Chr. Hansen has entered into an agreement to acquire HSO Health Care as it aims to expand its probiotics offering for women’s health.
Based in Austria, HSO Health Care is a B2B company which specialises in probiotics for women’s health.
The acquisition forms part of Chr. Hansen’s long-term commitment to its probiotic business – in alignment with its Nature’s no. 1 strategy – and the fast-growing category for women’s health.
According to Chr. Hansen, women across the globe are increasingly looking for intimate care products based on natural ingredients, which in turn has driven the category for women’s health to be one of the fastest growing probiotic segments.
With the deal, Chr. Hansen will add HSO’s branded portfolio Astarte to its portfolio, a line of patented probiotic products for women’s health in the form of oral supplementation and yogurt drinks.
The addition of Astarte to its line-up will strengthen and expand Chr. Hansen’s global microbial platform as it complements its own Urex products, creating a portfolio that can be leveraged globally and expanded into new adjacencies within women’s health.
“HSO Health Care has been working from a mindset of scientifically documented, natural products since our inception, and we are delighted that with the addition of the Astarte products to Chr. Hansen, we can make an even greater impact on a global scale,” said Helmut Essl, CEO of HSO Health Care.
Mauricio Graber, CEO of Chr. Hansen, said: “Women’s health is a high-growth segment where innovation is becoming increasingly important, and with the addition of the Astarte portfolio we will be able to deliver innovation to a much larger market more quickly.
“Chr. Hansen is committed to keep unleashing the Power of Good Bacteria, and I am proud that we will now strengthen our offering of probiotic concepts for women that can help to enable a balanced female microbiota, ultimately contributing to their well-being and quality of life.”
The transaction, which was made for an undisclosed sum, will be finalised later this week.
Earlier this month, the ingredients firm became the latest member to join Mista, an initiative focused on the development of sustainable innovative foods, as it aims to accelerate its fermented plant-based activities.
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