Between inflation, surging materials costs, tariffs, and other factors at play, U.S. are feeling the pinch of surging prices. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports in its Consumer Price Index for September 2025 that most of the consumer-forward price categories tracked by the agency had increased over the previous 12 months, up about 3% overall.

However, the good news for snack and bakery companies is that despite price constraints, shoppers are still putting bread, cookies, chips, and other products in their carts. This seems to be reflected in this year’s Top 50 Snack & Bakery Companies list—while the firms experienced a mixture of ups and downs, the majority of companies here saw sales gain from 2023 to 2024.

Why are the companies on this list faring relatively well, when other fields are having a tougher go of things? Part of the reason could be that even though food prices generally climbed in recent months, the rate at which bakery and snack prices climbed were less dramatic than other BLS-tracked categories. Another could be that in difficult times, consumers just might find comfort in the relatively affordable indulgences of their favorite snacks and baked goods.

Note: The figures contained in the above chart were gathered through a proprietary research process by the SF&WB editorial team. Sales reported by the companies and other financial sources that were listed in foreign currencies have been converted to USD according to current exchange rates.

The companies ranked in SF&WB’s Top 50 list were involved in a range of notable deals—some were bought by investment outfits or other producers, and others made moves of their own. One of the biggest, announced more than a year ago, is still in the works waiting for regulatory bodies around the globe to say yea or nay.

Hershey picks up LesserEvil

The company has been adding scores of salty snack brands to its roster of products, such as SkinnyPop, Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels, and Pirate’s Booty. Then, the company added another in April: fast-growing snackmaker LesserEvil. According to Michele Buck, Hershey president/CEO, "This high-growth brand not only complements our beloved confection and salty snack brands but also brings additional manufacturing capabilities and capacity to meet growing consumer and retailer needs." Shortly after the purchase, SF&WB announced LesserEvil as our 2025 Snack Producer of the Year.

Ferrero buys WK Kellogg; Mars buy of Kellanova pending

In 2022, Kellogg’s announced its intention to split into two entities—WK Kellogg and Kellanova—a division that officially completed about a year later in October 2023. Then, in July 2025, Ferrero signaled its intention to buy WK Kellogg; that deal wrapped shortly thereafter, in late September. In related news, Mars announced its intentions to pick up Kellanova in August 2024; that mega move is waiting for the Federal Trade Commission and European Trade Commission to weigh in.

TreeHouse Foods purchased

The company ranked at 23rd in this year’s Top 50 list announced its definitive agreement to be snapped up by Industrial F&B Investments III Inc. in November, in an all-cash transaction reported at $2.9 billion. According to Steve Oakland, TreeHouse chair/CEO/President, "TreeHouse Foods has been executing a strategy to become a focused snacking and beverage private brand leader with depth in categories, attractive long-term prospects and an agile operating model.”

Post Holdings buys 8th Avenue Food & Provisions

Post announced its plans to buy the manufacturer of granola, nuts, and trail mixes, and other nibbles in June, then completed the deal the next month. The purchasing company reportedly laid out a net payment of $880 million, which covered the assumption of finance leases, as well as the acquired company’s existing debts.

Over the course of the past year, bakers and snack-makers continued to roll out product innovations worth talking about. In addition to new lines, the producers listed in this year’s Top 50 list introduced new flavors in their core brand portfolios, as well as unveiled noteworthy product collaborations with other companies.

Hershey, Mondelēz unite on sweet treats

Oreo and Reese’s are among two of the most recognizable food brands around the globe. This summer, the two names joined forces on a crisscross collaboration between the two companies, with Oreo-filled Reese’s peanut butter cups, and Reese’s signature PB flavor in Oreo cookies. According to Oreo U.S. VP Michelle Deignan, “This collaboration redefines what it means to be a snacking leader by tapping into exactly what our fans are asking for.”

Conagra introduces savory snacks

The food firm introduced several new products at the recent National Association of Convenience Stores event in Chicago, including products featuring familiar brands from the foodisphere:

• Bigs Seeds Taco Bell Fire Sauce flavor, featuring the signature spicy taste of the fast food chain’s caliente condiment
• Vlasic Pickle Balls, putting dill flavor of the company’s brand on extruded orbs
• Slim Jim Buffalo Wild Wings chicken sticks, available in buffalo-style and hot versions

Pillsbury bets on bigger bites

The General Mills brand unveiled supersized versions of several of its refrigerated dough products, including crescent rolls, biscuits, and cinnamon rolls. To tout the larger versions of the heat-and-eat treats, the company brought a gigantic 25-ft version of its Pillsbury Doughboy mascot—who turned 60 in 2025—to New York City, along with samples of the enlarged goods.

Goldfish celebrates Snoopy

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Peanuts gang, the Campbell’s brand of fish-shaped crackers and cookies came out with Goldfish Snoopy Peppermint Cocoa Grahams. The tiny bites combine the seasonal favorite flavor combination of peppermint and cocoa, and the cookies inside the packaging featuring the familiar likeness of the cartoon dog feature three shapes: the classic fish silhouette, Snoopy’s smiling face, and a dog paw.

Little Debbie releases single-serve cakes

The McKee Foods brand introduced six different baked items in grab-and-go packs for the convenience store market. The lineup consists of Nutty Buddy Cakes, a cake-ified version of the brand’s longtime wafer-based treat, as well as five premium-skewed versions of traditional cakes and rolls.

Wonderful Pistachios puckers up

The snack nut brand came out with No Shells Dill Pickle, joining the number of snack brands delivering on consumers’ growing interest in the on-trend flavor. Unveiled at the International Fresh Produce Association event in October, the item initially launched in the convenience channel and will be rolled out to supermarkets and other retailers in January 2026.

For additional coverage of the Top 50 Snack & Bakery Companies, visit www.snackandbakery.com/top50. SF&WB