Earlier this month, The Kraft Heinz Company announced plans to split into two independent, publicly traded firms, provisionally named Global Taste Elevation Co. and North American Grocery Co.
Later this year, Global Taste Elevation Co. will position itself as a “global leader” in taste elevation, overseeing iconic brands like Heinz, Kraft Mac & Cheese, and Philadelphia. North American Grocery Co., meanwhile, will focus on “North America staples,” managing brands such as Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles, and Lunchables.
The Kraft Heinz Not Company
According to Kraft Heinz, the separation is meant to reduce operational complexity and unlock growth potential by ensuring “the right level of attention and resources” go to each business. “Kraft Heinz’s brands are iconic and beloved, but the complexity of our current structure makes it challenging to allocate capital effectively, prioritize initiatives, and drive scale in our most promising areas,” said Miguel Patricio, Executive Chair of the Board.
So what does this mean for the vegan products currently sold under the Kraft Heinz umbrella?
What happens to Kraft Heinz’s vegan range?
For now, there’s been no indication that Kraft Heinz will discontinue its vegan offerings, which include Oscar Mayer’s NotHotDogs and NotSausages and Kraft’s NotMac & Cheese.
However, the company hasn’t clarified what will become of The Kraft Heinz Not Company, its joint venture with Chilean food tech startup NotCo, launched in 2022 to combine NotCo’s AI-driven innovation with Kraft Heinz’s scale and distribution power.
“It helps deliver on our vision to offer more clean, green, and delicious products for consumers,” Patricio said when the venture was first announced. “We believe the technology that NotCo brings is revolutionizing the creation of delicious plant-based foods with simpler ingredients.”
Oscar Mayer
Based on the split, NotMac & Cheese will likely sit under Global Taste Elevation Co., while Oscar Mayer’s vegan hot dogs would fall under North American Grocery Co.
The division reflects broader trends in consumer demand. North American Grocery Co. will manage Kraft Heinz’s “slower-growing grocery business,” according to NPR, while Global Taste Elevation Co. will handle faster-growing categories. That tracks with the market: dairy-free products are surging in popularity, while plant-based meats are facing headwinds, in part, amid growing concerns over ultra-processed foods.
That said, Kraft Singles—which produces the American Style Not Cheese Plant-Based Slices—will shift to North American Grocery Co., grouping it with slower-growth staples like Oscar Mayer and Maxwell House.
The company will continue to operate as one unified business throughout the separation processes, which is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
“This move will unleash the power of our brands and unlock the potential of our business,” said current Kraft Heinz CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera. “This next step in our transformation is only possible because of the commitment of our 36,000 talented employees who deliver quality and value for consumers every day. We will continue to operate as ‘one Kraft Heinz’ throughout the separation process.”
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
