Dive Summary:

• The ConAgra-Ralcorp deal has finally closed as ConAgra pays $90 a share to acquire the private-brand giant.
• The combined company, estimated to rake in $18 billion annually, will don the mantle of largest food processor in the U.S.
• With 36,000 employees, the new food super-giant will be spending the next few months facilitating the transition, says ConAgra CEO Gary Rodkin, certainly no easy task.

From the article:

With 36,000 employees and sales of approximately $18bn annually, the combined company is one of the largest packaged food companies in North America. The transaction also positions ConAgra Foods as the largest private brand packaged food business in North America, with approximately $4.5bn in combined annual private brand sales.

Gary Rodkin, chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, said: "We are now in a position to begin the most substantial aspects of integration planning and look forward to learning from and working with our new colleagues.