Family-owned candy giant Mars, whose brands include M&M's and Snickers, said on Wednesday it would buy Cheez-It and Pringles maker Kellanova in a nearly $36 billion deal, making it the biggest deal in the packaged food industry. Mars will pay $83.50 per share in an all-cash deal for Kellanova, representing about a 33% premium to Kellanova's close on Aug. 2, before Reuters first reported that Mars was exploring a deal for the Pringles maker. Kellanova, which split from WK Kellogg last October, is rooted in a salty snacks business and sells cereal outside of North America. WK Kellogg was left with the North American cereal business of Kellogg, the original parent company. Kellanova logged net sales of more than $13 billion in 2023.

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Persons: Mars, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, Rice Krispies, Andrew Clarke, WK Kellogg, Kellogg Organizations: Diamond Foods Inc, Procter & Gamble Co, Kellanova, Reuters, Wrigley, Global, Street Journal Locations: San Francisco , California, Kellanova, Hershey, Chicago, North America