The deal, subject to customary closing conditions, will see KDC/ONE acquire Zobele’s seven global facilities; two innovation hubs and five design and development centres, keeping the management team located in Italy. The acquisition should close later this year.
Beauty expansion beyond Canada
Headquartered in Canada, KDC/ONE has invested in a string of acquisitions over the past year.
Back in July 2019, the company acquired Paris-based beauty manufacturer Alkos Group and the manufacturing arm of UK-based Swallowfield. Late last year, KDC/ONE added California prestige beauty manufacturer Benchmark to its global network along with international manufacturer HCT Group. And in January, this year, it also acquired Shanghai Paristy Daily Chemical.
KDC/ONE said the latest “strategic acquisition” of Italian Zobele Group would “further enhance” its global platform across beauty, personal care and household products.
Nicholas Whitley, president and CEO of KDC/ONE, said: “Zobele is the right partner for us as we look to embark on our next chapter of strategic growth.”
Europe and beyond – a ‘phenomenal story of growth’
Speaking to CosmeticsDesign-Europe at last month’s ADF&PCD Paris show, Jane Fletcher, vice president of KDC/ONE Europe, said recent expansion into Europe was important for the company.
“It’s a phenomenal story of growth and the company is in it for the long-term,” Fletcher said.
By expanding the network into this region, she said KDC/ONE was able to provide manufacturing capabilities on-the-ground for its global partners.
“There are many customers and clients in America and Canada who are either shipping product across the pond or who haven’t actually developed their business in Europe. So, it’s a great opportunity.
“…Everyone is so busy; time is so short. If we can offer them a broader portfolio (…) and we can do it in different regions, like Europe, that’s really important,” she said.
The European cosmetics and personal care market remains the largest in the world, according to Cosmetics Europe – valued at €78.6bn at retail sales prices in 2018. Within Europe, Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Spain are the largest markets.