With the conglomerates I don't think the products change much, however, I do think once the smaller company is absorbed by the conglomerate the reporting policies for allergen warning becomes that of the parent company. Transparency remains strongest amongst independent owner operators because there is a more direct pipeline of consumer to corporate communication. The party line of conglomerates has become they'll put a warning on if there is risk, a risk that they have determined by their rubric of allergen management and washes. This is something most CS reps will have scripted and happily extoll the commitment to allergen management because they have little to no contact with the actual manufacturing.
It becomes apparent when we compare our field notes here. We have to learn to decode responses of scripted customer service centers. If there was a risk it would be labeled... no, no nuts in facility (when their screen probably says something more like what allergens are present in the product instead of shared lines, facility).
I might have a contact in the area still from the FARE conference. At least for now the products and facility will remain unchanged most likely. What I would foresee changing most immediately that affects us is that ability for more direct contact for the type of line and facility information we valued in the brand, and increased our brand loyalty. Take milk. They have milk in the facility. In the last year they were more upfront about it declaring that at least the line was dedicated milk free and batch testing was performed. From here out I would not expect to get even that sort of information under the ownership of a conglomerate for much longer once those business practices transfer.