You are given a text that consists of multiple sentences. Your task is to perform abstractive summarization on this text. Use your understanding of the content to express the main ideas and crucial details in a shorter, coherent, and natural sounding text. 
Text: This is Kasey Jenkins, Vice President of McCormick Investor Relations.
We will begin with remarks from Lawrence Kurzius, Chairman, President and CEO; and Mike Smith, Executive Vice President and CFO, and we'll close with a question and answer session.
These include information in constant currency as well as adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted income tax rate, adjusted income from unconsolidated operation and adjusted earnings per share that exclude the impact of special charges, transaction and integration expenses related to the acquisitions of Cholula and FONA and a gain realized on sale of our unconsolidated operation.
In our comments, certain percentages are rounded.
Actual results could differ materially from those projected.
I will now turn the discussion over to Lawrence.
Throughout the pandemic, we remained steadfast in our focus on our growth performance and people strategies, while ensuring the health and safety of our employees and positioning McCormick to emerge stronger from the crisis.
We continue to execute from a position of strength with the combination of our business model, the strategic investments we have made and capabilities we've built as an organization.
Our broad and advantaged global flavor portfolio, the acceleration of consumer trends that our strategies capitalize on and the effective execution of those strategies as well as our recent acquisitions of two fantastic businesses, and importantly, the engagement of our employees have positioned us well to drive differentiated growth despite challenging comparisons as we lap very strong growth last year.
Our second quarter results were strong on top of our exceptional second quarter performance last year and also reflect our robust growth momentum on a two year basis, as seen on Slide 4.
We delivered significant double-digit two year growth rates for sales, adjusted operating income and adjusted earnings per share and expanded adjusted gross profit and adjusted operating margins.
Even considering increased COVID-19 and inflation costs as well as planned brand marketing investments, we are driving growth through executing on our long-term strategy, actively responding to changing consumer behavior and capitalizing on new opportunities.
We are emerging stronger.
As we enter the second half of the year, we continue to be confident in the effectiveness of our strategies, our growth trajectory and that we are well positioned to deliver another year of differentiated growth in 2021 with an even stronger outlook.
As seen on Slide 5, we have a broad and advantaged global flavor portfolio with compelling offerings for every retail and customer strategy across all channels.
The breadth and reach of our portfolio across segments, geographies, channels, customers and product offerings, creates a balanced and diversified portfolio to drive consistency in our performance in a volatile environment, as evidenced again by our second quarter results.
During last year's second quarter, the onset of the pandemic drove a surge in consumers' cooking and eating more at-home, at-home consumption, resulting in a substantial increase in our Consumer segment demand as well as increases with our packaged food customer -- food company customers in our Flavor Solutions segment.
Last year, we also experienced a sharp decline in demand from our restaurant and other foodservice customers for the away-from-home products in our portfolio.
Our second quarter results reflect the lapping of these year ago comparisons as well as the sustained shift to consumer at-home consumption higher than pre-pandemic levels and the robust recovery from away -from -home customers.
Our second quarter results also included strong contributions from our Cholula and FONA acquisitions, which further extended the breadth and reach of our portfolio with new product offerings, channels and customers.
Taken together, these impacts continue to demonstrate the strength and diversity of our offering, and we are confident in our balanced portfolio that will continue to differentiate McCormick and sustainably position us for growth.
Now let me cover the highlights of our second quarter results.
Turning to Slide 6.
Total second quarter sales grew 11% from the year ago period and constant currency sales grew 8% attributable to substantial growth in our Flavor Solutions segment, partially offset by a decline in our Consumer segment, both impacted by the factors I've mentioned a few moments ago.
The considerable shift in sales between segments resulted in an adjusted operating income decline of 1% or 4% in constant currency.
At the bottom line, our second quarter adjusted earnings per share was $0.69 compared to $0.74 in the year ago period, driven lower primarily by a higher tax rate.
As we stated in our March earnings call, we expect growth to vary by quarter in 2021 given 2020's level of demand volatility and the pace of COVID-19 recovery.
Importantly though, we started the first half of the year with outstanding performance.
Year-to-date, we've grown sales and adjusted operating income 16% and 14% year-over-year respectively, both of which include 3% favorable impact from currency, and we've grown adjusted earnings per share 10%.
