Nestlé expands health business with purchase of Jenny Craig

SWITZERLAND’S Nestlé has bought US weight-loss company Jenny Craig for around €477 million, expanding its high-margin nutrition and health business.

Jenny Craig, which according to Nestlé had sales of over $400 million (€318m) in the last 12 months, was founded in 1983 by weight-loss guru Jenny Craig, offering dieters prepared meals and exercise programmes.

Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, bought the California-based company from a private equity group including ACI Capital and MidOcean Partners, it said, adding the deal would not dilute group earnings. “This acquisition will ... reinforce Nestlé Nutrition’s presence in the USA, the world’s largest nutrition and weight management market.”