Hormel distributes more than $15.5M in profit-sharing

It's sure to be happy Thanksgiving for employees of Hormel Foods.

The Austin-based meat and food company has announced the largest profit-sharing distribution ever to its employees.

Hormel is distributing more than 15-and-a-half million dollars to eligible hourly and salaried employees.

The company started the day-before-Thanksgiving tradition 69 years ago, in 1938.

Chairman, president and CEO Jeffrey Ettinger notes that Hormel's profit-sharing plan is strictly voluntary and is paid at the discretion of the company's board of directors.