Nestlé Health Science has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Vital Proteins, a producer of collagen-based beverages, food products and supplements.
US-based Vital Proteins’ product range includes collagen bars, waters and protein powders, with 150 SKUs sold in over 35,000 retailers.
According to Nestlé Health Science, Vital Proteins will operate as a standalone entity, while Kurt Seidensticker – the founder and CEO of Vital Proteins – will remain as the company’s CEO and will continue to lead the company.
Nestlé Health Science claims that the addition of Vital Proteins complements its existing range of vitamin, mineral, supplement and wellness brands, while Vital Proteins will now have access to a variety of resources to scale their reach and innovation in pursuit of global wellness.
Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed by either company, and the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.
Greg Behar, CEO of Nestlé Health Science, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Nestlé Health Science to enter a growing area of nutrition with a successful brand.
“Our companies share the belief that nothing is more important than health, and everything we do is focused on that belief. In combining our efforts to optimize health through nutrition, we can achieve even more to help our consumers live fuller, more vibrant lives.”
Kurt Seidensticker, founder and CEO of Vital Proteins, added: “We at Vital Proteins, alongside Nestlé Health Science, are committed to expanding our wellness platform to the world. We are partnering together to continue the evolution of the functional nutrition space through premium products and innovation that meet customers where they are in their wellness journey.
“Joining Nestlé Health Science allows us to take Vital Proteins to the next level by leveraging resources, scale and capabilities, and moving toward a future with an expanded offering of science-backed products.”
Last year, Nestlé Health Science acquired childhood nutrition firm Before Brands, which specialises in early childhood food allergy prevention.
By: Martin Whiteon
Source: Food Bev Media
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