Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever is to beef up its health and wellness offering through the acquisition of US-based SmartyPants Vitamins.

The Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Marmite owner said it had signed an agreement to buy the Los Angeles-based vitamin, mineral and supplement business for an undisclosed sum.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

SmartyPants Vitamins was founded in 2011 by entrepreneurs Courtney Nichols Gould and Gordon Gould with an emphasis on using natural ingredients.

It works with non-GMO certified ingredients and a range of sustainably sourced “bio-available nutrients”. Their product range is free from synthetic colours, artificial flavours, sweeteners and preservatives.

Peter Ter Kulve, president of health and wellbeing at Unilever, said SmartyPants Vitamins “complements Unilever’s portfolio of brands in the functional nutrition and supplement segment”, pointing to brands such as Horlicks and Olly.

The Gould owners, who are co-CEOs, added: “From the start, SmartyPants Vitamins has been about family, authenticity and a core commitment to our collective well-being. We are excited to work with Unilever to grow the SmartyPants brand.”

SmartyPants Vitamins has a long-standing partnership with non-profit organisation Vitamin Angels to provide vitamins for mothers, expectant mothers and children in need worldwide.

Unilever has completed several deals in the last two years in areas similar to SmartyPants Vitamins.

In April this year, the company acquired the food-and-beverage brand Horlicks and other consumer healthcare nutrition products from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

In April 2019, it bought US-based vitamins-to-snack-bars firm Olly Nutrition.