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The Kraft Heinz Company is a leading global packaged food and beverage manufacturer formed by the 2015 merger of Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation. It operates dual headquarters in Chicago and Pittsburgh, owns a portfolio of iconic global brands including Kraft, Heinz, Oscar Mayer, and Philadelphia, and distributes its products across more than 190 countries and territories.
Key moments
1869H.J. Heinz founded his first food processing business
1903James L. Kraft launched his wholesale cheese delivery business, the predecessor of Kraft Foods
July 2015Kraft and Heinz completed their merger to form The Kraft Heinz Company
2022Reported $26 billion in net sales and donated over 330 million meals for global food insecurity relief
2025Berkshire Hathaway reduced its ownership stake in the company to approximately 27%
Kraft Heinz competes with several major players in the global food and consumer staples industry:
Nestlé: The world's largest food conglomerate, with a diverse product lineup spanning packaged foods, beverages, pet care, and nutritional products
PepsiCo: A leading snack and beverage firm, competing in salty snacks, carbonated drinks, and functional beverage categories
Unilever: Offers a wide range of food, home care, and personal care brands with a strong international footprint
Conagra Brands: A US-based packaged food company with similar retail and foodservice product portfolios
Campbell Soup Company: Focuses on canned soups and prepared meals, with a dominant presence in the North American market
The Kraft Heinz Company stands as a preeminent global packaged food and beverage manufacturer, formed via the 2015 merger of iconic food brands Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation. With dual headquarters in Chicago and Pittsburgh, the firm unites a portfolio of century-spanning household names, leveraging decades of consumer trust to maintain a dominant presence across core food categories. Boasting distribution across more than 190 countries and territories, the company has built a scalable, interconnected global supply chain and retail network. Its brands address diverse consumer needs, from staple condiments and cheeses to prepared meats and shelf-stable beverages, creating a diversified revenue base that buffers against category-specific market shifts. As a combined entity, Kraft Heinz has navigated post-merger integration challenges while doubling down on brand equity, updating classic products for modern consumer preferences such as plant-based and clean-label lines while preserving the heritage that has made its core brands beloved across generations.
Brand Leadership
Score: 88/100
Kraft Heinz ranks among the top global players in the packaged food and staples industry, holding leading market shares in multiple high-demand categories including tomato ketchup, processed cheese, and deli meats. Its portfolio of iconic brands drives consistent consumer preference, supporting a strong leadership position relative to peers.
Customer & Stakeholder Interaction
Score: 82/100
The brand maintains robust engagement with consumers through long-standing marketing campaigns, in-store promotions, and digital community initiatives. It also fosters stable partnerships with global retail chains and ingredient suppliers, ensuring consistent market access and supply chain reliability.
Brand Momentum
Score: 76/100
While facing short-term headwinds including input cost inflation and supply chain disruptions, Kraft Heinz has maintained steady growth via product innovation and targeted expansion in emerging markets. The launch of plant-based product lines and refreshed brand messaging has helped sustain consumer interest amid shifting food trends.
Business Stability
Score: 80/100
With a diversified product portfolio and established global distribution network, Kraft Heinz exhibits strong operational stability. The firm’s mature brand base generates consistent cash flow, and its scale allows it to absorb short-term market shocks better than smaller regional competitors.
Brand Heritage & Age
Score: 92/100
The core Heinz brand dates back to 1869, while Kraft was founded in 1903, giving the combined company over a century of collective brand heritage. This long history has cultivated deep consumer trust and brand loyalty, with many of its products becoming cultural staples in numerous markets.
Industry Position & Profile
Score: 85/100
Kraft Heinz competes in the highly competitive global packaged food and beverage sector, occupying a top-tier position alongside other major consumer staples firms. Its broad product portfolio spans multiple food categories, allowing it to capture diverse consumer spending across household grocery needs.
Global Reach & Globalization
Score: 89/100
The company distributes its products to more than 190 countries and territories, with localized production and sales operations across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other regions. A large share of its revenue comes from international markets, reflecting a well-developed global footprint.
Artificial intelligence supports reasoned brand value estimation here; all provided figures are illustrative examples. For formally audited brand valuation results, please contact the World Brand Lab directly.
key people
Miguel Patricio (chairman)
John T. Cahill (vice chairman)
Steve Cahillane (CEO)
Andre Maciel (CFO)
The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC), commonly known as Kraft Heinz, is an American multinational food company formed by the merger of Kraft Foods Group, Inc. and the H.J. Heinz Company co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh.[4][5]
Kraft Heinz is the third-largest food and beverage company in North America and the fifth-largest in the world with over $26.0 billion in annual sales as of 2021.[6][7] In addition to Kraft and Heinz, over 20 other brands are part of the company's profile, including Boca Burger, Gevalia, Grey Poupon, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Primal Kitchen, and Wattie's, eight of which have total individual sales of over $1 billion.[8] Kraft Heinz ranked 114th in the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations based on 2017 total revenue.[9]
On September 2, 2025, Kraft Heinz announced that it would be splitting into two companies – tentatively named Global Taste Elevation Co. and North American Grocery Co. – ten years after the merger was completed. The split, with one company focused on condiments and the other on grocery staples, is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.[10][11] In December 2025, the company named Steve Cahillane as its new CEO ahead of the split, and then afterwards being the CEO of Global Taste Elevation Co..[12] He will succeed former CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera who will serve as advisor until March 6, 2026.[13] On February 11, 2026, Kraft Heinz announced that the planned split was halted.
