FDBusiness.com

The Hain Celestial Group, a leading organic and natural products company with operations in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, has acquired Clarks UK, The Natural Sweeteners Company, the leading maple syrup brand, and a natural sweetener brand, in the United Kingdom, for an undisclosed price.

Based at Newport in South Wales, Clarks produces natural sweeteners under the Clarks brand, including maple syrup, honey and carob, date and agave syrups, which are sold in leading retailers and used by food service and industrial customers in the UK.

“We welcome Bob Clark and his team to the Hain Celestial family and look forward to working with Clarks in expanding the brand’s development in the United Kingdom and continental Europe,” says Irwin D Simon, founder, president and chief executive of Hain Celestial. “The Clarks brand and products are a strategic fit with the Hain Daniels spreads business for various natural sweeteners applications to complement our health and wellness portfolio of brands as consumers continue to seek to reduce their sugar intake and look for better-for-you alternatives to refined sugar.”

In calendar year 2016, Clarks generated approximately £7 million in net sales and is expected to be accretive to Hain Celestial’s earnings in fiscal year 2019.

Owner of the Ella’s Kitchen, Linda McCartney Foods and Gale’s Honey businesses, Hain Celestial operates sites in the US, UK, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany and Austria.