The pace of mergers and acquisitions in the food industry has gained steam in 2017, and experts are expecting more to come as companies struggle with shrinking margins in a low-price world.
News this week that McCormick & Co. MKC, +0.45% is acquiring Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC’s food business for $4.2 billion is just the latest deal in an industry that is already bracing for a new and scary competitor.
Amazon.com Inc.’s AMZN, -0.65% offer to purchase Whole Foods Market Inc.WFM, -0.05% is expected to drastically change the food landscape, putting fresh pricing pressure on food companies, already feeling the squeeze on margins from discounter Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
