Glanbia buys US sports nutrition firm

Food group Glanbia has bought US based Optimum Nutrition in a deal worth €213m.

Optimum, based in Illinois, makes nutritional supplements for the sports sector, and owns some of the leading US sports nutrition brands. In 2007 Optimum generated $185m (€125m) revenue and $32m (€22m) operating profit.

The US firm is privately owned and has three plants employing almost 400 people.

Following the announcement Glanbia managing director John Moloney said: "This is an exciting acquisition for Glanbia as it gives us a leading position of scale in a fast growing segment of the nutrition market. It is a close strategic fit with our core areas of expertise in whey and sports nutrition and brings us up the value chain into consumer markets,".

Glanbia says the worldwide market for sports nutrition products is worth $30bn (€20bn).