Hain Celestial snaps up organic baby food firm Ella's Kitchen
UK-based Ella’s Kitchen - which generated around $70m in sales in 2012 and sells more than 80 products in the UK, the US and Scandinavia - will be rolled into a new Global Infant, Toddler & Kids division.
The division, which will include Hain Celestial's Earth's Best brand, will be led by Ella’s Kitchen founder Paul Lindley, who will report to Hain Celestial US CEO John Carroll.
Hain Celestial founder and CEO Irwin D. Simon, said: "We plan to grow the Ella's Kitchen brand by leveraging our distribution platform in the EU and the US .
“We also see the opportunity to expand in the UK market with new feeding and personal care products under the Ella's Kitchen brand."
Q3 sales up 21%
The deal - the terms of which have not been disclosed - was announced as Hain Celestial posted a 21.4% surge in sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2013 to $456.1m. Earnings from continuing operations rose 68.5% to $41.8m over the same period.
Speaking at the UBS Global Consumer Conference in March, John Carroll said new products utilizing 'hot' health ingredients from chia and quinoa to coconut pulp and almonds have been a hit with consumers, while the Greek Gods brand continues to gain momentum.
Other recent launches include a new beverage containing almond, cashew & hazelnut milk; Yummy Tummy organic fruit and fiber purees and organic fruit yogurt smoothies with DHA under the Earth's Best brand; Sleepytime decaf blackberry pomegranate green tea; Sleepytime snooz shots with valerian and melatonin and ENERJI green tea energy shots.
Hain Celestial's stable of brands including Earth's Best (baby food), MaraNatha (nut butters), Greek Gods (yogurt), Linda McCartney (vegetarian meals) and BluePrint (juices).
