Divestitures
Kraft Heinz to Sell Maxwell House and North American Coffee Unit to One Rock Affiliate for $650 Million
By News Desk ·
Key takeaways
- Kraft Heinz will sell its North American coffee business, including Maxwell House, Gevalia and Tassimo, to a One Rock Capital Partners affiliate for $650 million.
- Kraft Heinz expects about $500 million in net cash proceeds after taxes and plans to use the money to pay down debt.
- Kraft Heinz will keep a 30% non-controlling stake in the coffee business, and the deal is expected to close in mid-2027.
Kraft Heinz agreed to sell its North American coffee business, including Maxwell House, to an affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners for $650 million, the company announced during its third-quarter earnings call on November 4. NJ.com reported the agreement, which values the business at $650 million and is expected to close in mid-2027.
Kraft Heinz is the third-largest food and beverage company in North America, producing branded packaged food across eight $1 billion+ brands including Heinz, Kraft, Oscar Mayer and Maxwell House. One Rock Capital Partners is a private equity firm that in October added Paolo Ferrari as an Operating Partner focused on post-acquisition value creation and operational transformations, according to Pulse 2.0.
What the Maxwell House Deal Includes
The sale covers Maxwell House, Gevalia, Nabob, Yuban, Tassimo, Ethical Bean and Sanka, along with coffee manufacturing facilities in Jacksonville, Florida and Vancouver, British Columbia. Kraft Heinz will retain a 30% non-controlling stake, allowing it to share in the coffee business's future performance while One Rock takes control.
The $650 million valuation does not mean Kraft Heinz will pocket $650 million. The company expects about $500 million in net cash proceeds after taxes, which it plans to use to pay down debt. Kraft Heinz's board decided the move was necessary to "prioritize investments and resources toward areas of the business where Kraft Heinz can accelerate growth and deliver the best value to consumers, customers and shareholders."
CEO Steve Cahillane called the deal a "meaningful step in unlocking value" for the company's portfolio and "an important step in simplifying and strengthening our portfolio." The company plans to focus on continued investments in brands like Kraft Mac & Cheese, PowerMac and Capri Sun.
Kraft Heinz's Scale and Recent Moves
Kraft Heinz reported approximately $25 billion in net sales in 2025, according to akta.pro company records. The same records show the company reorganized its global operating structure into three regions effective July 1, 2026, and in May 2026 commenced a $1.1 billion cash tender offer to repurchase 2046 and 2049 senior notes, accepting $1.4 billion of 2046 Notes by settlement date.
Earlier Signals From Kraft Heinz
Kraft Heinz reported a twelfth consecutive quarter of organic decline in North America, where sales fell 2.4% year-over-year, MarketScreener reported in November 2026. The company generated $2.4 billion in free cash flow over the first nine months, with $1.4 billion returned to shareholders.
In November 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported that Kraft Heinz is launching new product twists, including cheesy ramen and protein-infused Jell-O, to reverse declining sales. Kraft Heinz also hosted its 2026 Investor Day to outline a strategy for sustainable, volume-led profitable growth, Stock Titan reported in November 2026.
When the Coffee Sale Is Expected to Close
The transaction is expected to close in mid-2027, according to the company.