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HAIN Q1 Earnings Call: Leadership Changes and Strategic Review Amid Ongoing Challenges
Natural food company Hain Celestial (NASDAQ:HAIN) fell short of the market's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 11% year on year to $390.4 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.07 per share was 44.5% below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy HAIN? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $390.4 million vs analyst estimates of $409.4 million (11% year-on-year decline, 4.7% miss) Adjusted EPS: $0.07 vs analyst expectations of $0.13 (44.5% miss) EBITDA guidance for the full year is $125 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $150.1 million Organic Revenue fell 5.3% year on year (-3.7% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $168.8 million Hain Celestial's first quarter results were shaped by a combination of category-specific headwinds and execution challenges within its North American business. Interim CEO Alison Lewis acknowledged that the quarter's performance was 'disappointing and fell short of our expectations.' The underperformance was attributed mainly to the Snacks and Baby and Kids segments, with Lewis noting that 'our promotional activity on Garden Veggie has shifted... and performed below expectations.' In addition, delayed recovery in Earth's Best formula and supply chain issues in the tea business further weighed on results. CFO Lee Boyce highlighted that price increases did not keep pace with rising costs and trade investments, contributing to margin pressure. Looking forward, Hain Celestial's guidance reflects expectations for a gradual turnaround driven by renewed focus on brand renovation, pricing actions, and operational simplification. Management believes that 'accelerating renovation and innovation in our brands' alongside 'implementing strategic revenue growth management and pricing actions' will be central to recovery efforts. Interim CEO Alison Lewis emphasized the need for 'clarity, focus, and action' as the company undertakes a strategic review of its portfolio, with support from financial advisors. The company's outlook is cautious, with leadership acknowledging the need for further work to rebuild momentum, especially in core North American categories. Management cited North American Snacks and Baby and Kids as the primary drivers of the quarter's shortfall, with executional missteps and category softness compounding existing pressures. The company also highlighted steps taken to simplify its operations and initiate a portfolio review. Leadership transition announced: The board replaced the CEO and appointed Alison Lewis as interim CEO, signaling a shift in leadership to address ongoing performance issues and reposition the company for potential change. Strategic portfolio review initiated: Hain Celestial launched a formal review of its business portfolio with Goldman Sachs as adviser, considering a broad range of options to maximize shareholder value. No timeline was provided for potential outcomes. Operational simplification efforts: The company reduced the number of manufacturing partners and suppliers, consolidated office locations, and continued cost-cutting initiatives. These actions are expected to yield over $25 million in annualized cost savings by the second half of next year. Brand and innovation focus: Management plans to accelerate renovation and new product development across core categories like snacks, tea, and baby products. New flavor innovations and packaging updates are intended to boost shelf presence and consumer engagement. Revenue and pricing management: Hain Celestial is strengthening revenue growth management capabilities and implementing new pricing and trade strategies. Management acknowledged that past pricing actions lagged behind cost inflation, and remedial steps are now underway to improve profitability. For the upcoming quarters, Hain Celestial's outlook is driven by efforts to revitalize core brands, improve pricing execution, and complete its strategic review while monitoring cost pressures and consumer demand. Brand renovation and innovation: The company is prioritizing new product development and brand updates, particularly in Snacks and Baby and Kids, to regain market share and drive top-line growth. Management believes these initiatives will help address category softness and competitive pressures. Pricing and revenue management improvements: Enhanced revenue growth management is a key focus, including centralized pricing decisions and improved trade investment discipline. Leadership expects these changes to support improved margins and better alignment with cost inflation. Strategic review outcomes: The ongoing portfolio review may result in divestitures, acquisitions, or other structural changes. Management stated that all options are being considered to enhance value, with potential implications for the company's scale, category focus, and financial profile. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will closely monitor (1) progress from new product launches and brand renovation efforts in Snacks and Baby and Kids, (2) the effectiveness of enhanced pricing and revenue management initiatives in offsetting cost pressures, and (3) updates from the ongoing strategic portfolio review. Shifts in consumer demand and category trends will also be key signposts for measuring execution. Hain Celestial currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 4.4×. Should you double down or take your chips? The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hain Celestial (NASDAQ:HAIN) Misses Q1 Sales Targets, Stock Drops 17.5%
Natural food company Hain Celestial (NASDAQ:HAIN) fell short of the market's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 11% year on year to $390.4 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.07 per share was 44.5% below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy Hain Celestial? Find out in our full research report. Hain Celestial (HAIN) Q1 CY2025 Highlights: Revenue: $390.4 million vs analyst estimates of $409.4 million (11% year-on-year decline, 4.7% miss) Adjusted EPS: $0.07 vs analyst expectations of $0.13 (44.5% miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $33.62 million vs analyst estimates of $42.35 million (8.6% margin, 20.6% miss) EBITDA guidance for the full year is $125 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $150.1 million Operating Margin: -31%, down from 6.9% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$2.28 million, down from $30.24 million in the same quarter last year Organic Revenue fell 5.3% year on year (-3.7% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $250 million "We are disappointed with our third quarter results, which fell far short of our expectations primarily due to worse-than-expected performance in North America. Despite the shortfall in net sales in the quarter, we are encouraged by a return to organic net sales growth in our international segment and continued progress in reducing net debt,' said Alison Lewis, Interim President and CEO. Company Overview Sold in over 75 countries around the world, Hain Celestial (NASDAQ:HAIN) is a natural and organic food company whose products range from snacks to teas to baby food. Sales Growth Reviewing a company's long-term sales performance reveals insights into its quality. Any business can experience short-term success, but top-performing ones enjoy sustained growth for years. With $1.62 billion in revenue over the past 12 months, Hain Celestial is a small consumer staples company, which sometimes brings disadvantages compared to larger competitors benefiting from economies of scale and negotiating leverage with retailers. As you can see below, Hain Celestial's demand was weak over the last three years. Its sales fell by 5% annually, a poor baseline for our analysis. Hain Celestial Quarterly Revenue This quarter, Hain Celestial missed Wall Street's estimates and reported a rather uninspiring 11% year-on-year revenue decline, generating $390.4 million of revenue. Looking ahead, sell-side analysts expect revenue to grow 1.4% over the next 12 months. Although this projection suggests its newer products will fuel better top-line performance, it is still below the sector average.
