New World Pasta
New World Pasta was a United States-based pasta manufacturer and brand portfolio company that became part of Ebro Foods before its corporate operations were merged into Riviana Foods and its principal brands were sold.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
New World Pasta Company was a retail branded pasta manufacturer headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was formed in 1999 after The Hershey Company divested its pasta business to a private equity group. Rather than developing as a single consumer-facing label, New World Pasta operated primarily as a portfolio company whose importance came from the collection of regional and nationally distributed pasta brands under its control. A major expansion occurred in July 2001, when New World Pasta acquired four remaining brands from Borden's pasta business that had not been purchased by American Italian Pasta Company the previous month: Prince, Creamette, Catelli, and Lancia. These additions broadened the company's geographic reach in the United States and strengthened its position in Canada through Catelli and Lancia. The portfolio also included established United States brands such as Ronzoni, American Beauty, Light 'n Fluffy, San Giorgio, and Skinner. Ronzoni was described as the company's flagship brand, while the other labels generally retained strong regional identities and distribution patterns. The company declared bankruptcy in 2004. Its subsequent ownership changed in 2006, when it was acquired by Ebro Puleva S.A., the Spanish food company later known as Ebro Foods. Under Ebro ownership, New World Pasta remained part of a broader food platform rather than operating as an independent publicly traded company. In 2012, it acquired Strom Products, adding the No Yolks and Wacky Mac brands to its pasta portfolio. No Yolks had nationwide availability in the United States, while Wacky Mac was associated with retail distribution through Walmart. Effective January 1, 2017, American Rice, Inc., and New World Pasta Company merged into Riviana Foods Inc. This transaction consolidated the United States rice and pasta operations within Ebro's North American business structure. New World Pasta therefore ceased to function as a standalone corporate entity, although many of the consumer brands continued to be sold under new ownership. The portfolio was subsequently broken up. On November 5, 2020, TreeHouse Foods was announced as the buyer of American Beauty, Creamette, Light 'n Fluffy, No Yolks, Prince, San Giorgio, Skinner, and Wacky Mac. Barilla acquired Catelli and Lancia on February 1, 2021, while Post Holdings acquired the flagship Ronzoni brand on March 30, 2021. These disposals marked the effective end of the New World Pasta brand portfolio as an integrated business. The company's historical significance lies in its assembly of major regional pasta labels, its role in consolidating the North American dry-pasta market, and its transition from an independent company to an Ebro-controlled business whose brands were ultimately distributed among several food companies.
History
New World Pasta emerged in 1999 from the divestiture of The Hershey Company's pasta business. The transaction transferred the business to a private equity group, creating a new company centered on retail pasta manufacturing and the management of established consumer brands. Its headquarters were in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The company's early strategy relied on portfolio expansion. In July 2001, it acquired four Borden pasta brands that had remained outside an earlier purchase by American Italian Pasta Company: Prince, Creamette, Catelli, and Lancia. The transaction gave New World Pasta a wider geographic footprint and a mixture of United States and Canadian brand positions. Its broader United States portfolio included Ronzoni, American Beauty, Light 'n Fluffy, San Giorgio, and Skinner. These brands were distributed unevenly by region, reflecting the historical importance of local and regional pasta labels in the North American grocery market. New World Pasta declared bankruptcy in 2004. The company was acquired in 2006 by Ebro Puleva S.A., a Spanish food company that later adopted the name Ebro Foods. Under Ebro ownership, New World Pasta became part of an international food group. The business continued to operate as a North American pasta platform, combining manufacturing and brand management with the distribution of products through retail channels. In 2012, New World Pasta acquired Strom Products. That deal added No Yolks and Wacky Mac. No Yolks expanded the company's presence in the egg-noodle category and was distributed nationally in the United States. Wacky Mac was also distributed nationwide and was associated with Walmart retailing. The acquisition reinforced the company's approach of building scale through recognizable, distinct consumer labels. A corporate reorganization followed on January 1, 2017, when American Rice, Inc., and New World Pasta Company merged into Riviana Foods Inc. This brought the pasta operations together with Ebro's American rice business and ended New World Pasta's role as a separate corporate entity. The consumer brands, however, continued to exist under the new structure. The portfolio was later dismantled through a series of brand sales. On November 5, 2020, the proposed sale of American Beauty, Creamette, Light 'n Fluffy, No Yolks, Prince, San Giorgio, Skinner, and Wacky Mac to TreeHouse Foods was announced. Barilla acquired Catelli and Lancia on February 1, 2021. Post Holdings acquired Ronzoni on March 30, 2021. With these transactions, the brands that had defined New World Pasta were divided among different owners, ending the company's historical identity as an integrated pasta portfolio business.
