It went unnoticed last week, but fast-growing BluePrint — which makes raw juices and direct-to-consumer juice cleanse products — has been scooped up by natural foods conglomerate Hain Celestial.
Boulder-based Hain made the announcement as part of its quarterly earnings report, but did not disclose the amount of money it paid out for BluePrint, founded by a pair of friends, Erica Huss and Zoe Sakoutis, in 2007.
Expansion has come fast for BluePrint, which was being shopped for deals over the spring and summer by investment bank Partnership Capital Growth Advisors. With a $20-$25 million run rate derived largely from the brand’s cleanse products, the company has had little presence in retail outside of Whole Foods, although that was expected to change as BluePrint recently switched to High-Pressure Pasteurization as part of its push into wider retail circulation, as that allows high-quality fresh juices to last longer in grocery stores.
The company also recently rolled out BluePrint Bars as part of its expanding product line.
Hain did not disclose the amount of money it was paying for BluePrint. Hain Celestial CEO Irwin Simon called BluePrint “an innovative leader.” Huss declined comment to BevNET, saying through a spokesman that the deal was not yet finalized.
Huss and Zakoutis — along with recently added beverage veteran Jim DiPietro, whom Hain announced is on board as the brand’s COO — will remain with the company and “continue to manage all aspects of BluePrint,” according to Simon. The Blueprint co-founders will report to John Carroll, the CEO of Hain Celestial United States.
BevNET Magazine recently featured a profile of the brand.