Nestlé to Acquire Majority Stake in Vital Proteins
Nestlé Health Science, a global leader in the field of nutritional science, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Vital Proteins, the market leader in collagen in the United States and a leading lifestyle and wellness platform offering supplements, beverages, and food products. The agreement is subject to customary regulatory approval.
Vital Proteins will continue to operate as a standalone business – remaining committed to its founding mission of helping people live healthier lives through high quality, sustainably-sourced collagen nutrition. Becoming a part of the Nestlé portfolio will equip Vital Proteins with a variety of resources to scale its reach and innovation in pursuit of global wellness.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Nestlé Health Science to enter a growing area of nutrition with a successful brand,” says Greg Behar, CEO of Nestlé Health Science. “Our companies share the belief that nothing is more important than health, and everything we do is focused on that belief. In combining our efforts to optimize health through nutrition, we can achieve even more to help our consumers live fuller, more vibrant lives.”
Vital Proteins complements Nestlé Health Science’s other vitamin, mineral, supplement and wellness brands, including Atrium Innovations, Garden of Life, Pure Encapsulations and Persona, each with a unique area of specialty and focus.
Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the body, representing nearly 30 percent of all human protein content and 70 percent of the protein content found in the skin. It is a key component of connective tissues, supporting the health of skin, hair, nails, bones and joints. Collagen production in the body starts to decline at about age 25, thus making collagen supplementation fundamental to wellness and longevity.
Vital Proteins has 150 SKUs across 35,000 retail doors in North America and Europe, including Whole Foods, Costco, Target, Walgreens and Kroger. This will be the first acquisition of a collagen-based wellness company to date, proving that consumer mindsets are shifting toward bettering one’s personal well-being.
