3 Consumer Staples Stocks Built To Hold Up If Inflation Stays Higher

With G7 central banks weighing rate decisions, oil prices edging toward $100 per barrel, and inflation worries back in focus, many investors are rethinking how much of their portfolio is built to hold up when costs rise. Consumer staples stocks, especially those with solid balance sheets and dividends, can sometimes act as a pressure valve when inflation and policy uncertainty collide. This article looks at our Inflation-Resistant Consumer Staples screener and highlights 3 stocks that appear closely exposed to the latest inflation and interest rate headlines, which may help you decide whether they might fit your watchlist or deserve a closer look.

Coca-Cola HBC (LSE:CCH)

Overview: Coca-Cola HBC is a franchised bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola and related non alcoholic drinks, supplying sparkling soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, ready to drink tea and coffee, plant based beverages, premium spirits, dairy and snacks across Europe, Nigeria and other international markets. It sells through supermarkets, convenience stores, hotels, cafés, restaurants, vending and e commerce channels using a broad portfolio that includes Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Schweppes and local brands.

Operations: Coca-Cola HBC generates about €11.6b in revenue primarily from the sale and distribution of non alcoholic ready to drink beverages, with key contributions from Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Russia and other international markets.

Market Cap: £17.7b

Coca-Cola HBC appears in an inflation focused consumer staples screen because it sells everyday drinks that tend to see steady demand, and it has historically used pricing power to help manage cost pressures, which can matter more as oil and input costs rise. Reported earnings growth has outpaced the wider Beverage industry, reported returns on equity are high, and the company pairs that with a recurring dividend supported by cash flows. At the same time, heavy exposure to emerging markets and cost inflation in commodities, packaging and sugar taxes could make future margins more variable than they first appear. Recent insider selling and governance changes may also raise additional questions that careful investors may want to examine in more detail.

Coca-Cola HBC’s pricing power and high reported returns on equity could be telling only half the story, so it is worth lining those strengths up against the 3 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

MGP Ingredients (MGPI)

Overview: MGP Ingredients produces distilled spirits and branded spirits like bourbon, whiskey, tequila and vodka, alongside specialty wheat starches and proteins that food manufacturers use in packaged foods, bakery items and nutrition focused products worldwide.

Operations: MGP Ingredients generates about US$229m from Branded Spirits, US$162m from Distilling Solutions and US$130m from Ingredient Solutions.

Market Cap: US$378.1m

MGP Ingredients stands out in an inflation focused staples screen because it sits at the crossroads of everyday food ingredients and branded spirits, both of which can show steady end demand even when rates are high and oil prices are pushing up input costs. The stock trades well below some estimates of fair value and analysts still see upside. However, recent sales of US$106.43m in Q1 2026 came with a large net loss and negative return on equity, and the dividend is not covered by current earnings. High debt, insider selling and an inexperienced board add to the risk, but investors who can handle volatility may find the combination of staples exposure, branded spirits potential and an upcoming Q2 2026 earnings catalyst too interesting to ignore.

MGP Ingredients looks like a valuation story that has not fully played out, with staples exposure, branded spirits potential and recent losses pulling in opposite directions, so line up the opportunity against the DCF valuation analysis for MGP Ingredients.

Kraft Heinz (KHC)

Overview: Kraft Heinz is a global packaged food and beverage company that produces pantry staples such as condiments, sauces, cheese, snacks, desserts, drinks and meats under brands like Heinz, Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Jell-O and Capri Sun, selling into supermarkets, foodservice outlets and e-commerce channels worldwide.

Operations: Kraft Heinz generates about US$18.6b in revenue from North America, US$2.9b from Emerging Markets and US$3.6b from International Developed Markets.

Market Cap: US$30.4b

Kraft Heinz sits at the heart of the inflation resistant consumer staples theme, pairing an extensive portfolio of everyday brands with pricing power that can help when input costs rise and central banks keep rates elevated. The company is currently loss making and carries high debt, and its dividend is not fully covered by earnings, so income focused investors need to pay close attention to cash generation. At the same time, strong free cash flow, a 6%+ yield, brand refresh efforts and partnerships such as the new Disney tie up show management is working to make the business more resilient and relevant. The real question is how these shifts, plus the upcoming Q2 2026 earnings, could reshape the risk reward profile from here.

Kraft Heinz looks like a yield story that might be masking a bigger shift in how the business funds that 6%+ payout, so review the analysis report for Kraft Heinz

The three stocks in this article are only a sampling of the opportunities. The full Inflation-Resistant Consumer Staples screener surfaces 14 more large and mid cap consumer staples companies with equally compelling inflation related narratives. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts, balance sheet strength, dividends and risks that matter most to you so you can focus on the highest conviction ideas in this theme.

Take Control of Your Investment Journey

If MGP Ingredients or any of these companies sound like a great opportunity, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value the ideal entry point. Once you've made your move, manage your holdings with our Portfolio Command Center that filters out the noise to deliver only the most critical, actionable updates. Throughout your journey, our Community allows you to filter the best ideas from thousands of investor perspectives. By uncovering hidden catalysts and risks early, you'll accelerate your decision-making and stay one step ahead of the market.

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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.

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