While Mike will provide more details in a few moments, I'd like to comment on our outlook.
With our first half results and our robust operating momentum, we are increasing our 2021 outlook for sale, adjusted operating income and adjusted earnings per share.
We are operating in the dynamic cost environment and we're certainly not unique in experiencing cost pressures.
We're seeing broad-based inflation across our various commodities, packaging materials and transportation costs.
To offset rising costs, we are raising prices where appropriate, but usually there are the lag times associated with pricing, particularly with how quickly costs are escalating.
Therefore, most of our actions won't go into effect until late 2021.
As pricing discussions are ongoing, we can't provide further specifics.
We have a demonstrated history of managing through inflationary period with the combination of pricing and cost savings.
Now let's turn to our second quarter segment business performance, which will include comparisons to 2019 pre-pandemic levels as we believe these to be more meaningful than the comparisons to 2020 given the dramatic shift in consumer consumption between at-home and away-from-home experienced in the year ago period.
Starting on Slide 7, with our Consumer segment comparing to the highly elevated demand levels in the second quarter of last year, sales declined by 2% or in constant currency, 5%.
Our Consumer segment organic sales momentum on a two year basis was up double-digits, highlighting how sustained shift in consumer consumption continues to drive increased demand for our products, and importantly, outpaces pre-pandemic levels.
Our Americas constant currency sales declined 7% in the second quarter with incremental sales from our Cholula acquisition contributing 3% growth.
Our total McCormick U.S. branded portfolio consumption, as indicated in our IRI consumption data and combined with unmeasured channels, declined 26%, following a 55% consumption increase in the second quarter of 2020.
The difference between year-over-year shipment and consumption changes is attributable to two factors.
First, we under-shipped consumption in the second quarter of last year.
Second, we continue to replenish retailer and consumer pantry inventories that were completed throughout last year, demand has remained high, and we continue to realize the benefit of our U.S. manufacturing capacity expansion.
Throughout our first half of the year, we restored products which had been suspended at the end of last year and continue to see service levels improve, and we are refilling the inventory pipeline.
As we have said previously, inventory replenishment will progress throughout the year.
Through working with our customers on improving shelf conditions, we estimate approximately 90% of suspended products are now back on shelf.
We know the categories most impacted by supply constraints, spices and seasonings and dry recipe mix, there is a high correlation between our share performance and the shelf conditions resulting from product suspension or allocation.
Products that had strong supply and remained on shelf performed well.
And as suspended products are restocked on shelf, we are seeing improved performance.
This improvement is somewhat masked due to the lapping of significant overall share gains in the second quarter of last year.
Importantly, we continue to anticipate regaining share as conditions continue to improve.
Focusing further on our U.S. branded portfolio, our IRI consumption data, combined with unmeasured channels, indicates consumption of the portfolio grew 18% versus the second quarter of 2019 led by significant growth in spices and seasonings and hot sauces, and also includes triple-digit pure-play growth in e-commerce with McCormick-branded consumption outpacing all major categories.
This is the third consecutive quarter our U.S. branded portfolio consumption grew double-digits in the mid -to-high-teens versus the two year ago period, which reflects the continuation of consumers cooking and using flavor more at home and the strength of our categories.
Our key categories continue to outpace the center of store growth rates, favorably impacting not only the McCormick brand, but smaller brands as well.
Household penetration and repeat buyer rates have also growth versus 2019.
And when our consumers shop, they are buying more of our products than they were pre-pandemic.
And finally, for the Americas, our initiative to reinvent the in-store experiences for spices and seasonings consumers with new merchandising elements to improve navigation and drive inspiration is yielding great early results.
Where implemented, the category and McCormick-branded growth is outpacing the rest of market as we plan to implement this in thousands of additional stores in the third quarter.
Now turning to EMEA, which has continued its outstanding momentum.
We had strong market share performance in the second quarter versus last year, maintaining or gaining share in our core brands and markets following the strong gains in the second quarter last year.
Notably, both Schwartz and Ducros spices and seasonings as well as Frank's RedHot grew consumption during the second quarter against a strong comparison to double-digit growth last year.
And not only are we retaining new households we gained last year, but we are also continuing to increase household penetration for the fifth consecutive quarter.
