US-based food group Hain Celestial has made another acquisition in the UK, this time snapping up organic baby food firm Ella’s Kitchen.
The privately-owned Ella’s Kitchen, set up in 2006, sells products in the UK, the US and Scandinavia.
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Hain Celestial said the brand “complements” its own Earth’s Best line of infant and children’s products.
“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,” Hain Celestial president and CEO Irwin Simon said.
Ella’s Kitchen founder Paul Lindley will become global chief executive of Hain Celestial’s new global infant, toddler and kids unit, within its US operations.
He said: “Today is truly exciting and ground breaking. I started Ella’s Kitchen just seven years ago, alone in my daughter Ella’s playroom. Now our Ella’s Kitchen adventure continues as our total consumer focus, deep passion, clear vision and exceptionally talented team become part of a leading global natural and organic food and personal care business.”
The deal, signed for an undisclosed sum, is Hain Celestial’s third major acquisition in the UK in 18 months.
In August, Hain Celestial acquired a slate of brands including Hartley’s jam and Sun-Pat peanut butter from Premier Foods plc.
In October 2011, the company snapped up UK chilled foods firm Daniels Group, which includes the New Covent Garden Soup Co. brand.
