WhiteWave Foods is bulking up its portfolio yet again via a half-billion-dollar acquisition and is stepping into the nutritional powders and bars segment.
Denver-based WhiteWave, known for its Horizon Organic and Silk brands, snapped up plant-based food and supplement firm Vega for $550 million, officials announced late Tuesday.
Vega, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, produces nutrition products that include powdered shakes and bars. Vega’s distribution, which stretches across Canada and the U.S., includes retailers such as Whole Foods, GNC and The Vitamin Shoppe.
Vega had net sales of $100 million during the past 12 months and grew at a 30 percent rate when adjusting for the exchange rate, WhiteWave officials said.
Next year, Vega is expected to boost WhiteWave’s adjusted earnings per share by 6 cents.
WhiteWave officials described Vega as in the “early stages of its growth cycle.” They said the brand is positioned to capitalize in the plant-based foods segment and the $8.6 billion in annual sales in nutritional powders, bars and ready-to-drink beverages.
“There’s going to be a lot of new opportunities for us,” said Blaine McPeak, WhiteWave’s president. “Frankly, we haven’t uncovered them all, but I know that they’re progressive as we are.”
The Vega acquisition, expected to close in the third quarter, is yet another big-dollar buy for WhiteWave, which has acquired several brands since spinning off from dairy giant Dean Foods Co.
Last year, WhiteWave completed its $600 million acquisition of Earthbound Farm, an organic produce and packaged salads company, and a $195 million acquisition of So Delicious, a maker of dairy-free foods and beverages.
Vega’s operations will continue to be based in Vancouver, and its existing management team remains.
WhiteWave is funding the acquisition with cash from its $1 billion revolving credit facility.
In 2014, WhiteWave made $140.2 million on $3.4 billion in revenue.
Shares of WhiteWave were trading Monday at just above $48. In the past 52 weeks, shares have traded as high as $49.73.
Alicia Wallace: 303-954-1939, awallace@denverpost.com or twitter.com/aliciawallace
