Italian pasta giant Barilla has agreed to acquire Goodles, the mac-and-cheese brand co-founded by Israeli actress Gal Gadot, bringing the fast-growing US company under the umbrella of the world’s largest pasta maker.
Financial terms of the transaction, announced Thursday, were not disclosed. The deal remains subject to regulatory approval, and it is not yet clear what role Gadot will play in the company after the acquisition is completed.
Gal Gadot in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’
(Photo: Screenshot)
Gadot helped establish Goodles with her husband, Jaron Varsano. The company was founded in October 2020 under the name Gooder Foods and markets its products as a more nutritious alternative to traditional boxed macaroni and cheese in the US market.
Once the transaction is completed, Goodles is expected to continue operating as a standalone brand and retain its headquarters in Santa Cruz, California. Co-founder and CEO Jen Zeszut will remain in charge of the company and its 73-person team.
Goodles said in its announcement that the company was “born from the idea that everyone’s favorite comfort food, mac and cheese, could be more nutritious, delicious and joyful.” The company said it and Barilla share values including “a passion for food and an obsession with quality and taste.”
Guido Barilla, chairman of the Barilla Group, said the company had been following Goodles closely for some time and had become increasingly impressed by the strength of the brand, the quality of its products and the momentum behind its growth.
“We had been following Goodles closely for some time and became increasingly impressed by the strength of the brand, the quality of its products, and the momentum behind its growth,” he said. Barilla said getting to know Goodles’ management team, led by Zeszut, further strengthened its decision to pursue the acquisition.
Goodles was valued at $88 million following a 2023 funding round and recorded its first profit in 2024, according to The Wall Street Journal. It has also expanded rapidly in the US mac-and-cheese market, reaching major retailers including Target and Whole Foods.
Zeszut said more than 90% of Americans have still never tried a Goodles product, leaving what she sees as substantial room for further growth, including eventual international expansion. “I could not have imagined a better partner for our small company and our team,” she said. “We chose the Barilla Group because they can help us innovate and grow internationally while letting us make gooder decisions and maintain our quality.”
Barilla has said Goodles will retain its current management, identity and operational independence following the transaction, with Zeszut continuing to lead the company.