NEW YORK, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
(NYSE: MSO) today announced that it has partnered with The Hain Celestial Group,
Inc. (Nasdaq: HAIN) and its affiliate Hain Pure Protein Corporation to introduce
a new Martha Stewart-branded food line at retail, including poultry from
Plainville Farms, baking mixes from Arrowhead Mills and dried pastas from
DeBoles 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. (NYSE: MSO) 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 (Nasdaq: HAIN), 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, Earth’s Best, Terra, Garden of Eatin’, Health
Valley, Arrowhead Mills, MaraNatha, SunSpire, DeBoles, Gluten Free Caf(TM),
Hain Pure Foods, Hollywood, Spectrum Naturals, Spectrum Essentials, Walnut
Acres Organic, Imagine, Rice Dream, Soy Dream, Rosetto, Ethnic Gourmet,
WestSoy, Yves Veggie Cuisine, Granose, Realeat, Linda McCartney, Daily
Bread(TM), Lima, Grains Noirs, Natumi, JASON, Zia Natural Skincare, Avalon
Organics, Alba Botanica, Queen Helene, Tushies and TenderCare. 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 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.