Several high-profile acquisitions in the organic baby food market have taken place recently.
The Hain Celestial Group, Melville, NY, acquired Ella’s Kitchen Group Limited, forming a new division under Hain Celestial US. Ella’s Kitchen manufactures and distributes premium organic baby food. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Yogurt leader Danone, maker of Dannon yogurt in the United States, has acquired an equity interest of over 90% in Happy Family, New York, NY. The baby food maker was founded in 2006.
Private equity firm Catterton Partners is set to sell Emeryville, CA-based Plum Organics, the second-largest organic baby food brand in the country, to Campbell Soup Company. Campbell, which spent large sums combating genetically engineered food labeling last election cycle, says it is trying to shift its “center of gravity.”
No injuries were reported when a fire ripped through the headquarters of Organic Valley in La Farge, WI, on May 15. About two-thirds of the farmer-owned co-op’s offices were left damaged, but the company was still taking orders after receiving an outpouring of support.
Nature’s Path, Richmond, BC, Canada, along with Frontier Natural Products Co-Op, Norway, IA, and other companies were honored by Whole Foods Market with its 2013 Supplier Awards. The chain awards suppliers that embody innovation, social responsibility, outstanding quality and environmental leadership in a dozen different categories.
Published in WholeFoods Magazine, July 2013