Nestlé buys US vitamin-maker The Bountiful Company’s core brands for $5.75 billion as wellness race heats up

It comes after Nestlé recorded its highest quarterly sales growth in a decade last week

(AFP/ Getty)

Nestlé revealed on Friday that it has bought some of US vitamin-maker The Bountiful Company's core brands for $5.75 billion (£4.13 billion).

Demand for vitamins has surged since the pandemic hit, with wellbeing remaining at the front of consumers' minds.

The deal, reached following talks this week, covers Bountiful's Nature’s Bounty, Solgar, Osteo Bi-Flex and Puritan’s Pride brands.

The Swiss multinational acquired the products from the company's owner, the private equity firm KKR, which bought Bountiful for $3.3 billion (£2.3 billion) three years ago.

It comes after Nestlé recorded its highest quarterly sales growth in a decade last week.

Today the group cited the "highly attractive and growing global nutrition and supplement category", and said it aims to integrate the brands into its health science division to create "a global leader in vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements".

Nestlé health science division chief, Greg Behar, said: "Vitamins and supplements are a key part of our business and have contributed to strong growth acceleration.

"This acquisition complements our existing health and nutrition portfolio in terms of brands and channels. It will establish Nestlé Health Science as the industry leader in mass retail, specialty retail, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer in the US, while offering significant opportunities for geographic growth."

Bountiful's sports and active nutrition brands Pure Protein, and it's Dr.Organic brand, are not included in the deal - which is expected to close later this year.

Consumer goods giant Unilever is also in the current race to acquire top wellness brands.

It recently snapped up US supplements firm Onnit, whose products are aimed at improving gut health and immunity, for an undisclosed amount.

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