Our investments in brand marketing in the EMEA, which significantly increased in the second quarter compared to last year, are proven to be effective as evidenced by the metrics I just discussed as well as are achieving above benchmark rates for reach, engagement and click there for instance in our digital marketing.
Additionally, the creativity of our Vahine Half-py Birthday Campaign received national media attention in France as well as the prestigious award for its excellence in advertising the design.
On a two year basis, compared to the second quarter of 2019, we drove double-digit consumption growth and market share gains in our core categories and markets, including total EMEA region spices and seasonings, Vahine homemade desserts, France, and both Schwartz recipe mixes and Frank's RedHot in the U.K. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our EMEA supply chain has been very well positioned to meet the elevated demand and has contributed to our ability to grow share across the region.
In the Asia Pacific region, second quarter sales growth was strong.
During this time last year, China's Hubei province, where our Wuhan operations are located, remains in lockdown in part of the second quarter.
And our results reflect the recovery from that as well as the recovery of branded foodservice sales in China.
China's foodservice has almost fully returned to pre-pandemic levels with restaurant home delivery increasing at popularity.
Our consumer product demand declined due to lapping significant growth last year.
In Australia, we continue to see elevated consumption and share gains versus the second quarter of 2019 with Frank's RedHot and Stubb's consumption growing triple-digits and gaining share.
The Gourmet Garden, McCormick and Keen's spice and seasonings outpacing the categories with double-digit consumption growth.
Across all our regions, our new products continue to be integral to our growth, and we're gaining significant momentum with our recent launches.
For instance, our Grill Mates all-purpose seasoning and our Frank's frozen appetizers are driving growth in the Americas as consumers have shifted their thinking about convenience from no cooking to cooking easily.
And in EMEA, the rollout of our first choice glass bottle into the Eastern European market is going very well, increasing our relevance with consumers and driving share gains, as they perceive the glass bottle as a premium to sachet.
Moving forward, while we know we will be lapping challenging year-over-year consumption comparisons in the second half of the year, we are confident that we continue to capture the momentum in our Consumer segment.
We have more consumers than pre-pandemic.
They have come into our brands, are having a good experience and are buying our products again.
We are excited about our growth trajectory and expect continued and long-lasting growth from the sustained shift to consumers cooking more at home, fueled by our brand marketing, new product and category management initiatives as well as growth from our Cholula acquisition.
Turning to Slide 8.
Our Flavor Solutions second quarter results include not only recovering from the significant curtailment of away-from-home dining during last year's second quarter, but also the growth momentum we are gaining with our restaurant and other foodservice customers as well as the continued strong momentum with our packaged food and beverage customers.
In the second quarter, our sales rose 39% or 34% at constant currency with double-digit growth in all three regions.
And on a two year basis, our sales also increased double -digits in all three regions.
In the Americas, our FONA and Cholula acquisitions made a strong contribution to our significant growth in the second quarter, and we are executing on our strategy to shift our portfolio to more value-added and technically insulated products.
We continue to see strong growth in our consumer packaged food customers, while executing on our portfolio migration through new products and base business strength.
Compared to last year's second quarter, snack seasonings grew double-digits with strong growth in core iconic products as well as new products, and the innovation pipeline continues to be robust.
Consumers' rising global demand for hot spicy flavors is driving growth for our customer snacks and for our seasonings that flavor them.
And with the flavor hard seltzer trend accelerating, we are winning new business and growing our flavor sales for beverages considerably, up triple-digits in the second quarter.
Demand from our Americas away-from-home customer base or branded foodservice and restaurant customers increased significantly due to the recovery I mentioned a few moments ago.
Our away-from-home rebound in this region is at a slower pace as our customer base is more skewed to branded foodservice.
We anticipate our demand from this channel will strengthen as the year progresses and more dining options reopen.
In EMEA, as we cycle the significant decline in last year's second quarter from regionwide shutdowns, our growth was substantial.
Turning to our consumer packaged food and beverage customers.
We had strong second quarter performance on top of last year's strong growth.
The growth in flavors for sweet beverages and the hot and spicy trend fueling both base and new product growth in snack seasonings.
Our sales growth in the Asia Pacific region was partially due to the recovery from lockdowns, closures and curfews in countries outside of China during the second quarter of last year as well as continued momentum in Australia from QSR customers' limited time offer.
