Gal Gadot makes a multi-million exit: food giant Barilla acquires Goodles

Gal Gadot may soon record a significant exit, and this time it is not about a film project. Italian pasta giant Barilla has signed an agreement to acquire Goodles, the American mac and cheese brand that Gadot is a co-founder and investor in.

The terms of the deal between the parties were not disclosed, so at this stage it is not known how much money Gadot is expected to receive as part of it. However, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Goodles was valued at $88 million in a funding round held in 2023. This refers to the company's value at that time, and not the amount that Barilla is paying as part of the current deal.

Goodles was launched at the end of 2021 and entered the American market with a product designed to offer a version of mac and cheese with higher nutritional values. Gadot was part of the company's founding team, along with her husband Yaron Varsano, and in 2023 was defined by the company as a "co-founder" and one of the strategic investors.

Gadot's involvement in the venture was not limited to a financial investment. In an interview with Forbes in 2022, she was described as someone who took part in work with retailers, public relations, brand building, business development, and capital raising.

Gadot previously said that her love for mac and cheese began in her childhood in Israel. According to her, relatives from the United States would bring her the dish, which was not available in Israel at the time, and later she wanted to find a version that would better suit her nutritional philosophy and her family.

Goodles managed to gain a significant share in the mac and cheese category in the United States. According to the published data, the company reported its first profit in 2024, and its market share reached 7.8% of the shelf-stable mac and cheese category in the United States.

The success of Goodles comes at a time when the American market is dealing with a change in consumer tastes and increasing competition from products perceived as healthier.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Barilla Group had been following Goodles for some time, and talks between the parties regarding the acquisition began in June. Now, an agreement has been signed between the companies.

In a statement from Goodles, it was reported that after the completion of the deal, the brand is expected to continue operating independently within the Barilla Group. According to reports, the company's operations will remain in Santa Cruz.

Barilla Group Chairman Guido Barilla also addressed the move. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, he said that the group had been following Goodles for a long time and was impressed by the brand and its growth.

For Gadot, this is another significant step in the business world, after having been involved in the establishment of Goodles and the expansion of its operations since its early days. Exactly how much the Israeli actress will receive as part of the deal with Barilla, if and when it is completed, has not yet been disclosed.