- 2021
Catelli and Lancia sold to Barilla
[1]Barilla acquired the two Canadian-focused brands.
- 2021
Ronzoni sold to Post Holdings
[1]Post Holdings acquired Ronzoni, the portfolio's flagship brand.
- 2020
TreeHouse Foods brand sale announced
[1]Eight United States pasta brands were announced for sale to TreeHouse Foods.
- 2017
Merger into Riviana Foods
[1]American Rice, Inc., and New World Pasta Company merged into Riviana Foods Inc.
- 2012
Strom Products acquisition
[1]The acquisition added No Yolks and Wacky Mac to the company's portfolio.
- 2006
Acquired by Ebro Puleva
[1]Ebro Puleva acquired New World Pasta and incorporated it into its food business.
- 2004
Bankruptcy
[1]The company declared bankruptcy.
- 2001
Borden brand acquisition
[1]New World Pasta acquired Prince, Creamette, Catelli, and Lancia from the remaining Borden pasta business.
- 1999
Company formed from Hershey pasta divestiture
[1]New World Pasta was created after The Hershey Company divested its pasta business to a private equity group.
Products and positioning
A portfolio-based North American pasta manufacturer built around established regional and national retail brands rather than a single unified consumer identity.
Dry pasta
Ronzoni
Ronzoni was identified as New World Pasta's flagship pasta brand. It was sold in a range of United States markets, including the Northeast, Southeast, Puerto Rico, and selected western states. The brand was later sold to Post Holdings in March 2021.
Dry pasta
Prince
Prince was one of four pasta brands acquired from Borden in July 2001. Its distribution was concentrated in the northeastern United States, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and nearby states. It was later included in the group of brands sold to TreeHouse Foods.
Dry pasta
Creamette
Creamette joined New World Pasta through the 2001 acquisition of Borden's remaining pasta brands. It was distributed across a broad group of Midwestern and eastern states. TreeHouse Foods was announced as its subsequent purchaser in 2020.
Dry pasta
Catelli
Catelli was acquired from Borden in 2001 and served as a major Canadian pasta brand within the portfolio. It replaced the Ronzoni name in Canada beginning October 13, 2013. Barilla acquired the brand in February 2021.
Dry pasta
Lancia
Lancia was another Borden pasta brand acquired in 2001. It operated primarily in the Canadian market alongside Catelli and was transferred to Barilla in February 2021.
Dry pasta
American Beauty
American Beauty was a regionally distributed United States pasta brand available mainly across western and mountain states. It was included in the group of brands announced for sale to TreeHouse Foods in 2020.
Dry pasta
Light 'n Fluffy
Light 'n Fluffy was distributed throughout states east of the Mississippi River. Its broad eastern footprint made it one of the company's more geographically extensive regional brands. It was later sold to TreeHouse Foods.
Egg noodles
No Yolks
No Yolks was acquired through the 2012 purchase of Strom Products. It was available nationwide in the United States and represented the company's presence in the egg-noodle segment. TreeHouse Foods acquired the brand as part of the 2020 portfolio sale.
Shaped pasta
Wacky Mac
Wacky Mac was added in the Strom Products acquisition. The brand was available nationwide in the United States and was sold exclusively through Walmart stores as of 2015. It was later included in the sale to TreeHouse Foods.
Dry pasta
San Giorgio
San Giorgio was a regionally distributed United States pasta brand available in states including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. It was included in the 2020 sale to TreeHouse Foods.
Dry pasta
Skinner
Skinner was distributed primarily in the southern and south-central United States, including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The brand was included in the group transferred to TreeHouse Foods.
Brand decisions
2021
Sell Catelli and Lancia to BarillaM&ABackground
The former New World Pasta brands were being transferred to strategic food-sector buyers.
