Italian pasta company Barilla has reached an agreement to acquire California boxed macaroni and cheese maker Goodles, company officials announced.
Goodles, founded as Gooder Foods in 2020, says it offers a more nutritious variety of mac and cheese in a wide range of flavors. The brand is currently distributed in major retailers and independent stores in the U.S. after debuting four years ago, but company leaders said that Barilla could expand it to international markets as well as bolster its innovation capabilities.
Goodles will continue to be led by co-founder and CEO Jen Zeszut and will remain in its headquarters in Santa Cruz, California.
“This brand wants to spread its wings and keep doing our weird and wonderful thing, so that we can have an even bigger impact – eventually on a global scale,” Zeszut said in a statement. “I could not dream up a better partner for our little brand and our beloved, hard-working team.”
Barilla, which makes pastas along with sauces and baked goods, operates in more than 100 countries. The company will mark its 150th anniversary next year.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“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,” said Barilla Group Chairman Guido Barilla.
