It’s actually quite remarkable how many of the name brands we are familiar with are owned by the same companies. And this is the case for every industry, from tech and finance to hospitality and consumer goods. For sentence, fast food chain competitors Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell are all owned by Yum! Brands. These major acquisitions usually come with hefty price tags. Here are three of the biggest multi-billion-dollar business acquisitions from the past few years that made a splash in the retail and consumer goods industry.
1. Mars Acquires Kellanova
Mars Inc. is known for its confectionery and pet care brands. Its product portfolio already includes major candy brands like M&M’s, Snickers, and Skittles, as well as pet brands such as Pedigree and Whiskas. They announced on August 14, 2024, that they would be migrating into the snack space with the acquisition of Kellanova’s many snack brands. This includes major brand-name snacks such as Pringles, Cheez-It, and Pop-Tarts. The sale amounted to more than $35 billion, making it one of the largest acquisitions in the consumer goods industry in the past year.
2. Home Depot Acquires SRS Distribution
Home Depot announced it would be acquiring SRS Distribution for $18.25 billion in June 2024. SRS is a specialty building materials distributor with specialized expertise in roofing, landscaping, and pool supplies. Home Depot sought to expand its business in the professional contractor market as demand for home improvement materials decreased following the Coronavirus pandemic. The company hopes the expertise of SRS in handling large orders and delivering materials to job sites will be a valuable asset for Home Depot to effectively diversify its consumer portfolio to focus on more complex projects.
3. Roark Capital Acquires Subway
Roark Capital has a diversified portfolio of brands from Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Jimmy John’s to Orangetheory Fitness and Anytime Fitness. And Roark already has its hands in the sandwich industry; its biggest acquisition came with Subway, which it acquired in a $10 billion deal that was finalized on April 30, 2024. Roark Capital beat out various other interested private equity firms that sought to buy Subway and its debts.
