NEW YORK, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. today announced that it has partnered with The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. and its affiliate Hain Pure Protein Corporation to introduce a new Martha Stewart-branded food line at retail, including poultry from Plainville Farms(R), baking mixes from Arrowhead Mills(R) and dried pastas from DeBoles(R) using all natural, healthy ingredients. The product lines are expected to be distributed in supermarkets, mass-market retailers and warehouse clubs across the country. Hain Pure Protein is a joint venture between Hain Celestial and Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.
The new Martha Stewart-branded products will launch with limited distribution of fresh and frozen vegetarian-fed and antibiotic-free turkeys from Hain Pure Protein's Plainville Farms in time for Thanksgiving 2009, including online availability via http://www.marthastewart.com/turkey.
The launch of the turkey products will be followed by natural baking mixes from Arrowhead Mills and dried pastas from DeBoles in Spring 2010, expanding the gourmet quality of the natural baking mixes and dried pastas using recipes from Martha Stewart.
The new offerings extend MSLO's relationship with Hain Celestial, which is producing Martha Stewart Clean, a branded line of all-natural cleaning solutions that is expected to launch next month.
Martha Stewart, Founder of MSLO, stated: "As an avid cook with an appreciation for good food made with wholesome ingredients, I'm delighted to be offering consumers antibiotic-free, vegetarian-fed turkeys that are moist, tender, and absolutely delicious. I'm also pleased to be developing natural, healthy baking mixes and pastas from Arrowhead Mills and DeBoles, two well-respected food brands."
"We're thrilled to be expanding our offerings with MSLO. The name Martha Stewart is synonymous with good food, and Hain Celestial is known for helping consumers to lead A Healthy Way of Life(TM). Working with MSLO is an ideal partnership for Hain Celestial and Hain Pure Protein and for consumers who will benefit from the offerings," said Irwin D. Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial.
Food is a cornerstone of MSLO, which encompasses the Martha Stewart and Chef Emeril Lagasse brands. Martha Stewart is widely recognized for her culinary prowess. She first gained national attention with her 1982 book, Entertaining, which showcased over 300 recipes, and has since published numerous bestselling cookbooks, including the recent Martha Stewart's Cooking School and Martha Stewart's Cupcakes and the just released Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home. Food and recipes are a key element of all of MSLO's magazines, including Martha Stewart Living, Everyday Food, Martha Stewart Weddings and Body + Soul. It is also an important part of The Martha Stewart Show,Martha Stewart Living Radio, and marthastewart.com, which features more than 10,000 recipes.
MSLO Executive Chairman and Principal Executive Officer Charles Koppelman said: "Building out our food business is a natural next step for MSLO. We have tremendous brand equity in the space and our partnership with Hain Celestial allows us to take it to the next level."
Turkey from Hain Pure Protein, Baking Mixes from Arrowhead Mills and Dried Pastas from DeBoles
Martha Stewart Turkey from Hain Pure Protein's Plainville Farms is humanely raised on family farms, vegetarian-fed and antibiotic-free with no added growth hormones. It will be packaged with a booklet providing consumers with instructions from Martha Stewart Living's "Turkey 101" and ideas from http://www.marthastewart.com/turkey about how to prepare and cook the turkey as well as recipes for stuffing and gravy. The baking mixes from Arrowhead Mills and dried pastas from DeBoles contain no artificial flavors or preservatives; the relationship may expand into additional categories.
"Our previous experience in the retail food arena has taught us a great deal about how to develop high-quality, healthy and delicious food for the retail shopper. Our expanded relationship with Hain Celestial is part of our merchandising strategy to partner with the best manufacturers who have vast and robust retail distribution networks," said Robin Marino, MSLO's President and Chief Executive Officer of Merchandising.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. is a diversified media and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique lifestyle content and distinctive products. The Publishing segment encompasses four magazines, including the company's flagship publication, Martha Stewart Living, periodic special issues and books. The marthastewart.com website provides consumers with instant access to MSLO's multimedia library search and find capabilities, recipes, online workshops, community and personalization, as well as wedding-planning tools powered by WeddingWire and digital invitations with pingg.com. The Broadcasting segment produces such programming as the Emmy-winning daily, nationally syndicated television series, "The Martha Stewart Show," and Martha Stewart Living Radio on SIRIUS channel 112 and XM Radio 157. In addition to its media properties, MSLO offers high-quality Martha Stewart products through licensing agreements with carefully selected companies, including the Martha Stewart Collection exclusively at Macy's, Martha Stewart Everyday at Kmart, Martha Stewart Crafts with EK Success at Wal-Mart, Michaels and independent retailers, Martha Stewart for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and more. In 2008, Emeril Lagasse joined the Martha Stewart family of brands; MSLO acquired the assets related to Lagasse's media and merchandising business, including television programming, cookbooks, and emerils.com website and his licensed kitchen and food products. For additional information about MSLO, visit www.marthastewart.com.
The Hain Celestial Group
The Hain Celestial Group , headquartered in Melville, NY, is a leading natural and organic products company in North America and Europe. Hain Celestial participates in most natural categories with well-known brands that include Celestial Seasonings(R), Earth's Best(R), Terra(R), Garden of Eatin'(R), Health Valley(R), Arrowhead Mills(R), MaraNatha(R), SunSpire(R), DeBoles(R), Gluten Free Cafe(TM), Hain Pure Foods(R), Hollywood(R), Spectrum Naturals(R), Spectrum Essentials(R), Walnut Acres Organic(R), Imagine(R), Rice Dream(R), Soy Dream(R), Rosetto(R), Ethnic Gourmet(R), WestSoy(R), Yves Veggie Cuisine(R), Granose(R), Realeat(R), Linda McCartney(R), Daily Bread(TM), Lima(R), Grains Noirs(R), Natumi(R), JASON(R), Zia(R) Natural Skincare, Avalon Organics(R), Alba Botanica(R), Queen Helene(R), Tushies(R) and TenderCare(R). Hain Celestial has been providing "A Healthy Way of Life(TM)" since 1993. For more information, visit www.hain-celestial.com.
Hain Pure Protein Corporation
Hain Pure Protein, headquartered in New Oxford, PA, is a joint venture between Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P., with a majority interest, and The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. Hain Pure Protein is a leading supplier of natural, vegetarian-fed and antibiotic-free poultry products. Hain Pure Protein grows and markets turkeys under the Plainville Farms(R) brand and chicken under the FreeBird(TM) brand for major retailers, specialty and natural food stores and foodservice operators nationwide.
Pegasus Capital Advisors
Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P. is a private equity fund manager with offices in New York and Cos Cob, CT. Founded in 1995, Pegasus provides capital to middle market companies across a wide range of industries, and has particular interest in businesses that make a meaningful contribution to society by positively affecting the environment, contributing to sustainability and enabling healthy living. For more information, visit www.pcalp.com.
SOURCE Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