Additionally, China, where QSRs were open in the second quarter of last year, delivered double-digit growth due to significant momentum and limited time offers as well as strength in the core business.
Across all regions, we recognize a large part of our second quarter Flavor Solutions results were due to the comparison to abnormally low away-from-home demand last year.
Importantly though, our growth also includes contributions for FONA and Cholula, strong growth with packaged food and beverage customers both in the base business and the new product wins, driven by our differentiated customer engagement and continuing momentum with QSRs, partially from their limited time offers and promotional activity.
While we know a portion of our second half growth will still be impacted by recovery, our second quarter results and our effective growth strategies bolster our confidence in returning to our robust pre-pandemic growth trajectory in our Flavor Solutions segment.
Now for a brief update on how we're driving growth with Cholula and FONA, starting with Cholula on Slide 9.
In our Consumer segment, Cholula continues to outpace category growth and gained share, growing consumption 54% since the second quarter of 2019.
We're using our category management expertise to expand distribution points, including with the two ounce bottle size and expansion into new channels, optimize shelf assortment and placement and gain momentum in e-commerce where Cholula has been underpenetrated.
Our initiatives are yielding results.
We have grown total distribution points 11% and household penetration 5% since the second quarter of 2020.
We recently launched Cholula wing sauces and also relaunched the green pepper in Chipotle flavors with cleaner formulas.
And in our Flavor Solutions segment, we're using our culinary foundation and insights on menu trends to grow our back of house foodservice penetration by increasing Cholula's menu participation.
Since the beginning of the year, we've driven a 63% increase in U.S. national chain restaurant locations, activating a Cholula-branded limited time offer.
We are winning in foodservice.
Now moving to FONA, we are excited by year-to-date double-digit sales growth compared to last year.
Beverages with particular strength in the fast growing performance nutrition category continue to drive significant growth for FONA, 14% on a year-to-date basis.
We're driving growth with our global footprint.
For example, by leveraging Giotti's infrastructure, we are expanding flavors for top FONA customer into the EMEA region, with the first order being manufactured this month.
We are also leveraging McCormick's sustainability leadership to create new opportunities with FONA customers.
Combination of our capabilities has created new opportunities to bid on customer breeds that capitalize on core strengths across McCormick and FONA, including McCormick's culinary focus and FONA's speed to market.
FONA's year-to-date new product wins and its pipeline potential has hit record highs fueling future growth.
We have also identified longer term opportunities to optimize our combined assets and technologies across the network to expand our capacity and drive further solutions for our customers.
Customer reaction has been extremely positive.
They are impressed with our early collaboration, and excitement about our increased customer value proposition continues to build.
Our enthusiasm for Cholula and FONA and our confidence will deliver on our acquisition plans, accelerate growth with these portfolios and drive shareholder value continues to strengthen.
In fact, we're now projecting the incremental sales contribution of these acquisitions to be at the high end of our 3.5% to 4% guidance range.
Now I'd like to share some of our insight of long-term consumer trends.
As seen on Slides 11 and 12, global demand for flavor remains the foundation for our sales growth.
We are capitalizing on the growing consumer interest in healthy flavorful cooking, trusted brands as well as digital engagement and purpose-minded practices.
These long-term trends and the rising global demand for great taste are as relevant today as they have been in the past with the younger generations continuing to fuel the demand for flavor at a greater rate.
As we've shared previously, our proprietary consumer survey data, supported by external research, tells us that consumers are enjoying the cooking experience.
It provides a creative outlet, makes them feel adventurous, reduces stress and connects the family, and they feel home-cooked meals are healthier.
In our recent consumer survey from May, 68% of U.S. consumer survey state they are cooking more today than pre-pandemic and 78% claims they would maintain or increase their level of cooking at home as things return to normal next week with no meaningful difference between those vaccinated and those not.
Research indicates a continued increased level of cooking in other countries as well.
Consumers have formed new habit.
They invested in new kitchen appliances and want to try new things.
They want to cook versus have to cook with the majority of food from restaurants being consumed at home and over 70% of U.S. consumers are adding their own spices, seasonings and condiments to further flavor their takeaway or deliver food, channels have become orders and lunch is the new meal to prepare at home with hybrid workplace models more common post-pandemic, allowing employees to split time between the office and home.
Research indicates, at-home lunch occasions increasing up 30%.
