The Hain Celestial Group Inc., a leading organic and natural products company with operations in North America, Europe and India, announced the establishment of a Joint Venture, Rosetto Foods LLC, a newly formed entity managed by Steven Sands.  Hain Celestial has a 49% minority interest in the Joint Venture.  As part of the strategic partnership with Rosetto Foods LLC effective April 1, 2017, Hain Celestial licensed the intellectual property associated with its non-core Rosetto brand of frozen Italian foods to the Joint Venture. Rosetto Foods LLC will operate the business and be responsible for executing the operating plan.

"We are pleased to enter into this strategic alliance with Steve Sands and his management team as we focus on our core natural and organic product portfolio and platforms for growth," said Gary W. Tickle, Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial North America. "Steve Sands and his team have an established track record with smaller better-for-you frozen food brands, with the right skill set to revive the Rosetto brand in a more meaningful way as part of their meal solutions offerings." 

"I would like to thank the Hain Celestial team for their continued commitment to the Rosetto brand and their confidence in our ability to execute and create value," said Sands. "Rosetto's brand equity and strong positioning with both retailers and consumers presents an extremely attractive opportunity to continue innovating in this exciting category."

Sands is the Co-Chairman of Frozen Foods Partners (f/k/a Gourmet Dining), a packaged consumer products company specializing in the production, distribution and marketing of a wide variety of frozen food products marketed under the Gourmet Dining, La Sabrosa and Tru Earth brands. The Rosetto brand, sold in the grocery and mass channels, generated approximately $10 million in net sales for the year ended June 30, 2016 and was minimally accretive to the Company's earnings.

Source: Hain Celestial