Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. bankruptcy
    • ex. After losing a lot of money, the small store had to declare bankruptcy and close.
  2. bypass
    • ex. To save time, we decided to bypass the crowded main road and take a faster side street.
  3. operate
    • ex. My uncle will operate a small café in the city starting next month.
  4. offset
    • ex. The company planted trees to offset the pollution from its factory.
  5. signature
    • ex. The restaurant is famous for its signature dish, a spicy chicken curry that everyone loves.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Del Monte Foods, a 139-year-old company known for its canned fruits and vegetables, has filed for bankruptcy protection. The company filed for bankruptcy because more people in the U.S. bypass its products and choose healthier or cheaper food options. The company has received $912.5 million (more than ¥134 billion) to help it operate as usual as it sells parts of its business.

CEO Greg Longstreet said that selling the company through the court is the best way to make Del Monte stronger in the future. Del Monte owns other brands like College Inn, Kitchen Basics, and Joyba. Joyba and College Inn sales grew in 2024. However, these sales are not enough to offset the lower sales of Del Monte’s signature canned products.

Several challenges have made it difficult for the company to make money. For example, many customers now want healthier food options. Also, grocery prices are rising, so some people buy cheaper store-brand products. Lastly, the new tax on steel also makes cans more expensive for Del Monte. The company said that the bankruptcy step is part of its plan to sell its assets and move forward.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.
Photo Credits: The Associated Press

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Bankruptcy

  • In your country, name a business that has announced its bankruptcy recently. Discuss.
  • Based on the current economic situation in your country, what other companies are at risk of bankruptcy (ex. food businesses, clothing businesses)? Discuss.
  • Imagine you’re the CEO of Del Monte. What would you do to save the company? Discuss.

Customer Needs and Signature Products

  • If you could start a business now, what kind of business would you start? Discuss.
  • What do you think companies can do to keep up with changing customer needs (ex. talk and listen to their customers)? Discuss.
  • If a company wants to grow, do you think it should keep the same products or try new ones? Why? Discuss.