Deerfield, IL— Snack maker Enjoy Life Foods has been acquired by Mondelēz International, the megacompany behind popular mainstream brands like Nabisco and Oreo cookies, Cadbury chocolate, and Trident gum.

Enjoy Life Foods is known for its lineup of over 60 gluten- and allergy-free snack items. Mark Clouse, chief growth officer at Mondelēz, noted that the acquisition was a great “strategic fit” for his company, that he says “expands our portfolio into faster growing, on-trend, ‘better-for-you’ areas and provides an excellent platform to make these delicious offerings available to consumers with ‘free-from’ needs.” The “free-from” category is a $12 billion market that only shows signs of growing due to increased demand for consumers with food sensitivities and those looking for a healthier lifestyle.

Scott Mandell, CEO and founder of Enjoy Life Foods, was also enthusiastic about the acquisition, confident that “this relationship will enable us to reach even greater heights. Mondelēz will operate Enjoy Life Foods as a separate, wholly owned subsidiary, with Mandell and other members of his leadership team still running the company.  

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, April 2015(online 2/17/15)