We believe consumer behavior and sentiment driving accelerated and sustained preference for cooking at home will continue globally and persist beyond the pandemic.
And combined with the effective execution of our growth strategies, will further drive consumer demand for our products in 2021 and beyond.
Moving to Slide 13.
We are making transformative investments which will enable us to sustainably meet increasing demand both for our products and our customers' product.
We are investing in our supply chain to expand our capacity and capabilities as well as increase our resiliency.
For example, we are increasing our condiment and seasoning capacity.
We plan to optimize our distribution network for the new Northeast U.S. distribution center, our largest in the world.
And we are in the final stages of building a new U.K. Flavor Solutions manufacturing facility, which is on track to become McCormick's first net zero carbon building.
These investments will enable us to remain agile and scalable and deliver the future growth that we expect.
Now for some summary comments.
First, I'm pleased to share an important milestone for McCormick.
With our overarching focus on growth and successful execution of our strategy, we have consistently driven industry-leading revenue growth, resulting in McCormick being named to the latest Fortune 500 list of companies by Fortune Magazine.
We are proud of our sustained performance and being included on this prestigious list.
We take pride in delivering our industry-leading financial performance of doing the right thing with responsibility for the long-term vitality of people, communities and the planet we share.
In May, we were named The Diversity Inc. Top 50 Company for the fifth consecutive year.
This recognition is a testament to our emphasis on embracing and leveraging diversity and inclusion globally as well as our broader ESG efforts.
In summary, our fundamentals, momentum and growth outlook continue to be stronger than ever.
Our alignment with long-term consumer trends, the breadth and reach of our portfolio and a robust operating momentum combined with the successful execution of our strategy, bolsters our confidence in delivering another strong year of growth and performance in 2021.
Following an extraordinary year in 2020, our 2021 outlook reflects both our strong underlying base business performance and acquisitions driving significant sales growth as well as strong operating income growth even considering extraordinary COVID-19 costs and our business transformation investments.
Our top-tier long-term growth objectives remain unchanged, and we are sustainably positioned for growth.
They've done a tremendous job navigating this past year's volatile environment and ensuring we emerge stronger.
With their agility, teamwork and passion for flavor and winning, they drive our momentum and success.
For the reasons Lawrence mentioned, my comments will also include comparisons to 2019.
Our second quarter performance was very strong.
Starting with our top-line growth, as seen on Slide 17, we grew constant currency sales 8% during the second quarter compared to last year with incremental sales from our Cholula and FONA acquisitions contributing 5% across both segments.
Higher volume and mix drove the 3% increase in organic sales with Flavor Solutions growth offsetting a decline in the Consumer segment.
Versus the second quarter of 2019, we grew sales 18% in constant currency.
During the second quarter, our Consumer segment lapped exceptionally high demand for our products driven by the surge in consumers cooking more at home at the onset of the pandemic.
As such, versus last year, our second quarter Consumer segment sales declined 5% in constant currency, which includes a 2% increase from the Cholula acquisition.
Compared to the second quarter of 2019, Consumer segment sales grew 22% in constant currency.
On Slide 18, Consumer segment sales in the Americas, lapping the demand surge in the year ago period, declined 7% in constant currency, including a 3% increase from the acquisition of Cholula.
Compared to the second quarter of 2019, sales increased 26% in constant currency with significant broad-based growth across the McCormick-branded portfolio.
In the EMEA, constant currency Consumer sales declined 4% from a year ago, also due to lapping the high demand across the region last year.
Notably, this decline includes growth in our U.K. and Eastern European markets on top of their significant growth last year, which was more than offset by declines in the region's other markets.
On a two year basis, sales increased 21% in constant currency versus 2019 pre-pandemic levels with double-digit growth in all markets across the region.
Consumer sales in the Asia Pacific region increased 15% in constant currency due to the recovery of branded foodservice sales as well as recovery from the extended disruption in Wuhan last year with a partial offset from the decline in consumer demand as compared to the elevated levels in the year ago period.
Sales were comparable to the second quarter of 2019, including a sales decline in India, resulting from a slower COVID-19 recovery.
Turning to our Flavor Solutions segment and Slide 21.
We grew second quarter constant currency sales 34%, including a 9% increase from our FONA and Cholula acquisitions.
The year-over-year increase was primarily due to a higher sales of away-from-home products in our portfolio across all regions.
