Kraft Heinz's Big Split: A Potential Feast for Its Rivals?
When Giants Trip Over Their Own Laces
There are few things in the corporate world more entertaining than watching a behemoth tie itself in knots. And let me tell you, Kraft Heinz’s decision to cleave itself in two is shaping up to be a spectator sport for the ages. When a man like Warren Buffett, the so called Oracle of Omaha, publicly scoffs at your grand plan, you ought to listen. It’s the equivalent of your ship’s captain telling you he has a ‘bad feeling’ about the iceberg ahead.
To me, this split feels less like a shrewd strategic manoeuvre and more like a frantic attempt to solve a problem of its own making. Corporate divorces are always messy. They chew up management time, blur strategic focus, and, most deliciously for us observers, create a golden opportunity for competitors. While Kraft Heinz is busy arguing over who gets the toaster and the ketchup brand, its rivals are sharpening their knives and forks.