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Rafaela Sousa

Rafaela Sousa

24 July 2026

McCormick outlines structure and leadership for combined Unilever Foods business

McCormick outlines structure and leadership for combined Unilever Foods business

McCormick has unveiled the planned operating structure, executive team and secondary listing location for its proposed combination with Unilever’s Foods business.


The announcement follows Unilever’s confirmation in March that it had received an offer from McCormick. Later that month, the companies agreed a $44.8 billion transaction, which would create a combined business generating approximately $20 billion in annual revenue.


The proposed combination remains subject to regulatory approvals, with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority recently opening an initial review of the deal. Completion is currently expected by mid-2027.


Following completion, the combined company will operate through four commercial divisions: Americas Consumer, International Consumer, Global Food Service and Global Flavor.


The two consumer divisions will cover the company’s retail portfolio of herbs, spices, seasonings, cooking aids, condiments and sauces. Americas Consumer, spanning North, Central and South America, would have generated approximately $8 billion in sales in 2025. International Consumer, covering markets including EMEA and Asia-Pacific, would have generated $7 billion.


Global Food Service will represent around $4 billion in annual sales based on 2025 figures. The division will combine Unilever Foods’ back-of-house and chef-focused capabilities with McCormick’s experience in branded front-of-house products.


Meanwhile, the Global Flavor division will have estimated annual sales of $2.5 billion. It will supply customised flavours, seasonings, condiments and coatings to food, beverage and consumer health companies, as well as restaurant chains.


McCormick said the structure is intended to improve coordination across markets, strengthen product development and support innovation within the combined business.


rendan Foley, chairman, president and CEO of McCormick, said: “First and foremost, I want to thank the dedicated integration planning teams for their diligent work. Our significant progress to date is a testament to McCormick’s unique track record and learnings from past integrations, the deep expertise from both organisations, and our collective focus on creating a differentiated global flavour leader.”


Foley will continue to lead the business following completion of the transaction, while Marcos Gabriel will remain executive vice president and chief financial officer.


The company has also named the executives expected to lead its four commercial divisions. Andrew Foust will serve as president of Americas Consumer, Heiko Schipper as president of International Consumer, Nuria Hernandez as president of Global Food Service and Suzanne Roy as president of Global Flavor.


The wider executive team will include Tabata Gomez as chief growth and global marketing officer; Jennifer Han as chief supply chain officer; Guy Peri as chief information and digital officer; Sarah Piper as chief human resources officer; Jeff Schwartz as chief legal officer; and Heike Steiling as chief R&D officer.


The leaders have been drawn from both McCormick and Unilever Foods and will be based across the company’s global headquarters in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and its planned international headquarters in the Netherlands.


McCormick’s Integration Management Office will remain in place after the deal closes, overseeing integration work across each division. Its responsibilities will include managing the exit from transitional service agreements, which are generally expected to remain in place for up to 24 months, as well as delivering anticipated synergies and developing a unified company culture.


McCormick said it expects to provide further information about revenue and cost synergies and the scope of the transitional arrangements by the end of the third quarter.


Alongside the new operating structure, McCormick intends to seek a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange when the transaction closes. The company said the move would reflect the international nature of the combined business, support capital flows and improve liquidity for shareholders.


Its primary listing will remain on the New York Stock Exchange, while Hunt Valley will continue to serve as its global headquarters. The combined company will also maintain a substantial presence in the Netherlands, including Unilever Foods’ existing research and development capabilities.

Shimadzu Leader | June 2026
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