Kraft Heinz Co

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of The Kraft Heinz Company

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Kraft Heinz Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023, and the related consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive income, of equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2024, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Interim and Annual Goodwill Impairment Assessments for Certain Reporting Units

As described in Notes 2 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s goodwill balance was $28.7 billion as of December 28, 2024, a significant portion of which related to certain reporting units, Taste Elevation, Ready Meals, and Snacking (TMS), Away from Home & Kraft Heinz Ingredients (AFH), Meat & Cheese (MC), Canada and North America Coffee (CNAC), and Continental Europe (CE). Management tests reporting units for impairment annually as of the first day of the third quarter, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Reporting units are tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recorded based on the difference between the fair value and carrying amount, not to exceed the associated carrying amount of goodwill. Management recognized non-cash goodwill impairment losses of $1.6 billion for the year ended December 28, 2024, a significant portion of which related to the AFH, MC, and CE reporting units. Management utilizes the discounted cash flow method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of reporting units. Management’s cash flow projections included significant assumptions related to net sales, cost of products sold, selling, general, and administrative costs (SG&A), depreciation and amortization, working capital, capital expenditures, income tax rates, discount rates, long-term growth rates, royalty rates, and other market factors.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the interim goodwill impairment assessments (for TMS, AFH, and MC) and annual goodwill impairment assessments (for TMS, AFH, MC, CNAC, and CE) is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the fair value estimate of the reporting units; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to net sales, cost of products sold, SG&A, discount rate, long-term growth rate, and royalty rate, as applicable to the reporting unit; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s goodwill impairment assessments, including controls over the valuation of the TMS, AFH, MC, CNAC, and CE reporting units. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of the reporting units; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the discounted cash flow method used by management; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the method; and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to net sales, cost of products sold, SG&A, discount rate, long-term growth rate, and royalty rate, as applicable to the reporting unit. Evaluating management’s assumptions related to net sales, cost of products sold, SG&A, royalty rates, discount rates, and long-term growth rates involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the reporting units; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in evaluating (i) the appropriateness of the Company’s discounted cash flow method and (ii) the reasonableness of the discount rate and long-term growth rate assumptions, as applicable to the reporting unit.

Annual Impairment Assessments for Certain Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets– Individual Brands

As described in Notes 2 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets balance, which consists primarily of individual brands, was $36.5 billion as of December 28, 2024, a portion of which related to certain brands, Kraft, Velveeta, Oscar Mayer, and Lunchables. Management tests brands for impairment annually as of the first day of the third quarter, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a brand is less than its carrying amount. Brands are tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of each brand with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a brand exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recorded based on the difference between the fair value and carrying amount. As a result of its annual impairment test, management recognized non-cash indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment losses of $0.6 billion for the year ended December 28, 2024. As disclosed by management, management utilizes either an excess earnings method or relief from royalty method to estimate the fair value of its brands. Using the excess earnings method, management’s cash flow projections included significant assumptions relating to net sales, cost of products sold, SG&A, contributory asset charges, income tax considerations, long-term growth rates, discount rates, and other market factors. Using the relief from royalty method, management’s cash flow projections included significant assumptions related to net sales, royalty rates, income tax considerations, long-term growth rates, discount rates, and other market factors.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the annual indefinite-lived intangible impairment assessments (for Kraft, Velveeta, Oscar Mayer, and Lunchables) is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the fair value estimate of the brands; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to (a) net sales, cost of products sold, SG&A, and long-term growth rates, as applicable to the brand, for the excess earnings method and (b) net sales and royalty rates, as applicable to the brand, for the relief from royalty method; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment assessment, including controls over the valuation of the Kraft, Velveeta, Oscar Mayer, and Lunchables brands. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of the brands; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the excess earnings and relief from royalty methods used by management; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the methods; and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to (a) net sales, cost of products sold, SG&A, and long-term growth rates, as applicable to the brand, used for the excess earnings method and (b) net sales and royalty rates, as applicable to the brand, used for the relief from royalty method. Evaluating management’s assumptions related to net sales, cost of products sold, SG&A, and long-term growth rates for the excess earnings method and net sales and royalty rates for the relief from royalty method involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the brand; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in evaluating (i) the appropriateness of the Company’s excess earnings and relief from royalty methods and (ii) the reasonableness of the long-term growth rate assumption for the excess earnings method and the reasonableness of the royalty rates assumption for the relief from royalty method.

Valuation of Non-US Deferred Tax Asset Related to the Change in Entity Structure

As described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company enacted changes to its corporate entity structure, which included a transfer of and will result in the movement of certain business operations to a wholly-owned subsidiary in the Netherlands, resulting in a tax benefit of $3 billion recorded as a non-U.S. deferred tax asset in December 2024. The deferred tax asset was recognized as a result of the book and tax basis difference on the business transferred, with the tax basis determined by reference to the fair value of the business. As disclosed by management, management used the discounted cash flow method to estimate the fair value of the business and made significant assumptions related to net sales, discount rate, long-term growth rate, income tax rates, and other market factors. The recognition of the future tax benefits associated with the transaction are dependent upon the acceptance of the business valuation and tax step-up by the associated taxing authorities.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of the non-US deferred tax asset related to the change in entity structure is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the fair value estimate of the business and related value of the deferred tax asset; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating the recognition of future tax benefits and management’s significant assumptions related to net sales, discount rate, long-term growth rate, and income tax rates; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s assessment of the valuation of the non-US deferred tax asset related to the change in entity structure, including controls over the valuation of the business transferred. These procedures also included, among others (i) evaluating the positive and negative evidence available to assess management’s assessment of the realizability of the deferred tax asset related to the change in entity structure; (ii) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of the business, (iii) evaluating the appropriateness of the discounted cash flow method; (iv) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the method; and (v) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to net sales, discount rate, long term growth rate, and income tax rates. Evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to net sales, discount rate, and long-term growth rate involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the transferred business; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in evaluating (i) the appropriateness of the Company’s discounted cash flow method; (ii) the reasonableness of the discount rate, income tax rates, and long-term growth rate assumptions; and (iii) the recognition of future tax benefits associated with this transaction.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chicago, Illinois

February 13, 2025

We have served as the Company’s or its predecessors' auditor since 1979.