Hotter, drier UK weather is putting fresh pressure on potato crops and crisp production costs, even as demand for snacks remains steady. That mix of rising input risks and resilient consumer appetite can matter a lot for packaged food stocks in 2026. Some companies may be better placed than others to handle higher irrigation expenses, crop variability and pricing decisions. This article looks at 3 stocks from our Consumer Staples, Packaged Foods & Snacks screener that appear positively exposed to the current news backdrop and explains what that might mean for your watchlist and risk radar.

Mama's Creations (MAMA)

Overview: Mama's Creations manufactures and sells fresh deli prepared foods in the US, offering meatballs, meat loaf, sausages, pasta and rice entrees, olives and other ready to eat items across supermarket, club and mass retail channels, as well as through its website and social media presence.

Operations: The company generates all of its US$189.2 million in revenue from food processing activities in the United States.

Market Cap: US$829.5 million

Investors watching packaged foods during a period of crop stress may find Mama's Creations interesting because it sits in refrigerated deli rather than potato based snacks, while still benefiting from steady demand for convenient, fresh prepared meals. The company has been expanding distribution into Walmart, Target and club channels, investing in production efficiency and integrating recent acquisitions that broaden its product range. At the same time, the P/E multiple is high and the balance sheet leans on higher risk funding, with recent equity issuance adding dilution and future lock up expiries to watch. How those growth plans, pricing actions and cost pressures interact from here is where the real story starts to get more complicated.

Mama's Creations looks like a growth story tied to deli demand, yet its high P/E and funding mix raise questions. See how the 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign might reshape your view of the risk reward balance.

C&C Group (LSE:CCR)

Overview: C&C Group is a Dublin based drinks company that manufactures, markets and distributes beer, cider, wine, spirits and soft drinks across the UK, Ireland and selected international markets through brands such as Tennent’s, Bulmers, Magners and Matthew Clark.

Operations: C&C Group generates €309.5 million from its Branded division and €1.26b from Distribution, with most revenue coming from Great Britain at €1.33b, followed by Ireland at €221.1 million and €20.3 million from International markets.

Market Cap: £389.1 million

C&C Group gives you exposure to resilient UK and Irish drinks demand at a time when weather related cost pressures are in focus across consumer staples. The company is leaning into higher value brands, growing low and no alcohol options and using hedging and cost programs to manage input inflation, even as materials like sugar, cereals and glass have pushed manufacturing costs higher. At the same time, earnings are still thin, dividend cover is weak and the P/E multiple is elevated compared to many beverage peers, all against a backdrop of index exclusion in June 2026 and a relatively concentrated regional footprint. The real question is whether the mix of brand investment, efficiencies and share buybacks can justify that valuation premium over time.

C&C Group’s brand push and cost initiatives may be masking an earnings picture that differs from what the headline P/E suggests. The full 2 key rewards and 3 important warning signs could highlight where that gap really matters

Simply Good Foods (SMPL)

Overview: The Simply Good Foods Company develops and sells packaged snacks and meal replacements, including protein bars, shakes, salty snacks and confectionery, primarily under the Quest, Atkins and OWYN brands across retail stores and e-commerce channels in North America and selected international markets.

Operations: Simply Good Foods generates about US$1.39b in revenue from branded nutritional foods and snacking products, with roughly US$1.36b coming from North America and US$29.2 million from international markets.

Market Cap: US$941.2 million

Simply Good Foods gives you direct exposure to packaged snacking at a time when weather related supply pressures are front of mind for investors. Its story is currently more about a portfolio shift than potatoes. Quest and OWYN are gaining shelf space and new formats, while Atkins weakness, recent net sales declines and an impairment indicate this is still a turnaround with execution risk. Management is using price increases, productivity efforts and sizeable buybacks as tools to support the recovery. Analysts have highlighted a large gap between the current share price and both DCF estimates and price targets. The key question is whether brand mix, margin rebuild and a relatively new leadership team can translate that potential into durable earnings.

Simply Good Foods looks like a turnaround that many investors might be misreading, with brand mix shifts and buybacks potentially masking where the real earnings power could land next. Get the full context in the analyst forecasts for Simply Good Foods before the most important twist in the story becomes obvious.

The three stocks covered here are only a starting point, with our full Consumer Staples Sector, Packaged Foods & Snacks screen surfacing 20 more companies that carry equally compelling narratives around product mix, supply chain resilience and pricing power in this space through the Consumer Staples Sector - Packaged Foods & Snacks screener. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the exact catalysts that matter to you, from cost pressures and balance sheet strength to brand momentum, so you can focus on the highest conviction ideas instead of scrolling through noise.

Take Control of Your Investment Journey

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.