Blog: Orkla goes with its gut on latest acquisition

Dean Best | 4 October 2016

Orkla, one of the largest consumer goods companies in the Nordic region, has added to its portfolio this week with an acquisition of a brand in the health sector.

The company has completed an agreement to acquire Polish brand Colon-C from A-Z Medica, a producer and distributor of natural herbal supplements, dietary supplements and cosmetics.

Orkla described Colon-C as "a leading brand in the constipation category and a strong market leader in the fibre segment".

Colon-C is to join Orkla's other brands targeted at improving the gut health of consumers. Orkla already owns the herbal medicine Husk and the antacid Samarin.

The deal underlines Orkla's interest in healthcare. The group's Orkla Health division already generates annual sales of NOK1.6bn, with a portfolio that also includes Möller’s omega-3, weight management brand Nutrilett and LongoVital dietary supplements. Orkla's health products are primarily sold through grocery stores, health food stores and pharmacies. The business counts the Nordic region, the Baltic states and Poland as the "home markets" for the products, although it says they have a presence "in many countries".

The move for Colon-C and the extent of Orkla's health-focused portfolio is another example of how a food or food-centric company is looking to grow its presence in the area, with Nestle also among the businesses steadily building its operations in the field of what it calls "health science".