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Heartland Food Products Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Americas business of Whole Earth Brands, adding the Equal, Whole Earth, Swerve and Chuker sweetener brands to its growing portfolio of reduced-sugar and better-for-you food and beverage products.

The acquisition strengthens Heartland’s position in the global sweetener market and significantly expands its reach across retail, foodservice, e-commerce, beverage, ingredient solutions and B2B channels throughout North and Latin America.

The deal brings together several of the category’s best-known brands under one organisation, including Splenda, which Heartland acquired in 2015 and has since expanded into a broader health and wellness platform spanning sweeteners, nutritional beverages, creamers, liquid enhancers, coffee and wellness products.

Ted Gelov, chairman and CEO of Heartland Food Products Group, said: “The acquisition of Equal and Whole Earth Brands Americas is another transformative milestone for Heartland and further advances our mission to help people live happier, healthier and longer lives by making it easier to reduce sugar.”

Heartland said the acquisition will enhance its scale and operational capabilities through its vertically integrated manufacturing network, advanced R&D and formulation expertise, and broad distribution infrastructure.

The company expects the combined organisation to accelerate innovation and category growth across domestic and international markets.

The transaction also supports Heartland’s investments in next-generation sweetener technologies and ingredient supply chains, including its US-grown stevia initiatives. The company said it plans to continue expanding offerings across the Whole Earth and Splenda portfolios while supporting the growth of the Equal brand throughout the Americas.

Since acquiring Splenda more than a decade ago, Heartland has diversified beyond tabletop sweeteners. Today, the company manufactures and markets products across multiple categories, including coffee, beverage concentrates, nutritional beverages, creamers and wellness products sold through retail, foodservice, e-commerce and private-label channels worldwide.

Based outside Indianapolis, Heartland Food Products Group said the acquisition further strengthens its ability to innovate across sweeteners, beverages, protein and nutrition-focused solutions while meeting continued consumer demand for reduced-sugar products without compromising taste.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.