Compared to the second quarter of 2019, Flavor Solutions segment sales grew 13% in constant currency.
In the Americas, Flavor Solutions constant currency sales grew 30% year-over-year with FONA and Cholula contributing 13%.
Volume and product mix increased driven by significantly higher sales to branded foodservice customers as well as growth to packaged food and beverage companies, with particular strength in snack seasonings and beverages.
On a two year basis, sales increased 12% in constant currency versus 2019 with higher sales from acquisitions and packaged food and beverage companies, partially offset by the exit of some lower margin business.
In EMEA, constant currency sales grew 65% compared to last year due to increased sales to QSRs and branded foodservice customers as well as continued growth momentum with packaged food and beverage companies.
Constant currency sales increased 16% versus the second quarter of 2019 driven by strong sales growth with packaged food companies and QSR customers.
In the Asia Pacific region, Flavor Solutions sales rose 23% in constant currency versus last year led by growth for QSRs in China and Australia, partially due to new products and our customers' limited time offers and promotional activities as well as a recovery from COVID-19 lockdowns in countries outside of China in the year ago period.
Sales grew 15% in constant currency versus the second quarter of 2019.
As seen on Slide 25, adjusted operating income, which excludes transaction and integration costs related to the Cholula and FONA acquisitions as well as special charges, declined 1% or in constant currency 4% in the second quarter versus the year ago period.
Adjusted operating income in the Consumer segment declined 24% to $177 million or in constant currency 26% driven by -- primarily by lower sales.
In the Flavor Solutions segment, adjusted operating income rose 183% to $81 million or 175% in constant currency, driven primarily by higher sales.
Both segments were favorably impacted by product mix and CCI-led cost savings with a partial offset from cost inflation, including transportation costs.
COVID-19-related costs were comparable to the year ago period.
Additionally, in the Consumer segment, brand marketing expenses increased 15% in the second quarter of last year.
As seen on Slide 26, our selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of sales increased 10 basis points with the increase in brand marketing partially offset by leverage from sales growth.
Adjusted gross profit margin declined 190 basis points and adjusted operating margins declined by 200 basis points.
In addition to the factors I just mentioned, the sales shift between segments unfavorably impacted both margins.
Importantly, versus the second quarter of 2019, we expanded adjusted gross profit margin 40 basis points and adjusted operating margin 10 basis points even considering incremental COVID-19 costs, cost inflation and higher brand marketing investments.
Turning to income taxes.
Our second quarter adjusted effective tax rate of 22.2% compared to 18% in the year ago period.
Both periods were favorably impacted by discrete tax items with a more significant impact last year due to discrete tax item related to the refinement of our entity structure.
Adjusted income from unconsolidated operations declined 2% in the second quarter of 2021.
At the end of March, we completed the sale of our minority stake in Eastern Condiments, one of our joint ventures in India.
For 2021, we now expect a low-single-digit decline in our adjusted income from unconsolidated operations, partially due to the elimination of ongoing income from Eastern.
Previously, we were projecting a low-single-digit increase.
At the bottom line, as shown on Slide 29, second quarter 2021 adjusted earnings per share was $0.69 compared to $0.74 for the year ago period.
The decline was primarily driven by a higher adjusted income tax rate.
As compared to the second quarter of 2019, our sales growth drove a 19% increase in adjusted earnings per share.
On Slide 30, we summarize highlights for cash flow and the quarter end balance sheet.
Our cash flow from operations was $229 million through the second quarter of 2021 compared to $355 million in the second quarter of 2020.
This change primarily resulted from a lower level of cash generated from working capital associated with increased sales, higher incentive compensation payments and the payment of transaction and integration costs related to our recent acquisitions.
We returned $182 million of this cash to our shareholders through dividends and used $113 million for capital expenditures through the second quarter.
We expect 2021 to be another year of strong cash flow driven by profit and working capital initiatives.
And our priority is to continue to have a balanced use of cash funding investments to drive growth, returning a significant portion to our shareholders through dividends and paying down debt.
Now turning to our 2021 financial outlook on Slides 31 and 32.
With our broad and advantaged flavor portfolio, our robust operating momentum and effective growth strategies, we are well positioned for another year of differentiated growth and performance.