Action taken
Barilla acquired Catelli and Lancia on February 1, 2021.
Aftermath
The two Canadian pasta brands left the Ebro-controlled portfolio.
2021
Sell Ronzoni to Post HoldingsM&ABackground
Ronzoni was the flagship brand associated with New World Pasta and remained one of the portfolio's most prominent labels.
Action taken
Post Holdings acquired Ronzoni on March 30, 2021.
Aftermath
The sale transferred the flagship brand to a new owner and further completed the breakup of the former portfolio.
2020
Sell eight United States pasta brands to TreeHouse FoodsM&ABackground
Ebro's North American branded-food portfolio was being reorganized and selectively divested.
Action taken
TreeHouse Foods was announced as the buyer of American Beauty, Creamette, Light 'n Fluffy, No Yolks, Prince, San Giorgio, Skinner, and Wacky Mac.
Aftermath
The sale separated eight United States brands from the former New World Pasta portfolio.
2017
Merge New World Pasta into Riviana FoodsM&ABackground
Ebro consolidated related North American food operations.
Action taken
American Rice, Inc., and New World Pasta Company merged into Riviana Foods Inc. effective January 1, 2017.
Aftermath
New World Pasta ceased to operate as a separate corporate entity, while its brands remained in the Riviana and Ebro portfolio.
2012
Acquire Strom ProductsM&ABackground
New World Pasta continued to expand its branded pasta portfolio under Ebro ownership.
Action taken
The company acquired Strom Products, including No Yolks and Wacky Mac.
Aftermath
The acquisition added egg noodles and a Walmart-distributed shaped-pasta brand.
2006
Join Ebro's food portfolioM&ABackground
Following its bankruptcy, New World Pasta became an acquisition target in the food sector.
Action taken
Ebro Puleva acquired the company.
Aftermath
New World Pasta operated within the Spanish food group's North American pasta activities.
2004
Enter bankruptcyOtherBackground
The company entered bankruptcy after its initial formation and expansion period.
Action taken
New World Pasta declared bankruptcy.
Aftermath
The company was subsequently acquired by Ebro Puleva in 2006.
2001
Acquire remaining Borden pasta brandsM&ABackground
New World Pasta sought to expand its retail pasta portfolio after its formation from Hershey's divested pasta business.
Action taken
The company acquired Prince, Creamette, Catelli, and Lancia from Borden's remaining pasta operations.
Aftermath
The acquisition increased the company's United States regional presence and added important Canadian brands.
Recent events
- 2021
Barilla acquires Catelli and Lancia[1]
M&A
Barilla completed the purchase of the Catelli and Lancia pasta brands from the New World Pasta portfolio.
- 2021
Post Holdings acquires Ronzoni[1]
M&A
Post Holdings acquired Ronzoni, identified as New World Pasta's flagship brand, completing the transfer of another major portfolio label.
- 2020
TreeHouse Foods to acquire eight New World Pasta brands[1]
M&A
TreeHouse Foods was announced as the buyer of American Beauty, Creamette, Light 'n Fluffy, No Yolks, Prince, San Giorgio, Skinner, and Wacky Mac.
- 2017
New World Pasta merges into Riviana Foods[1]
M&A
American Rice, Inc., and New World Pasta Company merged into Riviana Foods Inc., consolidating the related North American food operations.
- 2012
New World Pasta acquires Strom Products[1]
M&A
The company acquired Strom Products, including the No Yolks and Wacky Mac brands.
- 2006
Ebro Puleva acquires New World Pasta[1]
M&A
Spanish food company Ebro Puleva acquired New World Pasta, bringing the North American pasta portfolio into its food business.
- 2004
New World Pasta declares bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
New World Pasta entered bankruptcy proceedings three years after expanding through the acquisition of Borden pasta brands.
- 2001
New World Pasta acquires four Borden pasta brands[1]
M&A
The company acquired Prince, Creamette, Catelli, and Lancia from the remaining Borden pasta portfolio not purchased by American Italian Pasta Company.
- 1999
New World Pasta is formed through the divestiture of Hershey's pasta business[1]
M&A · Other
The New World Pasta Company was established after The Hershey Company sold or divested its pasta business to a private equity group.
Sources1 sources
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