Havea Group buys Bears with Benefits

The two Munich-based founders have sold their vitamin gummy bear startup for a sum in the mid-double-digit millions.

Bears with Benefits was founded in Munich in 2018 and will now become part of the French Havea Group. The companies did not disclose the exact purchase price, but it is said to be in the mid-double-digit millions. The two founders Laurence Saunier and Marlena Hien will remain with the company. "We remain true to our mission: to make the stressful daily lives of many women a little easier through our healthy and delicious products," Saunier says.

The start-up develops, produces and sells gummy food supplements. According to the company's own information, 25 employees work at the company, which will generate sales of about 15 million euros in the current year. Drugstore chains such as DM, Rossmann and Douglas offer Bears with Benefits' products, but they are also sold in the company's own online stores. Social media platforms in particular are also an important sales market.

Until now, the start-up was 100 percent owned by the founders. For French consumer healthcare company Havea, Bears with Benefits is the first acquisition since BC Partners and PSP Investments acquired a majority stake in October. Overall, it is the sixth acquisition in six years. "As an all-female founding team, we are particularly pleased to also be leading the way with this transaction," says founder Marlena Hien. "After all, only four percent of all exits in Europe are 'female-led,' meaning they have at least one woman on the founding team."