The Barilla Group, the world’s largest pasta company, has acquired Goodles, the mac-and-cheese brand co-founded by actress Gal Gadot and her husband, Jaron Varsano. The deal, announced by both companies, will allow Goodles to expand its reach and innovate while maintaining its independent brand identity.
Founded in October 2020 as Gooder Foods, Goodles was created with the goal of offering a more nutritious and flavorful mac-and-cheese option. According to the company, Goodles “was born out of the idea that everyone’s favorite comfort food, mac and cheese, could be more nutritious, incredibly delicious and bring joy.” The acquisition will strengthen both brands’ commitment to bringing carefully selected ingredients to consumers globally.
Guido Barilla, chairman of the Barilla Group, stated the company 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.” He added, “As we got to know the management team, led by Jen Zeszut, we were equally impressed by the strength of the organization, 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.”
Jen Zeszut, Goodles co-founder and CEO, will continue to lead the 73-employee team, which will remain headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. Zeszut noted that over 90% of people in the U.S. have not yet tried Goodles, stating, “so we’ve only just begun!” She added, “I could not dream up a better partner for our little brand and our beloved, hard-working team. 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 merger is pending regulatory approval.
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