Phoenix, AZ—Virgo, the information distribution company behind several prominent industry events including SupplySide West, has been acquired by Informa plc under its Global Exhibition Group banner.

While financial details have yet to be disclosed, it is believed that this acquisition will increase the Group’s earnings in the first full post-acquisition year. In addition to SupplySide West, Virgo also runs five other trade shows and conferences, as well as publishing nine trade magazines and operating online stores, training and accreditation programs.

Representatives of Virgo believe the acquisition will help Informa’s Global Exhibition Group increase its exhibition activities in the United States, complementing the company’s Vitafoods exhibition brand, currently one of the leaders in the health and beauty sector in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Informa made a similar statement, remarking that “Today’s announcement of the purchase of a U.S. exhibition business complements our existing position in the Health & Nutrition market sector through Vitafoods, creating a strong, global brand proposition in this attractive vertical. It also provides us with an established base on which to build our presence in the important U.S. Exhibitions Sector.” Informa also made a large acquisition in China last year, following this aim for a global presence.

John Siefert, CEO of VIRGO, recognized the opportunities and changes this move means for his company, commenting that “the opportunity to align VIRGO’s events, web and media programming within the Informa business offers an incredible amount of scale to everything the company has accomplished.” He continued on to mention that Informa’s ability to use Virgo’s presence in the United States was certain to be a “game changer in the market.”

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, September 2014