By Ian McConnell
SCOTTISH-owned Planet Organic has acquired As Nature Intended, which has seven organic and natural food stores in London.
Health and wellbeing retailer Planet Organic, which was founded in 1995 and has targeted the opening of 10 new stores in the Greater London area within the next five years, has been majority-owned by Edinburgh-based consumer brand investor Inverleith LLP since 2018.
Planet Organic took its shop count to eight in 2019, with the opening of a store in Queen’s Park in north London.
The partners of Inverleith are former chairman and chief executive of merchant bank Noble Group Ben Thomson, and Paul Skipworth, a former boss of Scotch whisky distiller The Glenmorangie Company.
Mr Thomson, who is chairman of Planet Organic, said: “This deal allows us to further the mission of Planet Organic to provide food and products that are healthy for our customers as well as healthy for the planet. Both organisations believe the future of high-street retailing is in providing experience-based shopping for the communities where we are located. “
He added: “In the short term our primary focus is to make sure we are there to support our customers, and the customers of our newly acquired stores, through the coronavirus outbreak.”
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