Nestlé to acquire majority stake in US collagen brand Vital Proteins

Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Vital Proteins, a US collagen brand and a lifestyle and wellness platform that manufactures supplements, beverages, and food products.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

Considered to be the most abundant protein found in the body, Collagen represents about 30% of all human protein content and 70% of the protein content found in the skin. It is a major component of connective tissues that supports the health of skin, hair, nails, bones, and joints.

Production of Collagen in the body usually begins to drop at the age of around 25, thereby making its supplementation essential for wellness and longevity, said Nestlé Health Science.

For Nestlé Health Science, this will be the first acquisition of a collagen-based wellness company.

Nestlé to acquire majority stake in US collagen brand Vital Proteins. Photo courtesy of Nestlé.

Nestlé Health Science said that Vital Proteins will continue to operate as an independent business with transaction helping it to equip it with a range of resources to scale its reach and innovation.

Vital Proteins is said to complement Nestlé Health Science’s other vitamin, mineral, supplement and wellness brands such as Atrium Innovations, Garden of Life, Persona, and Pure Encapsulations.

Kurt Seidensticker – Founder and CEO of Vital Protein said: “We at Vital Proteins, alongside Nestlé Health Science, are committed to expanding our wellness platform to the world. We are partnering together to continue the evolution of the functional nutrition space through premium products and innovation that meet customers where they are in their wellness journey.

“Joining NHSc allows us to take Vital Proteins to the next level by leveraging resources, scale and capabilities, and moving toward a future with an expanded offering of science-backed products.”

The collagen brand has 150 SKUs in 35,000 retail doors in North America and Europe, which includes the likes of Whole Foods, Costco, Walgreens, Target, and Kroger.

Greg Behar – CEO of Nestlé Health Science said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Nestlé Health Science to enter a growing area of nutrition with a successful brand.

“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.”