Kraft Heinz vs Post Holdings: Founders, CEOs and History
Kraft Heinz was founded in 2015 by James L. Kraft, H. J. Heinz and is led by Steve Cahillane. Post Holdings was founded in 2012 by William P. Stiritz and is led by Nicolas Catoggio.
Company facts
Kraft Heinz
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Chicago, Illinois
- Current CEO
- Steve Cahillane
- Employees
- 35,000
Post Holdings
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Current CEO
- Nicolas Catoggio
- Employees
- 13,180
Founders
Kraft Heinz
James L. Kraft
Kraft Heinz possesses a profound, dualistic founding story, representing the historic amalgamation of two well-known, innovative 19th-century food pioneers who essentially invented modern, mass-produced convenience foods.
H. J. Heinz
Henry John Heinz was an American entrepreneur who founded the H.J. Heinz Company in 1869. Starting with a small bottling operation for horseradish in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, Heinz built a food empire based on a commitment to quality and transparency.
Post Holdings
William P. Stiritz
William P. Stiritz is the founding Chairman and CEO of the modern Post Holdings. When Ralcorp spun off its Post cereal business in February 2012, Stiritz took charge of the new company and began the acquisition strategy that later added Michael Foods and MOM B…
CEOs and their tenures
Kraft Heinz
- Bernardo Hees2015–2019
Chief Executive Officer
Delivered early margin gains, but the 2019 impairment and SEC investigation came under his leadership and he was replaced in June 2019.
Source - Miguel Patricio2019–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Stabilized the balance sheet and moved the company away from strict zero-based budgeting; he later served as board chair.
Source - Carlos Abrams-Rivera2024–2025
Chief Executive Officer
Managed the business through continuing volume declines and the 2025 impairments before handing over to Steve Cahillane.
Source - Steve Cahillane2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Shifted the company's priority from structural change to rebuilding volume in its core brands; first-half 2026 sales declines narrowed and 2026 guidance was raised.
Source
Post Holdings
- William P. Stiritz2012–2014
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As the legendary Chairman and former CEO, the highly revered financial architect completely defined the company's complex, private-equity-style corporate structure.
Source - Robert V. Vitale2014–present
Executive Chairman (CEO 2014-2026)
Previously Post's CFO; from October 1, 2026 advises on capital allocation as Executive Chairman.
Source - Matthew J. Mainer2022–present
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
As CFO, he steers the company's aggressive, highly acquisitive capital allocation strategy, acting as the primary architect behind its massive M&A playbook.
Source - Nicolas Catoggio2026–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Former Boston Consulting Group Managing Director and Senior Partner who advised Post on M&A diligence and integrations before joining.
Source
Timeline: Kraft Heinz and Post Holdings side by side
1869Kraft Heinz
H.J. Heinz Begins Bottling Horseradish
Henry John Heinz starts bottling horseradish in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, using clear glass bottles to demonstrate product purity, establishing the foundation for the Heinz brand.
1876Kraft Heinz
Introduction of Heinz Tomato Ketchup
The Heinz company introduces its well-known tomato ketchup, which becomes the foundation of the company's global success and the most recognized condiment brand in the world.
1903Kraft Heinz
James L. Kraft Starts Cheese Business
James L. Kraft starts a wholesale cheese business in Chicago with a horse and wagon, laying the groundwork for what would become the Kraft Foods empire.
1915Kraft Heinz
Kraft Develops Pasteurized Cheese Process
Kraft develops a pasteurization process that allows cheese to be packaged and shipped without spoiling, leading to contracts with the US military during World War I.
1937Kraft Heinz
Introduction of Kraft Dinner
Kraft introduces Kraft Dinner (Macaroni & Cheese), a product that becomes a staple of the American diet during the Great Depression and World War II due to its affordability and long shelf life.
1959Kraft Heinz
Introduction of Kraft Singles
Kraft introduces Kraft Singles, individually wrapped processed cheese slices that become one of the best-selling cheese products in the United States.
1988Kraft Heinz
Philip Morris Acquires Kraft
Philip Morris Companies acquires Kraft for $12.9 billion, one of the largest corporate acquisitions in history at the time, marking the beginning of a new era of consolidation for the company.
2010Kraft Heinz
Kraft Acquires Cadbury
Kraft Foods acquires the British confectionery giant Cadbury for $19.6 billion, significantly expanding its global snack and confectionery portfolio before spinning off its North American grocery business in 2012.
2012Post Holdings
Post Holdings Spin-Off
Post completed its separation from Ralcorp and began trading on the NYSE.
2013Post Holdings
Premier Nutrition Acquired
Post bought Premier Nutrition, the maker of Premier Protein, in 2013.
2014Post Holdings
Michael Foods Acquisition
Post expanded into egg products and foodservice through Michael Foods.
