Record-high customer debt to UK energy suppliers and a fresh rise in household energy bills are squeezing consumer budgets, which can ripple through to how and where people spend on everyday items. While some companies in consumer staples may feel that pressure, others could benefit if shoppers trade down, seek value, or stick closely to essential brands. This article looks at three stocks from a consumer staples screener that appear positively exposed to these trends and is intended to help you think about which types of businesses might be better placed when energy costs and household debt are front of mind for UK consumers.

Del Monte (FDP)

Overview: Del Monte Corporation is a global producer and distributor of fresh and prepared fruits and vegetables, offering everything from pineapples, bananas and avocados to fresh-cut salads, juices, snacks and frozen products sold into supermarkets, convenience stores, wholesalers and foodservice customers. Through a broad portfolio of brands and formats, Del Monte sits squarely in the everyday food basket that households tend to prioritise even when budgets are tight.

Operations: Del Monte generates most of its revenue from Fresh and Value-Added Products at about US$2.6b and Bananas at about US$1.5b, with North America contributing roughly US$2.5b of sales and Europe just over US$900m.

Market Cap: US$1.4b

Del Monte is positioned as a pure play on essential fresh food at a time when higher UK energy bills are pushing many households to focus on staples rather than treats. The company is leaning into premium pineapple varieties and value-added products, and the recent acquisition of Del Monte Foods brings the global brand under one owner for the first time in decades. This consolidation could support tighter coordination across pricing, marketing and product development. At the same time, investors need to weigh softer recent earnings, a low 3.6% return on equity and exposure to climate and cost pressures that can squeeze already thin margins. The combination of steady demand characteristics and meaningful risks makes Del Monte a company that some investors may choose to monitor closely.

Del Monte’s global brand consolidation could be a turning point, but the real story sits in how thin margins and a 3.6% return on equity reshape the risk profile. Start with the 3 warning signs

TreeHouse Foods (THS)

Overview: TreeHouse Foods is a US based producer of private label snacks, beverages and grocery items, supplying retailers and foodservice customers with everything from crackers and pretzels to coffee, tea, broths and ready to drink beverages that sit in the value tier of the supermarket shelf.

Operations: TreeHouse Foods generates about US$3.3b in revenue from manufacturing and distributing private brand food and beverages.

Market Cap: US$1.2b

TreeHouse Foods gives you focused exposure to private label, a part of consumer staples that can gain attention when households shift toward value options as energy and other bills rise. The company is working to simplify its portfolio, improve supply chain efficiency and use pricing to keep up with input costs, while analysts expect a move from current losses to profitability over the next few years. That potential earnings recovery and its low P/S ratio sit alongside real questions about volume softness, heavy reliance on external borrowing and ongoing margin pressure. For investors interested in how value brands might fare as budgets tighten, TreeHouse Foods is a story worth studying in more detail before taking a view.

TreeHouse Foods’ push toward value private label and a potential shift from losses to profit has many investors seeing only half the story. Get the full context in the analyst forecasts for TreeHouse Foods, including what could derail that path.

Dingdong (Cayman) (DDL)

Overview: Dingdong (Cayman) is a Shanghai based fresh grocery e-commerce company that delivers vegetables, meat, seafood, fruit and everyday packaged foods, as well as ready to cook and ready to eat meals, through its app, mini programs, third party platforms and offline channels across China.

Operations: Dingdong (Cayman) generates all of its CN¥24.5b in revenue from online retailing in the PRC.

Market Cap: US$443m

Dingdong (Cayman) sits at the intersection of essential groceries and online convenience. This positioning can attract attention when rising energy bills and tighter budgets push consumers toward reliable home delivery of everyday items. Strong user engagement, premium product ranges and supply chain efficiencies linked to AI and automation are described as supporting higher quality earnings. A recent quarter of higher revenue and net income, alongside ongoing share buybacks, indicates that management is focused on shareholder value. At the same time, thinner profit margins, reliance on more affluent urban customers and intense competition from larger platforms introduce risk if price wars intensify or costs rise. For investors tracking grocery e-commerce and essential consumer spend, that combination of margin potential and competitive pressure makes Dingdong a company that some may choose to watch closely.

Dingdong (Cayman) looks like an e-commerce grocery story where AI driven efficiencies, premium ranges and buybacks could be masking a far more interesting inflection. Start with the analysis report for Dingdong (Cayman)

The three consumer staples stocks covered here are just a starting point. The full Consumer Staples screener surfaces 42 more companies across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand that pair everyday products with equally compelling narratives. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts, financial health markers, and demand profiles that matter most to you so you can focus on the highest conviction opportunities in this space.

Take Control of Your Investment Journey

If Del Monte or any of these companies sound like a great opportunity, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value the ideal entry point. Once you've made your move, manage your holdings with our Portfolio Command Center that filters out the noise to deliver only the most critical, actionable updates. Throughout your journey, our Community allows you to filter the best ideas from thousands of investor perspectives. By uncovering hidden catalysts and risks early, you'll accelerate your decision-making and stay one step ahead of the market.

Seeking Alternatives Beyond Consumer Staples?

Fresh stock ideas can move from under the radar to gaining wider attention once momentum builds. Consider using these curated lists before the crowd catches up and prices start dropping, and review them carefully before making any decisions.

• Spot potential breakouts outside the usual watchlist by scanning a curated group of resilient companies using the 67 resilient stocks with low risk scores.
• Review early momentum in commodity producers with disciplined operations by exploring the hand picked 33 elite gold producer stocks.
• Assess possible technology shifts by checking a focused selection of automation leaders through the 30 robotics and automation stocks.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.