Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned, global leader in pet care, snacking and food, and Kellanova, a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North American frozen foods, have announced that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has concluded its antitrust review of Mars’ pending acquisition of Kellanova.
“We are very pleased that the FTC has completed its review of the transaction without the imposition of any condition or requiring any remedy. The transaction has now received all but one of the 28 required regulatory clearances, with only the review by the European Commission outstanding. This brings us one step closer to uniting two iconic businesses with complementary footprints and portfolios, allowing us to deliver more choice and innovation to consumers.”
– Poul Weihrauch, CEO & Office of the President, Mars, Incorporated.
“This represents a significant milestone on our path to combine Mars Snacking and Kellanova. We continue to believe this is an exciting opportunity to create a broader, global snacking business that is better positioned to meet evolving consumer needs and preferences.”
– Steve Cahillane, Chairman, President & CEO, Kellanova.
Based on the current status of the ongoing antitrust review by the European Commission, Mars and Kellanova expect the transaction to close towards the end of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The exact timing cannot be predicted with any certainty at this point.
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a global, family-owned business, Mars is transforming, innovating, and evolving to make a positive impact on the world. Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality snacking, food, and pet care products and services, we employ 150,000+ dedicated associates. With more than $50 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands, including Ben’s Original, CESAR, Cocoavia, DOVE, EXTRA, KIND, M&M’s, SNICKERS, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, and WHISKAS. We are creating A Better World for Pets through our global network of pet hospitals and diagnostic services—including AniCura, BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, Linnaeus and VCA—using cutting-edge technology to develop breakthrough programs in genetic health screening and DNA testing.
Kellanova is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North American frozen foods with a legacy stretching back more than 100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats, RXBAR, Eggo, MorningStar Farms, Special K, Coco Pops, and more, Kellanova’s vision is to become the world’s best-performing snacks-led company, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Net sales for 2023 were $13 billion.