How Kraft Heinz lost its lock on mac and cheese and American shoppers

by nolearyon 1/5/2026, 4:47 AMwith 32 comments

by nkurzon 1/5/2026, 4:59 AM

https://archive.is/Hq0cO

by nhhvhyon 1/5/2026, 6:26 AM

This read like an ad to me. I don’t think anyone’s buying mac n cheese for the health benefits, and if anything Kraft is selling less because it doesn’t taste as good anymore. A return to the original recipe would win me back, and I’m willing to bet I’m not alone.

by alsetmusicon 1/5/2026, 6:03 AM

I know it's garbage (from a health perspective), but I still eat a box of Kraft Mac n Cheese periodically. It's absolutely gone down hill. I couldn't articulate how without spending more time than it's worth thinking about it. I miss how much I enjoyed it fifteen years ago. It was a delicious treat.

by ssl-3on 1/6/2026, 3:27 AM

> Kraft mac and cheese, first sold in 1937 for 19 cents a box, was the creation of Chicago cheese monger James L. Kraft, who got his start selling cheese from a horse-drawn wagon. Marketed as a meal for four [...]

That's $4.37 per box in November of 2025 dollars, according to the US BLS Inflation Calculator, for a box that was said to serve 4 -- or ~$1.09 modern dollars per serving.

A modern box of Kraft Mac and Cheese contains 7.25oz, and serves 3.5 [WTF?] people, and costs ~$1.24, or ~$0.35 modern dollars per serving.

Maybe if they weren't seeking the bottom dollar at every possible expense, they'd have held onto their sales.

by paHaHastaon 1/6/2026, 8:26 AM

Personally I just learned how to make butter and cheese water:

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/eieSNW5pK8w

by antonhandon 1/6/2026, 7:52 AM

Pasta Roni White Cheddar Shells are still the best in this category, esp. if made with sour cream instead of milk.

by squigzon 1/5/2026, 11:54 AM

Kraft Dinner will never die up in Canada

by euroderfon 1/5/2026, 6:13 AM

The comments are a good read.

by jinushaunon 1/6/2026, 5:13 AM

Kraft? It’s Annie’s all the way.

by Our_Benefactorson 1/6/2026, 2:56 AM

This is one of those foods in my world which just kind of “exists” without consideration that it’s actually eaten by some people as a preference. Other candidates include: Campbells tomato soup, pork rinds, and ranch dip.