Organic food retailer Planet Organic acquires peer As Nature Intended

Leading organic supermarket Planet Organic has acquired As Nature Intended, the chain of seven London-based organic and natural food stores.

The health and wellbeing retailer, which runs eight stores in London, has now become one of the largest specialist organic grocers in the UK.

“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,” said Ben Thomson, chairman of Planet Organic.

“We share a similar outlook to As Nature Intended, a company which, like Planet Organic, promotes wellness with high environmental standards. Both organisations believe the future of high street retailing is in providing experience-based shopping for the communities where we are located.”

Caroline Gooding, owner and chief executive of As Nature Intended who steps down from her role, said the deal is in the best interests of the business.

“While I am naturally sad to have reached the end of this 20-year adventure, I firmly believe that stepping back now is in the best interests of the As Nature Intended business, my colleagues and our customers,” she commented.

“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.”

Planet Organic received a major funding boost in 2018, with private equity investment firm Inverleith LLP becoming the majority shareholder to help expand the company’s growth.

The retailer has then revealed plans to open ten new stores in Greater London area within five years. It opens its eighth store Queen’s Park, North London last year.