Barilla Is Buying Goodles: What It Means for Your Mac and Cheese
Originally reported by Goodles (Business Wire) ·
Read the full story at Goodles (Business Wire)(opens in a new tab)Barilla Group, the Italian pasta maker, has agreed to buy Goodles, the Santa Cruz, California brand known for higher-protein boxed mac and cheese. Goodles announced the deal on September 2, 2026. It still needs regulatory approval, and the price wasn't disclosed.
Goodles will run as a standalone brand. It keeps its Santa Cruz headquarters and its team of 73, and co-founder Jen Zeszut stays on as CEO.
Zeszut says Goodles chose Barilla because it can "help us innovate and grow internationally." Barilla sells in more than 100 countries.
Goodles launched in October 2020 as Gooder Foods. Actress Gal Gadot is a founding partner, and investment firm L Catterton led its 2023 funding round. The Wall Street Journal reported the brand made its first profit in 2024.
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No recipe changes have been announced, and Goodles says its team stays in place. If a new owner does change a recipe, the first sign is usually on the ingredient list, not the front of the box. If you regularly buy Cheddy Mac or Mover & Shaker, scan the box now and then to see whether the ingredients have changed.
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