Germany-based Merck KGaA announced today that Merck CHC Holding, its wholly-owned consumer health care business, has acquired Peter Black Direct Marketing, a UK-based direct marketer of vitamins, minerals and supplements, in order to expand and reinforce Merck's market share in Great Britain.
Peter Black Direct Marketing, located in Tunbridge Wells in Southeastern England, has two businesses; Nature's Best, which sells directly to consumers, and Lamberts, which sells to practitioners and nutritionists.
Merck CHC Holding is already a leader in the UK vitamins and minerals market with its well-known line of Seven Seas products, which are sold through retail outlets. Merck announced in a statement that because of their different sales strategies, Seven Seas and the new acquisition will remain separate operations. However, Peter Black Direct Marketing will be renamed Lamberts Healthcare.
"Peter Black Direct Marketing is a leader in the growing direct-to-consumer vitamins and supplements market in the UK and gives Merck KGaA the opportunity to expand its presence in the strategically important VMS market," commented Volker Keidtel, head of Merck KGaA's Consumer Health Care division.
The total UK vitamins, minerals and supplements market, including direct-to-customer sales, amounts to an estimated £430 million (€617m) annually.