In order to expand and complete its portfolio of strong brands while meeting its growth ambition, particularly outside the euro zone, the Rocher Group announces the signing, this February 2018, of an exclusive agreement to acquire the company "Arbonne International". Arbonne, a leader in the English-speaking countries, in Direct Sales, of beauty, health and wellness products based on botanical ingredients, offers a wide range of skin care, nutrition & cosmetics.
The Groupe Rocher's social partners have issued a favorable opinion on this operation.
Founded in Switzerland in 1975 and established in the United States in 1980, Arbonne was born out of Petter Mørk's desire to manufacture and sell natural cosmetic products that were more respectful of the consumer and the planet, but also to give a whole population the opportunity to achieve financial autonomy through the direct sales network.
More than 40 years later, Arbonne is a global company with revenues of more than €470 million ($550 million). Headquartered in Irvine, California, Arbonne has one manufacturing facility and four integrated distribution locations. Approximately 800 employees and more than 250,000 Independent Consultants work together to ensure the success of a naturally positioned brand that is marketed in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Poland.
Why this acquisition?
There are many similarities between the Rocher Group and Arbonne: strong brand concepts that share true values, with high standards of quality and innovation.
With this transaction, Arbonne will be able to benefit from the resources that the Rocher Group can offer, thanks to the strength of its network (client portfolio, suppliers, partners). Thanks to the latest investments made in the digitalization of Arbonne's direct sales network, this acquisition is a real lever to support Groupe Rocher's growth.
As Bris Rocher, CEO of the Rocher Group, comments: "This new acquisition is a real asset for strengthening our position in the direct sales network, a network of the future that has seen a real rebound in recent years. Access to employment has always been one of our fundamental concerns, and our respective know-how combined with close collaboration can only serve the growth of our brands.
Kay Zanotti, CEO of Arbonne International, said, "We share with Groupe Rocher not only a commitment to sustainability, naturalness and nature-inspired products, but also a long-term vision based on strong and reliable family values. We are delighted with the sensitivity of the Groupe Rocher to the strength of the direct sales network. We both believe in the power of this business model and are convinced that this new partnership will bring positive human and growth benefits.
This acquisition (for which the amount of the transaction has not been communicated) thus completes the Breton group's brand portfolio, strengthening its positioning as a manager of strong brands. The Rocher Group is more than ever a dynamic player that has demonstrated its ability to reposition itself over time, thanks to its strategic distribution choices and its historical commitments as an integrated company.
