Planters is owned by Hormel Foods (the United States, NYSE: HRL), which acquired the brand on 7 June 2021 from Kraft Heinz.[1][1] Before Hormel Foods, Planters was owned by Kraft Heinz from 2015 to 2021.[1]
Planters was founded in 1906 by an Italian immigrant, and its monocled Mr. Peanut mascot was designed by a schoolboy in a 1916 competition. Hormel acquired the brand from Kraft Heinz in 2021 for $3.35 billion, its largest acquisition.
Hormel bought the Planters nut business from Kraft Heinz, which was selling non-core brands to reduce debt after the failure of its cost-cutting strategy. It was the largest acquisition Hormel had made.