Plum Organics boosts international presence with UK acquisition

UK-based organic baby-food brand Plum UK has been bought by US-based Plum Organics for an undisclosed sum. While the similar names are purely coincidental, the two companies share a common vision of making organic nutrition more appealing and more accessible.

Plum UK was founded in 2006 by Savoy-trained chef and mother, Susie Willis. Initially crafted in the cookery school she ran, Plum is now available in all the major supermarket chains in the UK and Ireland offering some 40 products including pouches, pots, snacks and refrigerated dairy items. The product is also available direct via Plum UK’s website.

The acquisition marks California-based Plum Organics’ first step in its international expansion plans, and will see the combined Plum product portfolio increase to include more than 150 products with distribution in over 13,000 stores around the world and retail sales in excess of $120 million (£76.1 million).

The partnership sees Neil Grimmer maintain his role as chief executive for the new entity Plum Inc, and Scott Wotherspoon continue to lead the UK business. The company, which is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area, will employ 88 people and have offices in London and New York.