Lion Capital take majority stake in UK sports nutrition firm Grenade

08-Mar-2017 - Last updated on 15-Nov-2022 at 11:34 GMT

Private equity firm Lion Capital has acquired a majority stake in UK-based active nutrition firm Grenade Holdings in a deal that sees the business valued at £72 million (€83m).

Since its launch in 2010, Grenade has grown rapidly, attracting millions in investment and quickly expanding into 100 different markets around the world – making it one of the UK’s fastest growing companies.

Grenade now looks set for further growth after investment group Lion Capital LLP purchased a multi-million-pound stake in the company from Grovepoint Capital and Grenade’s husband-and-wife co-founders Alan and Juliet Barratt.

“Grenade has enjoyed exceptional growth over the past few years, driven by an exciting and distinctive brand and products which offer a unique combination of flavour and functional nutritional benefits,” said James Cocker, partner at Lion Capital.

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“We have followed the business for some time and believe it is one of the most innovative players in this high-growth segment with a product offering that is exceptionally well-aligned with multiple consumer trends,” he added.

Expansion and innovation

Lion Capital – a consumer-focused private equity firm – has invested more than €6 billion into over 30 business and more than 100 consumer brands in North America and Europe. The firm has previously invested in a variety of FMCG and nutrition brands, including Weetabix, Kettle Chips and Orangina-Schweppes.

Grenade’s co-founders Alan and Juliet Barratt will continue to lead the business as CEO and chief marketing officer, respectively, alongside CFO and sales director Tom Murphy, who joined the business in 2014.

“It has been an amazing seven years since Juliet and I first launched Grenade but really we are just getting started on our journey to build a global lifestyle brand,” said CEO Alan Barratt – noting that the team is “dedicated to innovating and creating the best products possible.”

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“Lion’s successful track record of working with global mega-brands and their understanding of our business made them a clear choice as partners for the next phase of our growth,” he added.

Cocker, of Lion Capital added that the investment firm sees Grenade’s opportunities for growth not just in the current product range “but also through product and channel extension, and international expansion.”