Kraft Heinz is reorganising its operating structure into three regions, the latest move by recently installed CEO Steve Cahillane to try to improve the US giant’s performance.
From next month, the company will run its business through the regions of North America; Europe and Pacific Developed Markets; and Emerging Markets.
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In a statement yesterday (18 June), the Maxwell House coffee owner said the move will “accelerate growth, sharpen focus, and more effectively deploy resources” across its portfolio.
The move comes four months after Cahillane put on hold Kraft Heinz’s plans to split in two, instead deciding to focus on getting the business growing again.
Cahillane, the former Kellanova CEO who took the helm at Kraft Heinz in January, set out plans to invest $600m “across marketing, sales and R&D as well as product superiority and select pricing”.
A leadership change in North America followed in February, with Nico Amaya, another Kellanova executive, taking over as president of the business.
Under the new structure, Amaya will continue to head the North America operations.
The company is combining its Asia Emerging Markets and West and East Emerging Markets units into a single emerging markets division led by Marcel Regis.
European countries that had been group in the West and East Emerging Markets will move into the Europe and Pacific Developed Markets unit under Willem Brandt.
Meanwhile, Janelle Aydin will take over a newly unified procurement and supply chain unit as global chief procurement and supply chain officer.
Cory Onell and Flavio Torres will move out of their current roles but will remain with the company as advisors during the leadership shift.
“This new structure positions Kraft Heinz to unlock the full potential of our portfolio and drive sustainable, volume-led growth across our global business,” Cahillane said.
In the first quarter, the Philadelphia cream cheese and Jell-O manufacturer reported net sales of $6.05bn, representing a 0.8% increase from the previous year despite a 0.4% dip in organic net sales.
Higher advertising spending alongside “inflationary pressures” in manufacturing and logistics weighed on profitability, with operating income for the quarter decreasing 4.3% to $1.1bn.
Since taking over, Cahillane has focused on driving market share growth by categorising brands into “hold”, “win”, and “win big” segments. In prepared remarks to accompany Kraft Heinz’s first-quarter results, he said 35% of the total portfolio was gaining or holding share, an improvement from 21% across 2025, with that rate jumping to roughly 58% in March alone.
However, the company downgraded its frozen-food business from win big to hold, prompting analyst speculation about a potential exit from the category.
Addressing the shift, Cahillane contrasted frozen goods with trending hydration products, which were upgraded from win to win big.
