Nestlé Health Science, a global leader in nutritional science, is acquiring a majority stake in Vital Proteins, a collagen brand that offers supplements, beverages and food products. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Nestlé Health Science to enter a growing area of nutrition with a successful brand," said Greg Behar, CEO of Nestlé Health Science. "Our companies share the belief that nothing is more important than health, and everything we do is focused on that belief. In combining our efforts to optimize health through nutrition, we can achieve even more to help our consumers live fuller, more vibrant lives."

Vital Proteins will continue to operate as a standalone business, committed to its founding mission of helping people live healthier lives through high quality, sustainably-sourced collagen nutrition. Becoming a part of the Nestlé Health Science portfolio will provide Vital Proteins a variety of resources to scale its reach and innovation.

"We at Vital Proteins, alongside Nestlé Health Science, are committed to expanding our wellness platform to the world. We are partnering together to continue the evolution of the functional nutrition space through premium products and innovation that meet customers where they are in their wellness journey." said Kurt Seidensticker, founder and CEO of Vital Proteins. "Joining [Nestlé Health Science] allows us to take Vital Proteins to the next level by leveraging resources, scale and capabilities, and moving toward a future with an expanded offering of science-backed products."

Seidensticker will continue to lead Vital Proteins as the chief executive officer, based at its Chicago, Illinois, headquarters. Financial details of the sale are not being released.

Vital Proteins complements Nestlé Health Science's other vitamin, mineral, supplement and wellness brands, including Atrium Innovations, Garden of Life, Pure Encapsulations and Persona.

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the body, representing nearly 30% of all human protein content and 70% of the protein content found in the skin. It is a key component of connective tissues, supporting the health of skin, hair, nails, bones and joints.

Source: Vital Proteins