Barilla to acquire mac and cheese startup GOODLES
What's the deal? Italy's Barilla GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has agreed to acquire GOODLES, the Santa Cruz-based startup that reimagined boxed mac and cheese. Terms of the deal, announced September 2, 2026, were not disclosed.
What each side brings: Founded in 2020 as Gooder FoodsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, GOODLES sells premium, nutrition-focused mac and cheese in bold flavors across US retailers, run by a team of 73. Barilla, a fourth-generation family company founded in 1877, sells pasta, sauce, and bakery goods in more than 100 countries.
What's the endgame? GOODLES hit shelves just over four years ago and has grown quickly, but says more than 90% of Americans have never tried it. The company wants to expand internationally, and sees Barilla as the partner to help.
What changes? Little, according to cofounder and chief executive officer Jen Zeszut. "We're not changing a thing," she said, adding that Barilla "can help us innovate and grow internationally while letting us make gooder decisions and maintain our quality."
Why Barilla? The two share a focus on food quality and taste. RepTrakDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → ranked Barilla the top food company globally for reputation and among the world's Top 10 brands across all categories.
The signal: Big food companies keep buying fast-growing challenger brands to reach younger shoppers and refresh legacy portfolios. For Barilla, GOODLES is a foothold in a US category — and a fan base — it did not previously own.
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