Del Monte bankruptcy: 138-year old grocery store staple files for Chapter 11
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Del Monte Foods Files for Bankruptcy, Seeks Buyer
Above: Del Monte Foods canned tomato sauce at a store in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Image copyright: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Del Monte's bankruptcy represents a necessary strategic move to shed excessive debt and find new ownership that can revitalize this iconic American brand. The court-supervised sale process will maximize value for stakeholders while ensuring continued operations during peak canning season. With proper restructuring, Del Monte can emerge stronger and better positioned for long-term success.
Narrative B
This bankruptcy filing exposes how Del Monte failed to adapt to changing consumer demands and mounting financial pressures from inflation and tariffs. Del Monte failed to adapt to the generational shift that prized freshness and health-consciousness over the convenience of canned foods, despite canned vegetables being just as healthy as their counterparts in the produce section. This was a serious marketing failure for Del Monte.