Organic babyfood company Ella’s Kitchen has been sold to US food giant Hain Celestial, it was announced yesterday.
The company will join Hain Celestial’s Earth’s Best brand in a new Global Infant, Toddler & Kids Division, which will be led by Ella’s Kitchen founder Paul Lindley.
Read this: Paul Lindley speaks to The Grocer exclusively about the deal
Lindley described the deal as “truly exciting and ground breaking”. “I started Ella’s Kitchen just seven years ago alone and in my kid’s playroom. To think that with total consumer focus, deep passion and clear vision and with an exceptionally talented team, we can, in such a short time, now lead one of the world’s largest natural and organic baby and children’s businesses is both inspiring and humbling.”
“We see the opportunity to expand in the UK market with new feeding and personal care products under the Ella’s Kitchen brand”
Irwin D Simon, Hain Celestial
Irwin D Simon, president and CEO of Hain Celestial, said: “We plan to grow the Ella’s Kitchen brand by leveraging our distribution platform in the European Union and the United States with the addition of Ella’s Kitchen organic baby food product offerings.
“We also see the opportunity to expand in the UK market with new feeding and personal care products under the Ella’s Kitchen brand.”
Lindley founded Ella’s Kitchen in 2006 with the aim of creating fun, nutritious baby fun. It now commands a 19% share of the UK baby food market and distributes internationally to 14 countries. Turnover rose by 36% to £41.2m in 2012, with a 76% increase in overseas sales.
Reports emerged last month that Ella’s Kitchen was in negotiations with Hain over a sale. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
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