LONDON — Unilever P.L.C. has acquired the snack company Graze, which does business in the United Kingdom and the United States. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
“Accelerating our presence in healthy foods and out of home, this is an excellent strategic fit for the Unilever Food & Refreshment business and a wonderful addition to our stable of purpose-driven brands,” said Nitin Paranjpe, president of Unilever Food & Refreshment. “We look forward to working with the Graze team to grow the business, leveraging their tech and e-commerce expertise for our wider portfolio and offering more consumers the opportunity to snack in a healthier way.”
Graze products include nuts, seeds, trail mixes and bars. The company started as a service that delivered customized snack mixes to consumers but has expanded into the retail, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer channels.
“A truly multichannel brand, Graze offers personalization, convenience and great nutrition, brilliantly meeting the needs of millennial consumers,” Mr. Paranjpe said.
Graze began selling products online in the United States in 2013, and products started showing up on retail shelves in 2016. Products sold at retail at the time of launch included sweet Memphis BBQ, dark chocolate cherry tart and veggie protein.
“This deal marks a transformational moment in Graze’s growth journey,” said Anthony Fletcher, chief executive officer of Graze. “Graze believes that learning from Unilever’s sustainable living plan will become a key driver for the business.”
Graze represents the second plant-based acquisition made by Unilever during the past few months. In late December, the company acquired The Vegetarian Butcher, Utrecht, The Netherlands. The Vegetarian Butcher is a meat substitute company that distributes products to more than 4,000 outlets in 17 countries.