Is the ideal dining table combination of stock god Warren Buffett about to break up with Kraft Macaroni and Heinz Ketchup?

Every American household has Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Heinz ketchup in their kitchen. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is affordable, selling for just over 1 dollar for decades, with almost no price increase. Many Americans rely on it as a dinner option while trying to save money. Heinz ketchup is a great companion for scrambled eggs and hamburgers. The frugal stock guru Warren Buffett probably keeps these two essential grocery items at home. Merging these two companies into Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC) was once one of Buffett's representative works. Buffett expressed his disappointment to the media regarding Kraft Heinz's announcement of the split, which undermined the sensational merger he orchestrated a decade ago. Berkshire Hathaway ( holds a 27.5% stake in Kraft Heinz, making it the largest shareholder. Despite its significant influence, it could not prevent this split decision. Kraft Heinz's current stock price has dropped to 27.29 USD, plunging about 24% in the past year, marking a failure for the stock guru! This is purely market observation and not any investment advice.

Kraft Macaroni From "Macaroni and Cheese" to "Mac & Cheese"

Kraft Mac & Cheese is a staple quick-cooking food for many families. In 2022, the brand underwent a major transformation, officially changing its name to Kraft Mac & Cheese, and updated its logo design, packaging, font, and color scheme. The "noodle smile" on the blue packaging box became the visual focus, symbolizing the satisfaction and warmth the brand brings to people.

Classic Heinz Tomato Ketchup

In 1869, H.J. Heinz, the founder of Heinz, started his business with his mother's horseradish recipe. Heinz Ketchup has now become a staple on American tables, with the brand striving to source its tomatoes from sustainable farms.

Why did Kraft Heinz decide to split? A possible reason is the plummeting stock price.

Kraft Heinz has decided to split into two independent companies, primarily due to the company's overall performance not meeting market expectations over the years, especially with noticeable bottlenecks in brand synergies and growth momentum. Since the merger led by Buffett in 2015 was completed, although the initial cost savings were significant, the company has failed to effectively transform in response to increasing market competition, changing consumer tastes, and aging core brands, resulting in continuous declines in revenue and market share. These structural issues have ultimately been reflected in the stock price, with Kraft Heinz's stock price continuously falling since the merger peak, plunging about 24% in the past year alone, and potentially losing over $9 billion in 2025 due to asset impairment. The split can be seen as a strategic reorganization that allows differently positioned brands and products to break free from each other’s constraints, deepen brand impressions, streamline management structures, and attempt to regain investor confidence.

Kraft macaroni and Heinz ketchup will still be a family!

Kraft Heinz Company announced it will split into two independent companies, each focusing on different market positioning and product lines. Global Taste Elevation Co. will focus on condiments and high-growth brands, including Heinz ketchup, Philadelphia cream cheese, and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other company, North American Grocery Co., will focus on traditional American family foods, such as Oscar Mayer hot dogs, Kraft Singles cheese slices, and Lunchables. The split plan is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026, with the transaction anticipated to be completed in the second half of 2026.

Kraft Heinz was formed in 2015 through the collaboration of stock market guru Warren Buffett, aiming to leverage its enormous scale to increase market share. However, American household consumers are now changing their eating habits, seeking healthier food options, which has altered Buffett's ideal table combination. Ten years after the merger of Kraft and Heinz, they have split and restructured to adapt to the current trends.

This article "The Ideal Dinner Table Combination of Stock God Buffett: Are Kraft Macaroni and Heinz Ketchup Breaking Up?" first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.