<PAGE>
================================================================================
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
----------------------
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
April 1, 1999
AURORA FOODS INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
333-50681
---------
Commission File Number
DELAWARE 94-3303521
--------- ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (IRS Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation)
456 Montgomery Street, Suite 2200
San Francisco, CA 94104
(Address of Principal Executive Office, Including Zip Code)
(415) 982-3019
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
================================================================================
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
- - ----------------------
On April 1, 1999, Aurora Foods Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
consummated the purchase of all the outstanding capital stock of Sea Coast
Foods, Inc., a Washington corporation. A copy of the press release issued by the
Company relating to the acquisition, dated April 5, 1999, is attached as Exhibit
99 hereto.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
- - -------------------------------------------
Exhibit Number Exhibit
-------------- -------
99 Press release announcing the acquisition of
Sea Coast Foods, Inc.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
AURORA FOODS INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ M. Laurie Cummings
----------------------
M. Laurie Cummings
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Date: April 8, 1999
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99
- - ----------
Aurora Foods Completes Chef's Choice Acquisition
Fast-Growing Brand Seen Nearly Doubling Sales in Two Years
SAN FRANCISCO, April 5, 1999 -- Aurora Foods Inc. (NYSE: AOR), a leading
producer and marketer of premium branded foods, today announced that it has
completed the $50-million acquisition of the Chef's Choice(R) brand of skillet
meals.
"We're pleased to add the Chef's Choice line of products to the Aurora family
of premium brands," said Ian R. Wilson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Aurora Foods. "Chef's Choice is well positioned in a rapidly growing category
and will benefit from Aurora's management and marketing expertise."
For its fiscal year that ended January 31, 1999, Chef's Choice reported sales of
$57 million, up 110% from sales of $27 million for the previous fiscal year. Mr.
Wilson expects Chef's Choice to increase sales to approximately $100 million
over the next two years as the products benefit from Aurora's strong customer
relationships and broad distribution system. The acquisition will be accretive
to earnings immediately.
Chef's Choice is a leading brand in the rapidly growing frozen skillet meal
category with distribution in about half of the United States. Chef's Choice
premium positioning complements Aurora's other premium frozen food product
lines, which include Van de Kamp's(R) and Mrs. Paul's(R) frozen seafood, Aunt
Jemima(R) frozen breakfast products and Celeste(R) frozen pizza.
As part of the acquisition of Chef's Choice, which is owned by Seattle- based
Sea Coast Foods, Inc., key executives will join Aurora and remain associated
with the brand. The acquisition is structured as a purchase of the stock of Sea
Coast Foods.
The Chef's Choice product line consists of 10 items, including Chicken, Shrimp
and Beef Stir Fry, Shrimp Linguini, Chicken Santa Fe, Chicken Marinara, Shrimp
Fried Rice, Steak Ranchero, Sun-Up Skillet Breakfast with Sausage and Sun-Up
Skillet Breakfast with Ham. An entire meal in one package, Chef's Choice can be
prepared in a single skillet in under 15 minutes.
Aurora is one of the fastest-growing producers and marketers of premium branded
frozen and dry grocery products. In 1998, sales reached approximately $1 billion
and earnings per share climbed more than 40% from year-ago levels. The Company
has been able to achieve such strong results by sustaining the long-term growth
of its acquired brands with new product introductions, new advertising campaigns
and increased consumer marketing.
Aurora Foods Inc., which is based in San Francisco, is a leading producer and
marketer of premium branded food products including Duncan Hines(R) baking
mixes, Log Cabin(R) and Mrs. Butterworth's(R) syrup, Van de Kamp's(R) and Mrs.
Paul's(R) frozen seafood, Aunt Jemima(R) frozen breakfast products and
Celeste(R) frozen pizza. Aurora's products can be found in some of the fastest
growing categories in the supermarket and command either the No. 1 or No. 2
positions in their respective categories and/or markets.
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All
3
<PAGE>
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could
cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements contained in
this release and that may affect the Company's prospects in general are
described in the Company's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
4
