Who Owns Your Favorite Snack Brands in 2026? The Complete Guide
Mars just acquired Kellanova for $36 billion. PepsiCo's Frito-Lay dominates salty snacks. Here is who owns every major snack brand in 2026 after the biggest reshuffling in years.
The Snack Aisle Just Got a Major Shake-up
The snack food industry was transformed in 2025 when Mars, Incorporated completed its $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, the snacking company spun off from Kellogg's in 2023. Overnight, Mars went from being known primarily for candy and pet food to becoming one of the world's largest snack food companies.
Combined with PepsiCo's dominance through Frito-Lay and Mondelez International's cookie and cracker empire, the snack aisle is now more concentrated than ever. Here is who owns every major snack brand in 2026.
The Complete Snack Ownership Map
PepsiCo / Frito-Lay (Salty Snack King)
PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) controls approximately 60% of the U.S. salty snack market through its Frito-Lay division. Frito-Lay alone generates approximately $25 billion in annual North American revenue.
Frito-Lay brands:
| Brand | Category | U.S. Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| Lay's | Potato chips | #1 chip brand |
| [Doritos](/brands/doritos) | Tortilla chips | #1 tortilla chip |
| Cheetos | Cheese snacks | #1 cheese snack |
| Tostitos | Tortilla chips/dips | #1 party chip |
| Ruffles | Ridged potato chips | Top 5 chip brand |
| Fritos | Corn chips | Category creator |
| Sun Chips | Multigrain chips | Leading "better" chip |
| Smartfood | Popcorn | #1 ready-to-eat popcorn |
| Stacy's | Pita chips | Premium snack |
| PopCorners | Popped corn snacks | Growing "better" snack |
| Bare | Fruit/veggie chips | Acquired healthy snack |
PepsiCo also owns Quaker Oats (granola bars, oatmeal, rice cakes) and various international snack brands, making its total snack portfolio even larger than Frito-Lay alone.
Mars / Kellanova (The New Giant)
Mars now combines its legacy candy and gum portfolio with Kellanova's snacking brands, creating an enormous snack empire:
From Kellanova (acquired 2025, $36B):
| Brand | Category |
|---|---|
| Pringles | Stackable chips |
| Cheez-It | Cheese crackers |
| Pop-Tarts | Toaster pastries |
| Eggo | Frozen waffles |
| Rice Krispies Treats | Cereal bars |
| Nutri-Grain | Breakfast bars |
| Club Crackers | Snack crackers |
| Town House | Premium crackers |
Mars legacy snack brands:
| Brand | Category |
|---|---|
| M&M's | Chocolate candy |
| Snickers | Chocolate bar |
| Twix | Chocolate bar |
| Milky Way | Chocolate bar |
| Skittles | Fruity candy |
| Starburst | Fruity candy |
| Orbit/Extra/5 Gum | Chewing gum (Wrigley's) |
| Altoids | Mints |
| Kind | Snack bars (acquired 2020, ~$5B) |
Mars is privately held by the Mars family, making it one of the largest privately held companies in the world with estimated revenue exceeding $50 billion.
Mondelez International (Cookie and Cracker Empire)
Mondelez International (NASDAQ: MDLZ), spun off from Kraft Foods in 2012, focuses on snacking globally with approximately $36 billion in annual revenue.
| Brand | Category |
|---|---|
| Oreo | #1 cookie brand globally |
| Ritz | #1 cracker brand |
| Chips Ahoy! | Chocolate chip cookies |
| Triscuit | Whole wheat crackers |
| Wheat Thins | Snack crackers |
| Nutter Butter | Peanut butter cookies |
| BelVita | Breakfast biscuits |
| Cadbury | Chocolate (international) |
| Toblerone | Premium chocolate |
| Sour Patch Kids | Sour candy |
| Swedish Fish | Gummy candy |
| Clif Bar | Energy/protein bars (acquired 2022, $2.9B) |
General Mills (Snack Division)
General Mills (NYSE: GIS) has a significant snack portfolio alongside its cereal and baking brands:
| Brand | Category |
|---|---|
| Nature Valley | Granola bars |
| Larabar | Fruit/nut bars |
| Annie's | Organic snacks |
| Bugles | Corn snacks |
| Gardetto's | Snack mix |
| Chex Mix | Snack mix |
| Fruit Snacks | Fruit-flavored snacks |
Campbell Soup Company / Snyder's-Lance
Campbell Soup (NASDAQ: CPB) entered the snack business through its $6.1 billion acquisition of Snyder's-Lance in 2018:
| Brand | Category |
|---|---|
| Goldfish | Cheese crackers |
| Snyder's of Hanover | Pretzels |
| Kettle Brand | Premium potato chips |
| Cape Cod | Premium potato chips |
| Lance | Sandwich crackers |
| Late July | Organic snacks |
| Pepperidge Farm | Premium cookies/crackers |
The same company that makes your soup also makes Goldfish crackers and Kettle Brand chips.