For 2021, we are projecting top-line and earnings growth from our strong base business and acquisition contribution, with earnings growth partially offset by incremental COVID-19 cost and the ERP investment as well as the prior projected adjusted effective tax rate.
We expect there will be an estimated 3 percentage points favorable impact of currency rate on sales, an increase from 2% previously.
And for the adjusted operating income and adjusted earnings per share, we continue to estimate a 2 percentage point favorable impact of currency rates.
At the top-line, due to our strong year-to-date results and robust operating momentum, we are increasing our expected constant currency sales growth to 8% to 10% compared to 6% to 8% previously.
This includes the incremental impact of the Cholula and FONA acquisitions, projected to be at the high end of the 3.5% to 4% range.
We anticipate our organic growth will be led by higher volume and product mix driven by our category management, brand marketing, new products and our customer engagement growth plans.
Pricing, taken to partially offset cost inflation, is also expected to contribute to sales growth.
We are now projecting our 2021 adjusted gross profit margin to be 80 to 100 basis points lower than 2020.
Our previous projection was comparable to 2020.
We are increasing our inflation expectation for the year to a mid-single-digit increase as compared to a low-single-digit increase previously.
Overall, our projected adjusted gross margin compression reflects unfavorable impacts from sales mix between segments, COVID-19 costs and cost inflation, partially offset by pricing as well as margin accretion from the Cholula and FONA acquisitions.
As a reminder, we price to offset cost increases.
We do not margin up.
Our estimate for COVID-19 cost remains unchanged at $60 million in 2021 versus $50 million in 2020 and weighted through the first half of the year.
Reflecting the changes in our sales and gross profit margin outlooks, we are increasing our expected constant currency adjusted operating income growth.
Our adjusted operating income growth rate reflects expected strong underlying performance from our base business and acquisitions, projected to be 12% to 14% constant currency growth, partially offset by a 1% reduction from increased COVID-19 costs compared to 2020 and a 3% reduction from the estimated incremental ERP investment.
This results in a total projected adjusted operating income growth rate of 8% to 10% in constant currency.
This projection includes the inflationary pressure I just mentioned as well as our CCI-led cost savings target of approximately $110 million.
It also includes an expected low-single-digit increase in brand marketing investments.
We also reaffirm our 2021 adjusted effective income tax rate projected to be approximately 23%.
This outlook versus our 2020 adjusted effective tax rate is expected to be a headwind to our 2021 adjusted earnings-per-share growth of approximately 4%.
We are also increasing our 2021 adjusted earnings per share expectations to 6% to 8% growth, which includes a favorable impact from currency.
This increase reflects our higher adjusted operating profit outlook and lower adjusted income from unconsolidated operations, as I mentioned earlier.
Our guidance range for adjusted earnings per share in 2021 is now $3 to $3.05 compared to $2.97 to $3.02 previously.
This compares to $2.83 of adjusted earnings per share in 2020.
This growth reflects strong base business and acquisition performance growth of 12% to 14% in constant currency, partially offset by the impact I just mentioned related to COVID-19 cost, our incremental ERP investment and the tax headwind.
Now that Mike has shared our financial results and outlook in more detail, I would like to recap the key takeaways, as seen on Slide 33.
In the second quarter, we drove exceptional growth despite a challenging year-over-year comparison.
We delivered significant double-digit year-to-date and two year growth rates for sales and profit, reflecting a robust growth momentum.
We have a strong foundation and a balanced portfolio, which drives consistency in our performance.
We expect higher at-home consumption will persist beyond the pandemic.
And we are well positioned to capitalize on long-term consumer trends, which accelerated during the pandemic, while continuing the momentum we are gaining in away-from-home consumption.
Our enthusiasm for Cholula and FONA and our confidence we'll deliver on our plans has only strengthened.
Our 2021 outlook reflects another year of differentiated growth and performance, while also investing for the future growth we expect.
We are confident we will continue on our growth trajectory in 2021 and beyond.

user
q2 adjusted earnings per share $0.69.
q2 sales rose 11 percent.
sees fy sales up 11 to 13 percent.
increased its projected 2021 earnings per share to be in range of $2.83 to $2.88.
excluding impacts, company projects 2021 adjusted earnings per share to be in range of $3.00 to $3.05.
qtrly net sales $1,556.7 million versus $1,401.1 million.

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