Italian pasta giant Barilla has pounced on US-based mac and cheese brand Goodles for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in late 2020, Goodles produces “nutrient-packed”, high-protein boxed mac and cheese in “bold, adventurous flavours” such as cacio e pepe and black truffle.
Barilla has taken on all 73 staff on Goodles’ team, and retained co-founder and CEO Jen Zeszut to lead the brand from its California HQ.
“I could not dream up a better partner for our little brand and our beloved, hard-working team,” said Zeszut.
“We chose the Barilla Group because they can help us innovate and grow internationally while letting us make gooder decisions and maintain our quality. The Barilla Group loves us just the way we are, from our barely-running dune buggy to our overflowing-with-joy HQ office in Santa Cruz. We’re not changing a thing.
“I knew the Barilla Group was the perfect partner when I jokingly offered the chairman, Mr Barilla, a Goodles bumper sticker for his new car that read ‘Me and My Homies Love Macaronis’ and he actually took it – I am so excited to see how our two worlds continue to collide.”
Barilla Group chair Guido Barilla added: “We had been following Goodles closely for some time and became increasingly impressed by the strength of the brand, the quality of its products, and the momentum behind its growth.
“As we got to know the management team, led by Jen Zeszut, we were equally impressed by the strength of the organisation, its unity, and its forward-looking mindset. Together, these qualities convinced us that Goodles was the right choice and represents an exciting opportunity for the future.”
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