Hershey Company
Hershey (NYSE: HSY) dominates U.S. chocolate confectionery:
| Brand | Category |
|---|---|
| Hershey's | Chocolate bars |
| Reese's | Peanut butter cups (#1 candy brand in U.S.) |
| KitKat | Wafer bars (U.S. license from Nestle) |
| SkinnyPop | Popcorn (acquired 2017) |
| Pirate's Booty | Puffed snacks (acquired 2018) |
| Dot's Pretzels | Flavored pretzels (acquired 2021) |
Hershey has been diversifying beyond chocolate into salty snacks, recognizing that snacking occasions increasingly blur the line between sweet and salty.
Other Notable Snack Owners
| Brand | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Utz | Utz Brands (NYSE: UTZ) | Independent public snack company |
| Takis | Grupo Bimbo (Mexico) | Barcel division of Bimbo |
| Siete | PepsiCo (acquired 2024, $1.2B) | Mexican-American snack brand |
| Beanitos | Independent (small) | Bean-based chips |
| Skinny Dipped | Hershey (acquired 2022) | Chocolate-covered snacks |
| Krave Jerky | Hershey (acquired 2015) | Premium beef jerky |
The Market Concentration
| Company | Est. U.S. Snack Market Share |
|---|---|
| PepsiCo (Frito-Lay + Quaker) | ~35-40% |
| Mars (+ Kellanova) | ~12-15% |
| Mondelez | ~10-12% |
| Hershey | ~8-10% |
| General Mills | ~5-7% |
| Campbell Soup | ~4-5% |
| All others | ~15-20% |
The top six companies control approximately 80% of the U.S. snack market. PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division alone accounts for more than one-third.
What the Mars/Kellanova Deal Changed
Before the $36 billion acquisition, the snack landscape looked different:
Before (2024): Mars was primarily candy and pet food. Kellanova was an independent snacking company.
After (2026): Mars is now a snacking powerhouse rivaling Mondelez. Pringles, Cheez-It, and Pop-Tarts sit alongside M&M's and Snickers in the same corporate portfolio.
- PepsiCo vs. Mars is now the primary rivalry in salty snacks (Lay's/Doritos/Cheetos vs. Pringles/Cheez-It)
- Mars vs. Mondelez vs. Hershey is the three-way race in confectionery/sweet snacks
- Retailers have less negotiating power as snack brands consolidate under fewer corporate parents
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the biggest snack company?
PepsiCo through its Frito-Lay division is the largest snack food company in the United States, controlling approximately 35-40% of the salty snack market. Globally, Mondelez and Mars are also among the largest.
Does Mars own Pringles now?
Yes. Mars acquired Kellanova (which owned Pringles) for $36 billion in 2025. Pringles is now part of the Mars family alongside M&M's, Snickers, and Kind bars.
Who makes Goldfish crackers?
Goldfish crackers are made by Pepperidge Farm, which is owned by Campbell Soup Company. Campbell's acquired Pepperidge Farm in 1961.
Are Doritos and Cheetos owned by the same company?
Yes. Both Doritos and Cheetos are owned by Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo. PepsiCo also owns Lay's, Tostitos, Ruffles, and many other salty snack brands.
The Bottom Line
The snack aisle offers the appearance of abundance and choice, but approximately 80% of the products come from just six companies. Mars's 2025 Kellanova acquisition was the most significant reshuffling of snack ownership in a decade, creating a new competitive dynamic alongside PepsiCo's Frito-Lay dominance. Understanding who owns your snacks helps you see through the brand diversity to the corporate concentration underneath.
Explore snack and food brand ownership on WhoBrands or browse food brands.
Sources
1. PepsiCo/Frito-Lay. Annual Report 2025. 2. Mars, Incorporated. "Kellanova Acquisition." 2025. 3. Mondelez International. Annual Report 2025. 4. Euromonitor. "Snack Food: U.S. Market Report." 2025. 5. IRI/Circana. "U.S. Snack Category Data." 2025.
All brand ownership data verified through WhoBrands.com's research methodology. Last updated: January 21, 2026.
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Brands & Companies Mentioned
Doritos
Owned by PepsiCo
American brand of flavored tortilla chips produced by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, known for its bold flavors and triangular shape.
PepsiCo
American multinational food and beverage corporation owning Pepsi, Lay's, Gatorade, Doritos, Quaker Oats, and dozens of other iconic brands, with FY2025 revenue of $93.9 billion.
23 brands in portfolio
Mars, Incorporated
American multinational manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products, and one of the largest privately held companies in the world.
19 brands in portfolio
Nestlé
Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland.
19 brands in portfolio