Foodie News
America’s Test Kitchen Moves to Acquire Food52 Assets in Court-Supervised Sale
America’s Test Kitchen has agreed to acquire certain Food52 assets through a court-supervised Chapter 11 process, with ATK also providing proposed DIP financing.
America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) is positioning itself to take over key Food52 assets as the popular food and lifestyle brand restructures under Chapter 11—an announcement that signals a major shakeup (and possible reset) in the culinary media world.
In a news release dated Dec. 30, 2025, ATK confirmed it has entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets of Food52, Inc. through a court-supervised bankruptcy process. The proposed deal is subject to bankruptcy court approval and would unite two well-known media brands with loyal audiences and distinct editorial identities.
What’s happening: a Chapter 11 process with ATK as “stalking horse” bidder
Food52, Inc. has filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 relief in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The filing is designed to facilitate an auction sale of substantially all of the company’s assets.
ATK is serving as the proposed “stalking horse” bidder—meaning it’s setting an initial benchmark offer that can be topped by other bidders in the auction process. In bankruptcy sales, stalking horse bids can help establish deal structure and price expectations while keeping the process moving.
DIP financing: keeping Food52 operating during bankruptcy
Alongside the acquisition agreement, Food52 has also reached an agreement with ATK for new capital via a debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing facility. If approved by the court, the DIP financing is expected to provide enough liquidity for Food52 to continue operating during the Chapter 11 case.
That matters for readers and customers because it suggests Food52’s day-to-day business—content, commerce, and community—aims to continue without an immediate shutdown while the sale process plays out.
What the CEOs are saying
ATK CEO Daniel Suratt framed the move as both a growth opportunity and a bet on Food52’s brand equity.
“We are delighted at the opportunity to acquire the Food52 brand assets and to grow this iconic brand that audiences love,” Suratt said, adding that ATK believes Food52 “remains a singular media property with a strong legacy.”
Food52 CEO Erika Ayers Badan emphasized the brand’s original mission—food, design, and community—and pointed to ATK’s reputation as a steady hand in culinary media.
“From the beginning, Food52 aspired to build a place where great food, thoughtful design and a deeply engaged community could live together,” Ayers Badan said. “We are excited at the prospect of bringing this into the future with the help of America’s Test Kitchen.”
Why this deal is a big moment in foodie media
ATK and Food52 have long served overlapping audiences—home cooks who care about good recipes and good storytelling—but they’ve done it with very different strengths.
- America’s Test Kitchen is known for rigorous testing, technique-first instruction, and a deep bench of editors and test cooks across TV, magazines, cookbooks, podcasts, and digital subscriptions.
- Food52 has built a reputation around distinctive storytelling, design-forward lifestyle content, and a community-driven approach that blends editorial with commerce.
If the acquisition is approved, the big question becomes how those strengths get combined: Does Food52 become more test-kitchen structured? Does ATK expand further into lifestyle and product storytelling? Or does ATK keep Food52’s voice intact while stabilizing the business behind it?
What happens next
Food52 is expected to file customary “First Day” motions as part of the restructuring process—standard requests that help a company maintain normal operations early in a bankruptcy case.
For now, the acquisition remains pending court approval and the auction process. But the headline is clear: ATK is making a serious play for Food52’s assets, and the outcome could reshape what readers see (and shop) across one of the internet’s most recognizable food brands.
About the companies (as stated)
America’s Test Kitchen, founded in 1992, is a multi-platform culinary media company producing TV series including America’s Test Kitchen, Cook’s Country, and America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation, along with Cook’s Illustrated, cookbooks, the Proof podcast, FAST channels, short-form video, and its ATK Essential subscription.
Food52 Inc. is the parent company of Food52, Schoolhouse, and Dansk, spanning food, home, and lifestyle content and commerce.
Sources: PR Newswire – “America’s Test Kitchen Under Contract for Food52, Inc. Assets” https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americas-test-kitchen-under-contract-for-food52-inc-assets-302650783.html
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