Mars swallows Kellanova in a $36 billion snacking supernova

VIRGINIA & CHICAGO: It’s official: Mars has finally polished off Kellanova. The McLean-based confectionery colossus announced on 11 December that it had completed its acquisition of the snacking empire, uniting chocolate bars with cheese crackers and marshmallow treats in what might be history’s most delicious corporate marriage.

The deal, worth a cool $36 billion when announced in August 2024, transforms Mars from a mere candy titan into a full-spectrum snacking superpower. Mars Snacking global president Andrew Clarke could barely contain his excitement. “Today marks a transformative moment,” he gushed, presumably whilst munching on a Snickers-Pringles combo.

The newly supersized Mars Snacking now boasts a portfolio that reads like a convenience store’s greatest hits. Kellanova’s billion-dollar brands—Pringles, Cheez-It and Kellogg’s cereals—will cosy up alongside Mars stalwarts like M&M’s, Snickers, Twix and Skittles. Add in the health-conscious pretenders RXBAR, Kind and Nutri-Grain bars, and you’ve got every dietary persuasion covered.

The family-owned Mars, which also peddles pet food through Royal Canin and Pedigree, now commands a $65 billion empire with over 170,000 associates worldwide. That’s a lot of mouths to feed—and even more mouths to feed snacks to.

Kellanova shareholders gave their blessing in November, regulators rubber-stamped the deal on 8 December, and Bob’s your uncle: instant snacking supremacy. The combined beast will serve “more consumers globally,” which is corporate-speak for “we’re coming for your cupboards.”

One thing’s certain: whether you fancy savoury, sweet, crunchy or chewy, Mars now owns your cravings. And with 50,000-plus snacking associates plotting innovations, resistance is futile. The munchies monopoly has arrived—and it’s absolutely famished.