Unilever to acquire “highly disruptive” French derma-cosmetic brand Garancia

28 Mar 2019 --- British-Dutch transnational consumer goods company Unilever has made a binding offer to acquire French derma-cosmetic brand Garancia, which is to be part of the Unilever Prestige personal care portfolio. Financial details of the offer remain confidential but the acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of this year.

“The brand is highly disruptive in the French pharmacy ecosystem thanks to innovative and forward-thinking products, new formulations and textures,” a Unilever spokesperson tells FoodIngredientsFirst. “Garancia is a rare Prestige asset in France with a strong growth profile and scope for international expansion.”

Created with clean and effective formulas combined with a scientific approach, Garancia was founded in 2004 by pharmacist Savéria Coste. The company now offers 38 premium facial and body skincare products predominantly sold through the pharmacy channel in France and in selective retail distribution.

Unilever made the move on Garancia a month after it snapped up Graze, a healthy snack box delivery brand which is sold in supermarkets across the UK and US.

“Since I created Garancia, I have always paid particular attention to product formulation, and I have striven to maintain a disruptive, innovation-driven approach within the company. Based on the combination of nature and science, my formulas are clean, sensory and so effective our consumers think they are magical,” says Coste.

“After sustained growth in France in recent years, Garancia is now ready to enter a new phase of its development and Unilever Prestige would be the right partner to help Garancia achieve our ambitions, while maintaining our continued commitment to clean ingredients, creativity and excellence, which will guarantee the preservation of Garancia’s core values.”

Garancia is one of the leading brands in pharmacies with a strong positioning between natural and science, stresses Vasiliki Petrou, Unilever EVP and Prestige CEO. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to grow this brand globally,” she says.

The acquisition is also subject to the customary consultation process.