en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 23rd, According to the Financial Times, Kraft Heinz of the US and Unilever of the UK are currently in discussions to merge their food businesses into a single entity worth tens of billions of dollars. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the merger plan involves Unilever's food division and Kraft Heinz's condiments business, potentially bringing well-known brands such as Heinz ketchup and Hellmann's mayonnaise under the same corporate umbrella.

These discussions took place before Kraft Heinz decided against splitting the company. The company chose to invest $600 million to drive growth rather than separate into two independent entities. CEO Steve Cahillane told analysts, "We want to put 100% of our attention, 100% of our time, our people, and our investments into getting the company back to growth, without the distraction of the massive amount of work required for a separation."

Meanwhile, Unilever is selling smaller food brands worth approximately $1 billion, with its core brands like Hellmann's and Knorr now accounting for 75% of its food business. The company has already spun off its ice cream business and is considering selling UK brands such as Marmite. Unilever is in the early stages of divesting its food assets, with its financial reports indicating a greater focus on its personal care business.

Both Kraft Heinz and Unilever face challenges in the packaged food market, including health trends and reduced consumption due to the increased use of GLP-1 drugs. Earlier this year, industry research explored the impact of GLP-1 drugs on the packaging sector, such as reduced portion sizes and new labeling practices.