Unilever has agreed to sell healthier snacking brand Graze to Katjes International, in a deal that will see the business sit alongside Candy Kittens within the confectionery group’s UK portfolio.
The transaction – expected to complete in the first half of 2026, subject to statutory employee consultation and customary closing conditions – includes the full Graze brand and product line-up, its London production facility, and the transfer of around 200 employees. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Unilever acquired Graze in 2019 and has since reshaped it from a predominantly direct-to-consumer business into a retail-focused brand with a refreshed visual identity and stronger presence across UK grocery. The FMCG giant said Graze has delivered increased profitability and sustained retail growth under its ownership.
The divestment comes as Unilever sharpens its Foods division to focus on three global growth categories – Condiments, Cooking Aids & Mini Meals, and Unilever Food Solutions – anchored in its power brands. As part of that strategy, the company is “pruning the portfolio where relevant”.
Georgina Bradford, Unilever’s UK & Ireland Foods general manager, said Graze had “transformed into a retail-focused brand which continues to redefine healthy snacking with innovations that stay a step ahead on nutrition, never compromise on taste, and remain true to its distinctive and much-loved style”.
She added: “The brand is now well positioned for its next phase of growth, which we are confident will be best unlocked under its new ownership with dedicated focus on its healthier snacking mission.”
For Katjes International, which will acquire Graze through its UK subsidiary Future Snacks, the addition strengthens its presence in the fast-growing healthy snacking segment. The company highlighted the complementary nature of Graze and Candy Kittens, noting overlap in customer bases and retail distribution.
“With Candy Kittens, we already have one of the fastest-growing confectionery brands in the UK in our portfolio, and we are complementing this existing business with the acquisition of Graze,” said Bastian Fassin, managing shareholder of Katjes International. “With its strong brand awareness and strategic positioning, Graze is a perfect fit for our strategy to continue growing with strong consumer brands across Europe.”
Candy Kittens founder Jamie Laing said he was “excited” to bring Graze into the group, adding: “They changed the way the UK thinks about healthier snacking, and I think we can take that even further.”
Graze has been B Corp certified since 2021 and is one of the UK’s best-known healthy snacking players. Katjes said the acquisition will be funded through existing cash and an acquisition loan.