Nestlé Health Science will make the first acquisition of a collagen-based wellness company to date, proving that consumer mindsets are shifting toward bettering one’s personal well-being.

WHO: In 2012, former NASA aerospace engineer Kurt Seidensticker launched Chicago-based Vital Proteins as a direct-to-consumer company offering “clean,” simple, and allergen-free collagen that was both easily soluble and flavorless. It has grown to become America’s leading collagen brand and a lifestyle and wellness platform offering supplements, beverages, and food products.

Nestlé Health Science (NHSc), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nestlé, is a globally recognized leader in the field of nutritional science. NHSc is committed to empowering healthier lives through nutrition for consumers, patients, and their healthcare partners. The company offers an extensive consumer health portfolio of industry-leading medical nutrition, consumer, and VMS brands that are science-based solutions covering all facets of health from prevention, to maintenance, all the way through to treatment.

WHY: Vital Proteins complements NHSc’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.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “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,” said Kurt Seidensticker, founder and CEO of Vital Proteins. “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.”

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

DETAILS:

• Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Vital Proteins.
• Financial details of the sale are not being released.
• According to Fast Company, the brand grew 240% year-over-year and is anticipated to do $200 million in revenue for 2019.
• Seidensticker will continue to lead Vital Proteins, remaining as CEO based at its headquarters in Chicago, IL.
• 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.
• Vital Proteins will continue to operate as a stand-alone business.
• Becoming a part of the Nestlé Health Science portfolio will equip Vital Proteins with a variety of resources to scale their reach and innovation in pursuit of global wellness.