Consumer goods company Unilever has announced it will acquire a 75% stake in Italian wellbeing and personal care business, Equilibra.
Established in 1987, Equilibra produces skin care and hair care lines, specialising in the ‘natural’ personal care segment. It also sells nutritional supplements.
Equilibra’s offering is based on ‘authentic Italian credentials’, and uses plant-based ingredients such as aloe, karite, almond, and argan.
Well-Positioned In Wellbeing
Equilibra will be run as a standalone business, continuing with the current management team under the leadership of the Bianco family.
Marco Bianco has been appointed as CEO, at Equilibra’s headquarters in Turin, with founder Franco Bianco taking the position of honourary chairman.
Alan Jope, president of beauty and personal care at Unilever, said, "Equilibra is very well-positioned in the wellbeing space in Italy and complements perfectly our existing offering.
"The Equilibra brand enjoys great recognition in the market, and we see opportunities for further development in what is a fast-growing segment."
Bianco commented on the acquisition, "We are delighted to work together with Unilever to take the next step in our journey. We aim to spread the Italian beauty and wellbeing abroad and strengthen our presence in Italy.”
The acquisition is still subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
In mid-June, Unilever said that it was 'extremely unlikely' to stay in Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100 index after ending its dual-headed structure and moving its headquarters to the Netherlands.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
