Kraft Heinz Announces Split into Two Companies
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 31 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Split Announcement: Kraft Heinz has announced plans to split into two independently traded companies later this year, reversing the 2015 merger with Heinz, reflecting a strategic response to changing market demands.
- Market Pressure: As consumers and regulators push back against ultra-processed foods, many large food companies are divesting underperforming brands, with Kraft Heinz's split being a direct response to this trend.
- Sales Decline: Over the past decade, consumer demand for grocery items from the inner aisles has decreased, leading to slowing sales for Kraft Heinz, whose stock has plummeted 73% since the merger.
- Industry Trend: According to Bain's survey, nearly half of M&A activity in the consumer products sector in 2024 will stem from divestitures, indicating that large food companies are reassessing their portfolios to tackle market challenges.
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Analyst Views on UL
Wall Street analysts forecast UL stock price to fall
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 73.460
Low
60.10
Averages
68.37
High
74.00
Current: 73.460
Low
60.10
Averages
68.37
High
74.00
About UL
Unilever PLC is a United Kingdom-based global consumer goods business. The Company's segments include Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care and Foods. The Beauty & Wellbeing segment primarily sells hair care (shampoo, conditioner, styling), skin care (face, hand and body moisturizers) and includes Prestige Beauty and Wellbeing. The Personal Care segment primarily sells skin cleansing (soap, shower), deodorant and oral care (toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash) products. The Home Care segment primarily sells fabric care (washing powders and liquids, rinse conditioners) and a range of home and hygiene cleaning products. The Foods segment primarily sells cooking aids and mini-meals (soups, bouillons, seasonings), condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup) and Unilever Food Solutions. The Company's beauty & wellbeing brands include CLEAR, Dermalogica, Liquid I.V., Dove and TRESemme. The Company's home care brands include Cif, Comfort, Domestos, OMO, Radiant, Sunlight and Surf.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Unilever's Innovations: Unilever's systems can digitally test thousands of recipes in seconds, with the Knorr Fast & Flavourful Paste developed in roughly half the usual time, significantly improving R&D efficiency and reducing the need for physical testing.
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