STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Kraft Heinz, the company behind some of America’s most familiar pantry staples, plans to split itself into two separate businesses—or at least it did. The company said this week it is pausing work on the breakup as its new CEO reassesses the plan, though the split could still happen. The corporate back‑and‑forth has some Staten Islanders wondering what it could mean for their grocery bills and neighborhood eateries.
Under the plan, the company will divide its brands into two groups: Global Taste Elevation Co., home to Heinz ketchup, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese; and North American Grocery Co., which will include Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles, Maxwell House and Lunchables. The goal, executives say, is to let each business focus more sharply as shoppers continue drifting toward fresher, less processed foods.
For Staten Island shoppers, nothing dramatic is expected right away. Heinz ketchup, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Philly cream cheese, Oscar Mayer cold cuts and Lunchables will stay on shelves, according to reports. But analysts, like those at Nasdaq, say the two new companies could eventually make different choices about pricing, marketing and product availability.
Not every Staten Island business is tied to Heinz. Taha Alassari and his family, who run World of Wings in West Brighton and Annadale and are working toward a third spot on the East Shore, said their kitchens use a different brand. “We use I Taste Great,” he said. “After trying several brands, this one compared to Heinz the most and uses way less salt, which is a plus for our house sauce recipe — and it’s half the price.” A case of Heinz runs him $72.32 from his wholesaler; I Taste Great costs about half that.
Still, Heinz is everywhere.National chains on Staten Island, including McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Chick-fil-A, rely on Heinz as part of their standard supply. Chick-fil-A’s signature sauce even uses Heinz ketchup as one of its base ingredients, blended with mustard and barbecue sauce…