Bankruptcies are swelling across the food sector as rising labor, ingredient costs and higher interest rates squeeze already thin margins. It appears some F&B companies may face a reckoning amid a volatile market in 2026.
Berkshire Hathaway’s long telegraphed exit from Kraft Heinz underscores how far the food giant’s brands and strategy have fallen behind shifting consumer tastes. With investors losing patience, the company’s breakup now hinges on whether a Kellogg style revival is even possible.
Target is muscling into Whole Foods territory with a major wellness expansion, betting that value priced “better for you” goods can revive slipping sales. But with Walmart and Amazon escalating their own health pushes, the retailer’s path to growth remains anything but simple.
Food companies limped through a bruising 2025 as CPG giants, grocers, and fast casual chains saw valuations crumble under weak demand and structural headwinds. Yet, recent weeks hint at selective rebounds, rewarding the players best positioned to execute in a more fragmented market.
