US group Hain Celestial snaps up Ella’s Kitchen

02-May-2013 - Last updated on 03-May-2013 at 10:46 GMT

Paul Lindley will head up Hain Celestial’s new Global Infant, Toddler & Kids Division

Organic baby food company Ella’s Kitchen has been acquired by US firm Hain Celestial for an undisclosed sum.

The deal, announced yesterday (May 2), coincided with Hain Celestial setting up a Global Infant, Toddler & Kids Division in the US.

Ella’s Kitchen founder Paul Lindley, who launched the company seven years’ ago, will become ceo of the new division. He will report to John Carroll, executive vice president and ceo of Hain Celestial US.

The company offers a range of 80 branded organic baby food products, for sale principally in the UK, US and Scandinavia. It generated around £45M in sales in 2012.

“We are very excited by the strategic acquisition of Ella’s Kitchen, which complements our Earth’s Best line of infant, toddler and kids products,” said Irwin Simon, founder, president and ceo of Hain Celestial.

“Our Earth’s Best team has much to be proud of, having grown the brand from less than $15M in sales in 1999 to over $150M today.”

Simon added: “We plan to grow the Ella’s Kitchen brand by leveraging our distribution platform in the EU and the US with the addition of Ella’s Kitchen organic baby food product offerings.

Ella’s Kitchen is a manufacturer and distributor of premium organic baby food and claimed to be the first company to offer baby food in flexible pouches.

“We also see the opportunity to expand in the UK market with new feeding and personal care products under the Ella’s Kitchen brand.”