Jo'El Ellis

Del Monte Foods is one of the largest producers and distributors of canned fruits and vegetables in the U.S. Brands include Del Monte, Contadina, College Inn. Pet products include Meow Mix, 9Lives and Milk-Bone. Formed in 1916, the business was purchased by management in 1990 from RJR Nabisco. Investor group Texas Pacific Group acquired the company in 1997. Two years later the company went public. In March 2011, the company was acquired by a group of private equity investors led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in a deal worth $5.3 billion.