History
The boards of both companies agreed to the merger of Kraft Foods and H.J. Heinz, with approval by shareholders and regulatory authorities in early 2015.[14][15] The new Kraft Heinz Company became the world's fifth-largest food and beverage company[16] and the third-largest in the United States.[14][17] The Kraft Heinz co-headquarters are in Chicago at the Aon Center and in Pittsburgh at PPG Place, with other offices across the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.[18] The merger was completed on July 2, 2015.[19]
Brands
As of 2023, a partial list of global brands included in the Kraft Heinz portfolio:[61]
For the fiscal year 2017, Kraft Heinz reported earnings of US$11.0 billion, with annual revenue of US$26.2 billion, a decline of 0.6% over the previous fiscal cycle. Kraft Heinz's shares traded at over $61 per share, and its market capitalization was valued at over US$136 billion in September 2018.[63]
In February 2019, shares in Kraft Heinz fell to a record low of under $35 after the company reported a $10.2bn loss for the previous year as the company announced that it would take a $15.4 billion writedown of its Kraft and Oscar Mayer brands, cut its dividend, and acknowledged that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had opened a probe into its accounting practices.[64] In August 2019, Kraft Heinz announced a further $1.22 billion in writedowns,[65] as well as the return of its former CFO, Paulo Basilio, who held the position until 2017, to replace David Knopf, saying that it wanted a "seasoned veteran" following a series of accounting errors.[66]
On February 21, 2019, Kraft Heinz reported that it received a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)subpoena in October that aimed to look into the company's accounting policies and internal controls.
Animal welfare
In 2017, Kraft Heinz committed to making a number of improvements to the welfare of broiler chickens in their supply chains by 2024. These included commitments to source chickens from high welfare breeds, provide birds with more space, and implement third-party monitoring.[79]
In 2019, Kraft Heinz made an updated pledge to comply with the European Chicken Commitment, an animal welfare standard, for 100% of the chickens in its supply chain, by 2026.[80]
In 2021, the BBFAW, an animal welfare monitoring organization, gave Kraft Heinz a rating that indicated it had established animal welfare practices but still has room to grow. At that time, according to Kraft Heinz, 70% of the chickens in the company's supply chain were cage-free or free-range.[81]
Controversies
In 2017, the claim that the Kraft Parmesan Cheese label was misleading was rejected by judges. The label reads "Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese". It was argued that a "reasonable consumer" would know the product could not be 100% cheese, as any dairy product degrades quickly without preservatives.[62]
On December 1, 2023, a federal jury in Illinois awarded $17.8 million to several large food companies, including Kraft Heinz, in a lawsuit against Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. and others over allegations of egg price fixing. Cal-Maine Foods, contesting the verdict, insists on its innocence and the absence of wrongdoing in its business practices.[82]
The merger in 2015 did not immediately affect the naming rights to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.[20] In July 2022 reports leaked that the company did not renew the rights, which Heinz initially acquired in 2001.[21]
On February 17, 2017, it was reported that Kraft Heinz Co. had made a $143 billion approach to take over the British-Dutch multinational Unilever, a significantly larger competitor with 126,000 more employees and £24bn larger revenue than Kraft Heinz.[22] Unilever declined the initial proposal.[23] The takeover was subsequently abandoned on February 19 soon after UK Prime Minister Theresa May had ordered regulators to examine the potential deal.[22]
On October 19, 2017, Kraft Heinz announced that it was acquiring Cerebos Pacific, including the Saxa salt, Gregg's, and Bisto brands, from Suntory.[24] On March 9, 2018, New Zealand's Commerce Commission approved the purchase, on the condition that it sell the licenses for Gregg's brand of sauces and the F. Whitlock Worcestershire sauce brand due to competition concerns.[25]
In May 2018, Kraft Heinz launched Springboard Brands, a business focused on growing organic, natural, and "super-premium" food brands.[26][27] Later that year, it was announced Kraft Heinz would acquire the Primal Kitchen brand as part of the company's Springboard Incubator.[28] The $200 million deal was completed in early 2019 and was expected to generate $50 million in new annual revenue.
