Aug 14 (Reuters) - Family-owned packaged food giant

Mars, whose candy brands include M&M's and Snickers, said on

Wednesday it would buy Pringles maker Kellanova ( K ) for nearly

$36 billion in the biggest deal in the packaged food sector.

The deal comes days after Reuters reported that Mars was

exploring a potential acquisition of Kellanova ( K ).

(Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun

Koyyur)