Kraft Mac and Cheese (officially branded as Kraft Mac & Cheese) is a popular packaged food product best known for its boxed macaroni and cheese. The brand is owned and marketed by The Kraft Heinz Company, a publicly traded food and beverage company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
The product falls under the packaged foods industry and is widely recognized as one of the best-selling boxed macaroni and cheese brands in North America. The parent company trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol KHC.
Kraft Mac and Cheese traces its roots back to the Kraft brand, which was founded in 1903 by James L. Kraft. Over the decades, Kraft products became staples in American households. As of recent years, Carlos Abrams-Rivera serves as the CEO of The Kraft Heinz Company, having taken over the role in 2023.
Ownership Status of Kraft Mac and Cheese
There is no single private owner of Kraft Mac and Cheese. The brand is a product line owned by The Kraft Heinz Company, which is a publicly traded company. This means ownership is divided among institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders.
Because Kraft Mac and Cheese is not a standalone company, it does not have separate ownership. Its ownership is fully tied to the shareholder structure of The Kraft Heinz Company. Ownership percentages change periodically based on stock market activity and regulatory disclosures such as SEC Forms 13D, 13G, and 13F.
Major Shareholders of The Kraft Heinz Company
| Shareholder / Entity | Ownership Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire Hathaway | ~27% | Long-term shareholder; disclosed via 13F filings |
| The Vanguard Group | ~8% | Passive institutional investor |
| BlackRock | ~7% | Index and asset-management holdings |
Note: The remaining shares are held by a wide range of institutional funds and individual retail investors.
Key Shareholder Highlights
The shareholder base of The Kraft Heinz Company is dominated by large institutional investors.
- Berkshire Hathaway is the largest shareholder and has maintained a significant stake for years, reflecting a long-term investment approach.
- The Vanguard Group and BlackRock hold sizable positions primarily through index funds and ETFs, indicating passive investment strategies.
- No single shareholder exercises full operational control; the company is governed by a board of directors and executive leadership.
This structure ensures that Kraft Mac and Cheese remains under corporate ownership rather than individual control.
Recent Developments in Ownership
While the ownership of Kraft Mac and Cheese itself has not changed, The Kraft Heinz Company’s shareholder percentages fluctuate over time.
- Institutional investors periodically adjust their holdings through routine buying and selling.
- There have been no recent filings indicating a transfer of brand ownership or privatization.
Overall, Kraft Mac and Cheese continues to be owned and managed as part of Kraft Heinz’s broader brand portfolio.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of Kraft Mac and Cheese?
Kraft Mac and Cheese is owned by The Kraft Heinz Company, a publicly traded corporation. Its shares are held by institutional and retail investors.
2. Is Kraft Mac and Cheese privately owned?
No. It is part of a publicly traded company and does not have a single private owner.
3. Who founded Kraft Mac and Cheese?
The product originated under the Kraft brand, founded by James L. Kraft in 1903. The boxed macaroni and cheese product was introduced later as part of Kraft’s food innovations.
4. Has the ownership of Kraft Mac and Cheese changed recently?
No major ownership changes have occurred. Ownership changes only reflect normal stock market activity involving Kraft Heinz shares.