Natural food company Hain Celestial has acquired privately-held Acirca, which owns the Walnut Acres brand of organic fruit juices, soups and pasta sauces, for an undisclosed sum.

Melville, New York-based Hain Celestial said the deal would not affect earnings in fiscal 2004, which begins on 1 July, but would add between 2 and 4 cents per share to fiscal 2005 earnings.

The Walnut Acres brand is expected to contribute around US$20m in sales to Hain Celestial, reported Midnight Trader.