Hindustan Unilever (HUL) has sold its Atta and salt business, conducted under the Annapurna and Captain Cook brands, to Reactive Brands International’s Uma Global Foods and Uma Consumer Products. The deal includes the transfer of trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual properties in India and other territories, subject to the completion of customary closing conditions. HUL will continue to operate the business until the transaction is completed. HUL’s decision to divest non-core areas and concentrate its growth in dressings, scratch cooking, and soups in the packaged foods industry led to the sale. The sale of these brands, which have a strong market presence, is considered to be in the company’s best interest, according to Sanjiv Mehta, CEO and managing director of HUL. The acquisition of these brands fits well with Uma Global Foods’ goal of expanding globally while promoting accessible wellness, according to Ashok Vasudevan, co-founder of Uma Global Foods.
The Annapurna and Captain Cook brands, which have been available for over two decades, have a strong reputation for delivering high-quality food items to Indian consumers. This divestiture aligns with HUL’s decision to exit non-core sectors, concentrating on its packaged foods business and long-term growth. The sale of these brands will allow Reactive Brands International, an affiliate of CSAW Aqbator (Singapore), to acquire and expand food brands, making wellness more affordable.
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Two affiliates of Reactive Brands International, Uma Global Foods and Uma Consumer Products, recently acquired the Annapurna and Captain Cook brands of Hindustan Unilever in India and other regions. The transfer includes trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual properties. Hindustan Unilever continued to manage the business until the sale was complete. The decision to divest from non-core categories, such as atta and salt, was part of Hindustan Unilever’s strategic focus on growth in the packaged foods industry, specifically dressings, scratch cooking, and soups. According to Uma Global Foods co-founder Ashok Vasudevan, acquiring these well-established brands aligns with their mission to promote affordable wellness worldwide.