On October 24, 2018, Kraft Heinz announced that it was selling its Indian nutritional beverage assets, including Complan and energy drink Glucon-D to Zydus Wellness.[29] The sale was completed on January 30, 2019.[30]
In April 2019, it was announced Miguel Patricio, former Chief Marketing Officer of InBev would replace Bernardo Hees as CEO of Kraft Heinz.[31] Patricio took position of CEO in late June 2019 and Alex Behring remained chairman of the company.[32] Later that year, Paulo Basilio returned to his role at Chief Financial Officer and Corrado Azzarita assumed the position of Chief Information Officer.[33][34] Todd Kaplan has been named chief marketing officer of North America at Kraft Heinz.[35]
In June 2019, Kraft Heinz reached a milestone in achieving a 100 percent Corporate Equality Index score from the Human Rights Campaign.[36] The score recognized the company for its LGBTQ inclusion efforts and becoming a leader in the area among food CPG companies. On July 2, 2019, Kraft Heinz sold its Canadian natural cheese business, including the Cracker Barrel, P'tit Quebec, and aMOOza! brands to Parmalat for C$1.62 billion.[37]
In September 2020, Kraft Heinz reached a deal to sell part of its cheese business to French multinational dairy product corporation Lactalis for $3.2 billion.[38][39] The sale included the Breakstone's, Knudsen, Polly-O, Athenos, Hoffman's, and Cracker Barrel cheese brands for the United States, and Cheez Whiz outside of North America.[40] Kraft Heinz then partnered with Lactalis to manufacture Kraft and Velveeta cheeses.On November 10, 2021, the U.S. Justice Department approved the acquisition on the condition that it divest the Athenos and Polly-O businesses.[41] The sale was completed on November 29.[42] The divestiture of Athenos to Emmi Roth was completed on December 1,[43] while the divestiture of Polly-O to BelGioioso Cheese was completed on December 3.[44]
On September 15, 2020, Kraft Heinz announced its new Strategic Transformation Plan, including a new company purpose, "Let's Make Life Delicious" and an all-new vision, "To sustainably grow by delighting more consumers globally."[45] The next day Kraft Heinz also released its updated 2020 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) report with goals to make 100% of Kraft Heinz product packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025 and plans to sustainably source 100 percent of Heinz Ketchup tomatoes by 2025.[46][47]
On February 11, 2021, Kraft Heinz announced its Q4 2020 and full-year results, resulting in 6.2 percent increased sales and over $26 billion in revenue.[48] The same day, Kraft Heinz announced its plans to sell its nuts business, including the Planters brand to Hormel for $3.35 billion.[49] The transaction was completed on June 7.[50]
On March 9, 2021, Kraft Heinz announced an agreement with The Hershey Company to sell refrigerated Colliders desserts under Hershey's respective brands.[51]
In September 2021, Kraft Heinz announced that Hemmer, a Brazilian company focused on condiments and sauces, was being acquired for an undisclosed amount.[52] This acquisition followed the recent agreement to purchase Assan Foods – a Turkish company focused on sauces – belonging to Kibar Holding, for approximately $100 million.[53]
On January 19, 2022, Kraft Heinz announced that it had completed its acquisition of an 85% stake in Germany-based Just Spices GmbH. Launched in 2014, Just Spices is a start-up with approximately €60 million annual sales. Its 170-plus product portfolio includes spice blends, salad dressings, easy-to-prepare "In Minutes" blends, and organic offerings for diverse meal occasions ranging from breakfast and light snacks to salads and baking, with a broad range of savory, sweet, classic, and exotic flavors. The proposed deal was first announced on December 10, 2021.[54]
On May 18, 2023, Kraft Heinz announced a new partnership with IHOP to sell IHOP-branded coffee at grocery stores nationwide.[55] That partnership was expanded on July 23, 2024, to include the sale of pancake syrups.[56]
In June 2025, Kraft Heinz announced it would eliminate artificial food, drug, and cosmetic colors from all U.S. products by the end of 2027, following increased pressure from health officials including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The company, which had already removed such dyes from many products, committed to using only natural colors in new items effective immediately.[57]
In July 2025, it was reported that Kraft Heinz was planning a breakup of the company into two smaller companies. One company will be global in nature and focus on sauces, spreads and seasonings; the other will focus on grocery staples in North America. At the time of the breakup, the CEO noted Kraft Heinz had nearly 200 brands across 55 categories and 150 countries, "making it difficult to fully invest in each of them".[58]Warren Buffet, who helped orchestrate the original merger in 2015 along with 3G Capital, and whose firm Berkshire Hathaway still owns 27.5% of the company, was reportedly "disappointed" with the announcement of the split and the prospect of shareholders being unable to vote on the split.[59] Kraft Heinz projected only $300 million in dis-synergies.[60]
In September 2020, Kraft Heinz announced its new enterprise strategy, including plans to cut $2 billion in costs over five years, resulting in an estimated generation of 4% to 6% adjusted earnings per share growth.[71] The announcement resulted in multiple stock upgrades by CFRA and Guggenheim due to the renewed positive financial outlook of the company.[72]
In September 2021, Kraft Heinz was fined $62m to settle the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission probe into an improper claim of $200m in cost savings.[73][74] The $200 million in "bogus cost savings" (reportedly from merger) forced the company to restate its financial results for the years 2015 through 2018.[75]
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, February 13, 2025
