How Many Corporations Have Owned That Pet Food Brand? – Truth about Pet Food
Announced on 2/8/23, the J.M. Smucker Co sells most of its pet food businesses to cereal maker Post Holdings. In the $1.2 billion deal ($700 million in cash and approximately 5.39 million shares of Post Holdings, Inc. stock), Smucker is selling the brands Rachael Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, Kibbles ‘n Bits, Nature’s Recipe, and Gravy Train. Smucker’s will continue to own Milk-Bone and Meow Mix.
Selling these brands for $1.2 billion, but what did Smucker’s buy them for?
Smucker’s entered the pet food market in 2015 with the purchase of Big Heart Pet Brands (formerly Del Monte Foods). The Smucker’s purchase included the brands Meow Mix, Milk-Bone, Kibbles ‘n Bits, 9Lives, Natural Balance, Pup-Peroni, Gravy Train, Nature’s Recipe, Canine Carry Outs, and Milo’s Kitchen – and the 2015 price tag for these brands was $6 billion.
And then in 2018 Smucker’s purchased Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, manufacturer of Rachael Ray Nutrish pet food for $1.7 billion.
In three years, the J.M. Smucker Company spent $7.7 billion for multiple pet food brands.
And then the sales…
Smucker’s sold Natural Balance pet food in January 2021 to Nexus Capital for only $50 million. And this sale of Smucker’s pet food brands Rachael Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, Kibbles ‘n Bits, Nature’s Recipe and Gravy Train to Post at $1.2 billion (selling all of these brands for less than what they paid for Nutrish alone just 5 years ago).
Which means…
Original investment: $7.7 billion.
Sales prices: $50 million + $1.2 billion.
Smucker’s is left owning Meow Mix and Milk-Bone costing them $6.45 billion for these two brands.
We wondered how many times the brands in this sale (or still owned by Smucker’s) have changed ownership. And we found…
Milk-Bone has been owned by 6 different corporations.
Meow Mix has been owned by 5 different corporations.
Natural Balance has been owned by 5 different corporations.
9Lives has been owned by 6 different corporations.
Kibbles ‘n Bits has been owned by 6 different corporations.
And Rachael Ray Nutrish has been owned by 3 different corporations.
Who will own them next?
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Click Here to preview Petsumer Report. www.PetsumerReport.com
Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here
The 2023 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.
