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The Health Store Acquired by Health Made Easy

It’s been confirmed that the proposed buyout of The Health Store (THS) by Health Made Easy has now been completed.

“We will continue to operate both businesses as separate entities, which will provide benefits of scale across all channels.

Mike Cole

It was revealed earlier this year that THS was supporting a proposed buyout by Health Made Easy, which also owns Tree of Life and Higher Nature.

Following its offer to shareholders to support the move, Health Made Easy has now confirmed that the acquisition has taken place following sufficient acceptances to complete the deal.

Health Made Easy, a group of businesses that invest in health and wellbeing products, made the offer to shareholders in June, explaining that the move would allow the group and board of directors to invest further into the business. Health Made Easy said in a statement that the acquisition, now complete, will allow The Health Store to enhance service levels and provide more choice to their customers through access to thousands of additional complementary product lines across ambient, chilled and frozen ranges.

It said that the acquisition will consolidate the group’s buying power, which includes a number of subsidiaries, including Higher Nature and Tree of Life. Health Made Easy also pointed out that, together with The Health Store, it provides the group with a significant position in the sector, with sales of some £90 million a year.

Mike Cole, Chairman of Health Made Easy, commented: “We’re pleased that our shareholders have backed the acquisition of The Health Store. We will continue to operate both businesses as separate entities, which will provide benefits of scale across all channels and enable us to improve our offer to our customers, suppliers and consumers alike.”

“We’re confident that the deal made with Health Made Easy will allow us to drive forward changes and benefits that will ensure we can keep delivering for the needs of our customers.

Tim Ryan

Tim Ryan, Managing Director of The Health Store, added: “Our business has been at the forefront of sourcing natural and organic products for independent retailers for more than 80 years. Within this time, the landscape of the sector in which we operate has changed considerably. We’re confident that the deal made with Health Made Easy will allow us to drive forward changes and benefits that will ensure we can keep delivering for the needs of our customers.”

Under the terms of the acquisition, all three businesses will continue to operate autonomously at their separate sites.

Health Made Easy Buys Mint And Gum Brand Peppersmith

Sugar free chewing gum business Peppersmith has been bought by Health Made Easy (HME), the parent company of organic food wholesaler Tree of Life.

The supplier, which produces 100% xylitol mints and gums, is currently listed in Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Holland & Barrett.

“This is great news for the company as it gives the brand more resources, more knowledge and more access to retailers…

Mike Stevens

It was acquired by the Newcastle-under-Lyme business for an undisclosed amount and comes after the health group purchased vitamin brand Higher Nature earlier this year.

Peppersmith MD Mike Stevens, who will remain at the company, said that the deal will lead to investment for NPD and marketing. “This is great news for the company as it gives the brand more resources, more knowledge and more access to retailers large and small who are invested in growing a healthier product range,” he commented.

“The whole team is excited about taking what we do to the next level which will include more products, more marketing and a significant step up in sales.”

“Peppersmith presents an excellent opportunity to take on a brand that is innovative, highly ethical and clean.

John Weaver

The acquisition of the chewing gum brand was officially completed last month. John Weaver, director of HME said: “Peppersmith presents an excellent opportunity to take on a brand that is innovative, highly ethical and clean.”

“As the sugar free market continues to grow, we will be investing in the brand and using our resources to build Peppersmith’s momentum in the health & wholefood and grocery channels.”

“This is in line with Health Made Easy’s broader vision that by building a family with some of the best players in their fields, the group can create a stronger presence in health and wellbeing; one of the fastest growing categories in British grocery”.

Peppersmith Acquired By Health Made Easy

The Peppersmith brand is the latest to be acquired by the Health Made Easy Group.

Health Made Easy (HME) is a company of three shareholders, including John Weaver, who is CEO of Tree of Life, whose aim is to invest in the health category, and its most recent acquisition is that of Peppersmith, which produces sugar free, 100 per cent xylitol mints and gum. HME also owns Tree of Life and Higher Nature, while earlier this year, it was announced a proposed buyout offer of The Health Store.

“Peppersmith presents an excellent opportunity to take on a brand that is innovative, highly ethical and clean.

John Weaver

John Weaver, Director of HME and CEO of Tree of Life, commented: “Peppersmith presents an excellent opportunity to take on a brand that is innovative, highly ethical and clean. As the sugar free market continues to grow, we will be investing in the brand and using our resources to build Peppersmith’s momentum in the health and wholefood and grocery channels. This is in line with Health Made Easy’s broader vision that by building a family with some of the best players in their fields, the group can create a stronger presence in health and wellbeing, one of the fastest growing categories in British grocery.”

“This is great news for the company as it gives the brand more resources, more knowledge and more access to retailers, large and small

Mike Stevens

Co-founder, Mike Stevens, stays on as the MD of Peppersmith and added: “This is great news for the company as it gives the brand more resources, more knowledge and more access to retailers, large and small, who are invested in growing a healthier product range. The whole team is excited about taking what we do to the next level, which will include more products, more marketing and a significant step up in sales.”

Health Made Easy Acquisition Of Higher Nature

The BDO Midlands TS team provided financial and taxation due diligence services to Health Made Easy to support their acquisition of Higher Nature and associated bank funding. 

Health Made Easy’s largest subsidiary is Tree of Life, the UK’s largest wholesale distributor of healthy, natural and organic products. Higher Nature is an award winning vitamins, minerals and supplements brand with a 400+ product range supplying both consumer and pet markets. The acquisition is a good complement to Health Made Easy Group’s Tree of Life business and is an important step in building a more diversified group.