Breaking: Kerry Group Acquires Ganeden

The Kerry Group announced it has acquired U.S.-based probiotic leader Ganeden for an undisclosed amount. The deal, which complements Kerry’s 2015 acquisition of Wellmune®, strengthens the company’s global footprint in the overall nutrition and health & wellness, particularly in the areas of immune health and digestive health.

The company announced it will leverage Ganeden’s patented technologies to extend into wider applications across Kerry’s global developed and developing markets. Ganeden currently has an annual revenue of US$25 million and has more than 135 patents for technologies in the supplement, food, beverage, nutrition and personal care markets.

The company is best known for GanedenBC30® its patented, FDA GRAS and highly stable probiotic ingredient that is found in more than 750 food and beverage products worldwide. Through the fermentation process of GanedenBC30, Ganeden developed Bonicel®, the first science-backed, probiotic-derived, personal care ingredient shown to dramatically reduce signs of aging. Ganeden’s newest ingredient, Staimune™ is a patented probiotic technology comprising of inactivated GanedenBC30 cells, which have immune benefits.

In 2015, Kerry spent $735 million to acquire three U.S.-based companies to expand its portfolio—Arrow Products, Island Oasis, and Wellmune from Biothera Inc.

Addressing investors, Kerry Group Chief Executive Edmond Scanlon said the group expects to deliver in excess of 10 percent adjusted earnings per share growth on a constant currency basis on average per annum over the next 5- year cycle. “This will be delivered through achievement of above industry-average volume growth and continued business margin expansion. We expect to achieve 3 percent to 5 percent volume growth annually on a groupwide basis, with Taste & Nutrition targeting 4 percent to 6 percent growth and Consumer Foods targeting 2 percent to 3 percent growth."