Henley: Ella’s Kitchen acquired by US organic products group

Ella's Kitchen Group has been acquired by leading US-based natural and organic products company, Hain Celestial Group, which provides consumers with ‘a healthier way of life’. The deal enables the formation of a global infant, toddler & kids division under Hain Celestial US. 

Henley-based Ella's Kitchen is a manufacturer and distributor of premium organic baby food, and was the first company to offer baby food in convenient flexible pouches. The group offers a range of 80 branded organic baby food products, principally in the United Kingdom, United States and Scandinavia.

Paul Lindley, founder of Ella's Kitchen, will become CEO of the new global infant, toddler & kids division, with responsibility for Hain Celestial's Earth's Best brand as well as the newly-acquired Ella's Kitchen brand. He will report to John Carroll, executive vice president and CEO of Hain Celestial US.

"Today is truly exciting and ground breaking,” said Lindley. “I started Ella's Kitchen just seven years ago, alone in my daughter Ella's playroom. Now our Ella's Kitchen adventure continues as our total consumer focus, deep passion, clear vision and exceptionally-talented team becomes part of a leading global natural and organic food and personal care business.

“The chance to take the next steps on our journey to improve children's health with a partner like Hain Celestial and the Earth's Best brand is something we relish and cherish.

“Together, we are committed to building the business that always put children's nutrition first. I am proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to what we can do, as we show that in business tiny ripples can become big waves of change."

Said Irwin D. Simon, founder, president and CEO of Hain Celestial: "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. Our Earth's Best team has much to be proud of too, having grown the brand from less than $15 million in sales in 1999 to over $150m today.

“We welcome Paul who, together with our accomplished Earth's Best team, should accelerate the growth of both brands in our new division.

“We strive to change the way the world eats, and bringing together the Earth's Best and Ella's Kitchen brands should enable us to bring our natural and organic nutritional feeding offerings to a global consumer base."

In 2012, Ella's Kitchen generated approximately $70m in sales. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.