What Brand Is Behind Walmart's Great Value Peanut Butter?

Why It Matters

Understanding the supplier chain reveals how major retailers secure low‑cost, high‑quality private‑label products, influencing pricing power and brand perception in the competitive grocery market.

Key Takeaways

• ConAgra supplied Great Value peanut butter until 2007 recall
• Post Holdings bought 8th Avenue for $880 million in 2025
• 8th Avenue acquired ConAgra’s peanut‑butter plant in 2019
• Post now markets both name‑brand and private‑label peanut butter
• Supplier secrecy keeps Walmart’s sourcing opaque

Pulse Analysis

Walmart’s Great Value line has long relied on hidden manufacturers to deliver budget‑friendly staples, and peanut butter is no exception. Historically, ConAgra Foods was the behind‑the‑scenes partner, a relationship exposed when a 2007 recall linked the private‑label jar to the same facility that produced its Peter Pan brand. ConAgra’s aggressive expansion into private‑label manufacturing peaked with the $5 billion acquisition of Ralcorp in 2012, but the strategy was reversed in 2015 when the company sold the division, signaling a retreat from the low‑margin segment.

The vacuum left by ConAgra opened the door for Post Holdings, a diversified food company that has been consolidating private‑label capabilities. In 2025, Post completed an $880 million purchase of 8th Avenue Food and Provisions, a specialist contract manufacturer. This move followed 8th Avenue’s 2019 acquisition of ConAgra’s peanut‑butter plant, the very facility that once churned out Great Value jars. By controlling both the brand (Peter Pan) and the production line, Post can leverage economies of scale, streamline ingredient sourcing, and offer Walmart a reliable, cost‑effective supply chain for its flagship peanut butter.

For consumers, the supplier shift matters less than price and taste, but for the industry it underscores the growing clout of private‑label manufacturers. As retailers like Walmart continue to prioritize margin‑friendly products, companies that can provide both branded and store‑brand versions—such as Post—gain strategic leverage. This dynamic may spur further consolidation among contract packagers and encourage retailers to renegotiate terms, ultimately shaping the competitive landscape of grocery shelf space and influencing how private‑label quality is perceived by shoppers.