nSpired Acquires Cloud Nine

SAN LEANDRO, Calif.--nSpired Natural Foods (www.nspired.com) has acquired Cloud Nine Inc., a marketer of natural and organic chocolates and candies under the Cloud Nine, Tropical Source and Speakeasy brands. Financial details of the purchase were not disclosed.

The purchase was the most recent in a spate of acquisitions by nSpired, including its March purchase of Health Trip (makers of soy nut butter) and February's acquisition of Loriva Supreme culinary oils. Other brands nSpired holds are Sunspire Natural Foods and Maranatha Natural Foods. According to Tom Miner, vice president of operations at nSpired, by combining manufacturing and distribution operations, the brands become more efficient and, ultimately, more price competitive for consumers.