2015Kraft Heinz
Merger of Kraft and Heinz
Kraft Foods Group merges with H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, owned by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital, on July 2, 2015.
2015Post Holdings
MOM Brands Acquisition
Post broadened its cereal portfolio with MOM Brands.
2017Post Holdings
Weetabix Acquisition
Post added the U.K. Weetabix cereal business.
2018Post Holdings
Bob Evans Acquisition
Post expanded refrigerated retail and foodservice exposure.
2019Kraft Heinz
$15.4 Billion Impairment and SEC Probe
Kraft Heinz records a $15.4 billion impairment of Kraft and Oscar Mayer brand and goodwill values, cuts its dividend, and discloses an SEC subpoena over procurement accounting. The SEC case was settled in 2021 with a $62 million penalty.
2019Post Holdings
BellRing Brands IPO
Post listed its active-nutrition business as BellRing Brands in October 2019.
2020Kraft Heinz
Divestiture of Natural Cheese Business
Kraft Heinz agrees to sell most of its natural cheese business to Lactalis for about $3.2 billion; the deal closed in 2021, the same year Planters was sold to Hormel for $3.35 billion.
2021Post Holdings
Peter Pan Acquired
Post bought the Peter Pan peanut butter brand from Conagra in January 2021.
2022Post Holdings
BellRing Brands Distribution
Post distributed most of its stake in BellRing Brands to its shareholders in March 2022.
2023Post Holdings
Pet Food Brands Acquired
Post bought Rachael Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, Kibbles 'n Bits and other pet food brands from J.M. Smucker in 2023 for about $1.2 billion.
2025Kraft Heinz
FY2025 Net Sales Fall to $24.942 Billion
Kraft Heinz reported $24.942 billion in FY2025 net sales, a $4.669 billion operating loss, a $5.846 billion net loss, and about 35,000 employees after non-cash impairment losses weighed on results.
2025Post Holdings
8th Avenue Acquired
Post acquired the remaining interest in 8th Avenue Food & Provisions.
2026Kraft Heinz
Steve Cahillane Appointed CEO
Steve Cahillane becomes CEO on January 1, 2026. In February he pauses the planned separation into two companies and commits about $600 million of extra investment, raised to about $700 million in August 2026.
2026Kraft Heinz
Q2 2026 Beat and $7.4 Billion Impairment
Q2 2026 net sales fall 1.4% to $6.262 billion, beating forecasts; Kraft Heinz raises its 2026 organic sales outlook but records a $7.4 billion non-cash impairment.
2026Post Holdings
CEO Transition
Nicolas Catoggio became President and CEO on October 1, 2026.
Acquisitions
Kraft Heinz
- The Kraft Heinz Not Company (joint venture with NotCo)2022Undisclosed
- Assan Foods2021$100M
- Companhia Hemmer2021Undisclosed
- Cerebos Pacific (Australia and New Zealand sauces and condiments)2018Undisclosed
- Kraft Foods Group (merger with H.J. Heinz)2015Undisclosed
Post Holdings
- 8th Avenue Food & Provisions2025Undisclosed
- Pet Food Portfolio (J.M. Smucker)2023$1.2B
- Bob Evans Farms2018$1.5B
- Weetabix2017Undisclosed
- MOM Brands (Malt-O-Meal)2015$1.1B
- Michael Foods2014$2.5B
Questions about Kraft Heinz vs Post Holdings
Who is the CEO of The Kraft Heinz Company and Post Holdings, Inc.?
The Kraft Heinz Company is led by Steve Cahillane and Post Holdings, Inc. is led by Nicolas Catoggio. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Kraft Heinz Company founded vs Post Holdings, Inc.?
Post Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2012 — 3 years before The Kraft Heinz Company, which was founded in 2015. Post Holdings, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger The Kraft Heinz Company.
How many employees does The Kraft Heinz Company have compared to Post Holdings, Inc.?
The Kraft Heinz Company employs approximately 35,000 people, while Post Holdings, Inc. employs approximately 13,180. The Kraft Heinz Company has the larger workforce at 35,000 employees, compared to Post Holdings, Inc.'s 13,180. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are The Kraft Heinz Company and Post Holdings, Inc. headquartered?
Both The Kraft Heinz Company and Post Holdings, Inc. are headquartered in United States. Their local rules and tax obligations may still differ.
Who founded The Kraft Heinz Company and Post Holdings, Inc.?
The Kraft Heinz Company was founded by James L. Kraft, H. J. Heinz. Post Holdings, Inc. was founded by William P. Stiritz.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Kraft Heinz Company or Post Holdings, Inc.?
Post Holdings, Inc. has been operating for approximately 14 years, making it the more established of the two companies. The Kraft Heinz Company has been in operation for around 11 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Kraft Heinz vs Post Holdings overview