Inverleith-owned Planet Organic becomes biggest retailer of its kind after swallowing rival

Health and wellbeing retailer Planet Organic has acquired a rival chain in a move which it claims will make it the largest organic grocery chain in the UK.

Ben Thomson, chairman at Planet Organic and partner at Inverleith, said healthy food is becoming increasingly popular

Planet Organic, which is majority owned by Edinburgh-based consumer brand investor Inverleith, has snapped up As Nature Intended, a chain of seven London-based organic and natural food shops.

The deal almost doubles the footprint of Planet Organic to 15 outlets, with the chain unveiling plans to launch a further ten stores in the Greater London area in the next five years.

Ben Thomson, chairman at Planet Organic and partner at Inverleith, which has been the organic retailer’s majority shareholder since 2018, said: “We share a similar outlook to As Nature Intended, a company which, like Planet Organic, promotes wellness with high environmental standards. “In the short term our primary focus is to make sure we support our customers, and the customers of our newly acquired stores, through the coronavirus outbreak.

“In the longer term this acquisition allows Planet Organic to grow quickly into locations we have already identified as ideal for our brand. With the addition of As Nature Intended stores, we will be the largest organic grocery chain in the UK with plans to grow further as the popularity of healthy foods continues.”

As Nature Intended owner and chief executive Caroline Gooding, who will now step down from her role, added: “While I am naturally sad to have reached the end of this 20-year adventure, I am confident that I am passing the company into highly capable and committed hands, and that its new owners will be able to make the most of the opportunities for what now becomes the biggest and best operator in this market.”

This comes in the same week as outdoor clothing retailer Montane, a brand in which Inverleith acquired a majority stake earlier this month, appointed Andy Towne as chair to its board of directors.

Towne is a well established industry figure who previously held roles at Adidas, Helly Hansen and Reebok before spending five years as president of apparel at Amer Sports.