Dive Brief:
- Mondelez International has acquired private health food company, Enjoy Life Snacks, in a "simultaneous sign-and-close deal" for an undisclosed amount, according to a news release.
- Enjoy Life is part of the $12 billion "free-from" segment of health foods, and its products do not contain the eight most common allergens, such as wheat, peanuts, and soy.
- Mark Clouse, chief growth officer at Mondelez International, said, "The Enjoy Life brand expands our portfolio into faster growing, on-trend, 'better-for-you' areas and provides an excellent platform to make these delicious offerings available to consumers with 'free-from' needs or simply looking for healthy-lifestyle options, both in the United States and beyond."
Dive Insight:
This isn't an entirely surprising move from Mondelez, maker of Oreos, Wheat Thins, and Chips Ahoy, as more packaged foods companies are turning to healthier foods, or in this case acquiring a company that makes healthier foods, to appeal to customers looking for more natural products. The acquisition announcement comes less than a week after Mondelez reported a mixed bag of earnings.