Hain Celestial Acquires Jason Natural Products 29382

Hain Celestial Acquires Jason Natural Products

MELVILLE, N.Y.The Hain Celestial Group acquired Jason Natural Products, a leading natural personal care product manufacturer on June 4, marking Hains entry into the health and beauty category. While purchase details were not disclosed, Jason Naturals 2003 fiscal sales were estimated to be around $20 million.

Andrew Jacobsen, formerly Hains general manager of non-dairy products, will serve as general manager of the Hain Celestial Whole Body Care Division (www.hain-celestial.com). Jacobsen joined Hain in 1997 after Hains acquisition of Westbrae Natural, where Jacobsen was president. Jeffrey Light, the founder of Los Angeles-based Jason Natural, will stay on board to work with Jacobsen and expand the companys reach in the natural health and beauty area.

This is an exciting acquisition for Hain Celestial, giving us another excellent brand in a different aisle of the natural channel, said Irwin D. Simon, president and chief executive officer of Hain. We share many of Jason Naturals existing customers, and can now offer them and our many other customers Jason Natural products through our own distribution system. Simon added Hain plans to expand distribution of Jason Natural products into Canada and Europe, and to leverage the personal care expertise into product launches under Hains Earths Best and Celestial Seasonings brands.