No deal: A Heinz Ketchup bottle sits between a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese and a bottle of Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce on a grocery store shelf in New York City. Unilever spurned Kraft Heinz’s US143bil offer Friday, saying it is too low. – Reuters

NEW YORK: Competitors relieved that Kraft Heinz Co snubbed them for Unilever may want to skip the celebration.

Campbell Soup Co, General Mills Inc, Kellogg Co and Mondelez International Inc were top potential acquisition targets for Kraft Heinz, and even though the company appears to have moved on, more consolidation could be on the menu. Whether or not the maker of Kraft Mac & Cheese can persuade Unilever to form the world’s second-biggest food company, struggling US giants still face pressure to break their years-long sales malaise.

“They’re probably breathing a sigh of relief, but then it becomes a question of what’s next,” said Brittany Weissman, an analyst at Edward Jones. “Sales aren’t getting better and at some point the cost cuts are going to run out.”

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