Family-owned Barilla in Italy has expanded its pasta portfolio with the acquisition of US-based Goodles.
Goodles in Santa Cruz, California, is known for its mac and cheese meals and started out in 2020 as Gooder Foods, set up by current CEO Jen Zeszut.
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“We chose the Barilla Group because they can help us innovate and grow internationally while letting us make gooder decisions and maintain our quality,” Zeszut said in a statement.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Goodles will retain its management team post the transaction with Zeszut continuing at the helm. The company will operate independently as a “standalone brand, free to make its own decisions about product, recipes, quality, ingredients, suppliers, marketing and more”.
Guido Barilla, the chairman of the Italian group, said: “We had been following Goodles closely for some time and became increasingly impressed by the strength of the brand, the quality of its products, and the momentum behind its growth.
“Together, these qualities convinced us that Goodles was the right choice and represents an exciting opportunity for the future.”
Goodles received financing in 2023 from an investment consortium led by US-headquartered private-equity firm L Catterton.
The company’s plant-based pasta dishes feature a range of mac and cheese and packaged pasta sold in major US grocers and independent stores.
Barilla expanded its US manufacturing operations earlier this year with a $145m investment in its facility in Avon, New York, as the first phase of a two-stage project.
The opening phase, planned for completion early in 2028, included the construction of a 52,000-square-foot production building, alongside one new production line and three packaging lines.
It followed an earlier investment in its pasta factory in Foggia in southern Italy.
Barilla’s portfolio consists of branded pasta under its namesake line and names such as Catelli and Misko. The company also produces pesto and sauces.
In 2025, Barilla reported revenue of €4.83bn ($5.6bn), down 1% on the previous 12 months. However, profits rose.
Operating profit climbed 27% to €370.9m while net profit was up 64% at €233.2m.
