Isophoric News · Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Abbott says it plans to separate its nutrition business into an independent public company by the end of 2027
Abbott said Wednesday, Oct. 21, that it plans to spin out its nutrition business, which has about $8.5 billion in annual sales and includes Similac, Ensure, Pedialyte, PediaSure and Glucerna, as an independent, publicly traded company, Food Dive and NutraIngredients reported. Abbott expects to complete the separation by the end of 2027, subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions, and shareholders would own shares in both companies. Abbott said the new company would have about 16,000 employees and 14 manufacturing sites with Daniel Salvadori as CEO, and that its remaining businesses would have about $42 billion in annual sales, according to NutraIngredients and Food Dive. Abbott reported nutrition sales of $2.26 billion in the third quarter, up 5.1% as reported, while nine-month nutrition sales were down 1.3%, NutraIngredients said. Food Dive reported that the separation does not change Abbott's guidance for 2026 or 2027, which the company plans to give in January, and that Abbott cut its 2026 sales growth guidance to 6% from a prior range of 6.5% to 7.5%. CEO Robert Ford said in the announcement that the unit would be better positioned as an independent company. Food Dive also noted Abbott's September $385 million settlement with the Justice Department over its 2022 infant formula recall, which Abbott said was not a finding of fault or liability.