US-based Hain Celestial has acquired of Ella's Kitchen, a manufacturer and distributor of organic baby food, for an undisclosed amount.
The company has also formed a Global Infant, Toddler & Kids Division under Hain Celestial US.
Ella's Kitchen offers products under the Ella's Kitchen brand in convenient flexible pouches. The company produces a range of 80 branded organic baby food products primarily in the UK, US and Scandinavia. Ella's Kitchen generated approximately $70m in sales in the fiscal year 2012.
Hain Celestial stated that the Ella's Kitchen products complement its Earth's Best line of infant, toddler and kids products and the acquisition is expected to be accretive to its earnings in fiscal year 2014 by $0.05 to $0.08 per diluted share.
Hain Celestial's Earth's Best brand offers a wide range of baby products including jars, pouches, formula, cereal, smoothies, snacks, soups, meals and frozen products, diapers and wipes.
Hain Celestial founder, president and chief executive officer Irwin Simon said that the company plans to grow the Ella's Kitchen brand by leveraging its distribution platform in the European Union and the US with the addition of Ella's Kitchen organic baby food product offerings.
"We also see the opportunity to expand in the UK market with new feeding and personal care products under the Ella's Kitchen brand," Simon added.
Following the acquisition, Ella's Kitchen founder Paul Lindley will serve as the chief executive officer of the new Global Infant, Toddler & Kids division at Hain Celestial US and will be responsible for Hain Celestial's Earth's Best brand as well as the Ella's Kitchen brand.
