4. Kraft Heinz Co.

Kraft Heinz Co.

Headquarters: Pittsburgh, PA
2015 Sales: $21.7 billion
2014 Sales: NA

In July 2015, the H.J. Heinz Co. and Kraft Foods Group Inc. successfully completed a merger to form Kraft Heinz Co., creating the third-largest food company in North America—fifth-largest in the world. The company’s combined portfolio features an impressive array of products, with multiple world-famous, iconic brands, including several in the snack and bakery market.

The new company quickly set about increasing its operating efficiency, which resulted in Kraft Heinz stock value increasing by 20 percent during 2016. While sales have only grown modestly since the merger, earnings are exponentially higher due to the efficiencies now at play within the combined company. Those gains from cost savings continued throughout 2016.

Kraft Heinz released Bagel Bites Bagel Dogs in September. Product packaging clearly notes statements like “No High Fructose Corn Syrup” and “No Artificial Flavors.”

Also, Mr. Peanut, the famous Planters brand icon, celebrated his 100th birthday during 2016, which included a national awareness and marketing push for the brand.

According to IRI data, Kraft Heinz trails private label by a slim margin in the snack nuts category with 27.51 percent market share to private label’s 27.93. For the 52 weeks ending April 17, 2016, the company saw dollar sales for snack nuts increase by 5.91 percent to $1.3 billion in sales. Planters has seen success with its NUT-rition products, many of which call out specific nutrient benefits. The line received a packaging makeover in 2015 in conjunction with a national ad campaign.

Kraft Heinz Co. Snack & Bakery Brands