The European Commission has approved the $36bn merger of food giants Mars and Kellanova, clearing the way for the transaction to complete this week.

Mars’ takeover of Kellanova – which includes snacking brands Pringles, Cheez-It and Pop Tarts among its portfolio, as well as Kellogg’s international cereal brands – was first announced in August 2024, marking Mars’ largest acquisition to date. It will bring together Kellanova’s wide range of household brands with Mars’ portfolio, which includes M&M’s, Snickers and Twix.

The merger has been subject to antitrust investigations in the US and Europe to assess its potential impact, with regulatory watchdogs aiming to ensure the combination of the two industry giants did not impact on fair competition in the market and result in increased prices for consumers.

Yesterday (8 December 2025), Mars confirmed that the European Commission had given unconditional approval for the pending deal following its investigation launched this summer. The deal was also cleared by the US Federal Trade Commission in June.

As a result, all required regulatory approvals and clearances for the transaction have been obtained. Mars and Kellanova now expect the transaction to close on 11 December 2025, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions.

Andrew Clarke, global president of Mars Snacking, said: “We can’t wait to welcome Kellanova talent to Mars and create a shared, global snacking leader with a beloved range of brands”.

“We’ve said all along that Mars Snacking and Kellanova will be better together, building on the strength of our respective legacies and capabilities to unlock new possibilities and drive growth.”

Once completed, Mars projects the combined snacking business to generate around $36 billion in annual revenues. Mars Snacking will continue to be headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and will operate more than 80 global production facilities.

Following the completion, Kellanova’s common stock will be delisted and will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Steve Cahillane, chairman, president and CEO of Kellanova, commented: “This combination will bring together two purpose-driven and principles-led companies. Serving as Kellanova’s chairman, president and CEO has been a true honour, and I’m looking forward to seeing Kellanova people and brands thrive as part of Mars Snacking.”