David Schepp is a veteran financial journalist with more than two decades of experience in financial news editing and reporting for print, digital, and multimedia publications.
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Del Monte Corporation is a food company that produces and distributes fresh and packaged fruit and vegetables, beverages, snacks, and prepared foods. Based in Coral Gables, Florida, it sells products in more than 90 countries. Formerly known as Fresh Del Monte Produce, it took its current name in 2026 after acquiring certain businesses and assets from the bankrupt Del Monte Foods.
Why did Del Monte Foods file for bankruptcy protection in 2025?
Del Monte Foods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2025 because it faced mounting debt and declining demand for some products. It had raised production when demand for canned food surged early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, demand fell, leaving the company with excess inventory that had to be stored, written off, or sold at a loss. Higher production costs and interest expenses also strained its finances.
How were Del Monteâs fresh and packaged food businesses reunited in 2026?
Fresh Del Monte Produce acquired Del Monte Foodsâ vegetable, tomato, and refrigerated-fruit businesses during a court-supervised sale. It also gained global ownership of the Del Monte brand. The sales were completed in March 2026. The acquisition brought much of the fresh and packaged food operations back under common ownership after they had been separated in 1989. In June 2026, Fresh Del Monte Produce changed its name to Del Monte Corporation.
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Del Monteâs canned fruit has been a supermarket staple for generations.
Ken Hammond/USDA
For generations of American consumers, Del Monte has been a familiar name on supermarket shelves, appearing on everything from canned vegetables and tomato products to bananas and pineapples. The brand name dates to the late 19th century and grew along with the U.S. canned-food industry before becoming associated worldwide with fresh produce.
The modern-day company, Del Monte Corporation, produces and distributes fresh and packaged fruit and vegetables, beverages, snacks, and prepared foods. Formerly known as Fresh Del Monte Produce, the company took its current name in 2026 after acquiring certain businesses and assets of the bankrupt Del Monte Foods, reuniting much of the fresh and packaged food operations that had been separated for nearly four decades. Based in Coral Gables, Florida, it sells products in more than 90 countries and owns the Del Monte brand globally, subject to licensing agreements in some markets and product categories.
Early history and growth
Del Monteâs origins date back to 1899, when 11 California canners merged to form the California Fruit Canners Association. Renamed the California Packing Corporation (Calpak) in 1916, the company began marketing under the Del Monte label and quickly grew into a national and international food processor.
Creating a canning empire
Del Monte traces its roots back to California, where its predecessor operated dozens of canneries by the early 20th century. Over time, the company expanded across the U.S., adding plants in Washington state, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Florida, and the Midwest.
The company was renamed Del Monte Corporation in 1967 and was acquired in 1979 by R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc. (later RJR Nabisco, Inc.). At the time, Del Monte operated both packaged foods and a fresh produce business. In 1989, the fresh produce division was sold and eventually became Fresh Del Monte Produce, while the packaged food business continued under the Del Monte name.
Ownership changes and bankruptcy
After being sold to private investors in 1989, Del Monte Foods again became publicly traded in 1999. In the decades that followed, it underwent a series of acquisitions and divestitures:
2002: Acquired several product lines from Heinz, including StarKist, 9Lives, and College Inn.
2008: Sold StarKist to South Koreaâs Dongwon Industries.
2011: Acquired by KKR, a global private equity firm, in a $5.3 billion deal and taken private.
2014: The consumer foods division was sold to Del Monte Pacific Limited, while the pet food division was spun off as a separate company called Big Heart Pet Brands, later acquired by The J.M. Smucker Company. Del Monte Foods continued as Del Monte Pacificâs U.S. packaged food business.
By 2025, Del Monte Foods was struggling with mounting debt and declining demand for some of its products. The company had increased production after demand for canned foods surged early in the COVID-19 pandemic, but demand later fell, leaving it with excess inventory that had to be stored, written off, or sold at a loss. Higher production costs and interest expenses added to its financial pressures.
In July 2025, Del Monte Foods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and began a court-supervised sale of its businesses. Three buyers ultimately divided most of the companyâs operations:
Fresh Del Monte Produce acquired Del Monte Foodsâ vegetable, tomato, and refrigerated fruit businesses and global ownership of the Del Monte brand.
Pacific Coast Producers acquired the shelf-stable fruit business.
B&G Foods acquired the College Inn and Kitchen Basics broth and stock brands.
The sales were completed in March 2026. In June 2026, Fresh Del Monte Produce changed its name to Del Monte Corporation and adopted DMC as its New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol.
Products and brands
As of 2026, Del Monte Corporation sold fresh, refrigerated, and shelf-stable foods in markets worldwide. Its products included:
Fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, including bananas, pineapples, avocados, melons, and fresh-cut salads
Packaged vegetables sold under the Del Monte and S&W brands
Tomato products sold under the Del Monte, Contadina, and Take Root Organics labels
Refrigerated fruit sold under the Del Monte brand
Juices, other beverages, meals, and snacks
The company also operated businesses in freight and logistics, specialty ingredients, and poultry and meat products.
This article was most recently revised and updated by David Schepp
