Zetar sold to German firm Zertus for $69m
Zertus UK will become a newly incorporated company.
Zetar manufacturers branded confectionery and natural snacks under licenses such as The Simpsons, Hello Kitty and Bailey’s.
The UK firm headquartered in London posted £128m ($206m) in sales in fiscal 2012 and £5.5m ($8.8m) in profit, down 5% and 17.5% respectively on the previous year.
Zertus on Zetar
Jörn Riemer, director of Zertus and Zertus UK, said: "The directors of Zertus view Zetar as a particularly well managed confectionery and snacks business with leading market positions in the UK and Ireland."
“We are impressed by Zetar's proven track record for innovation and brand building and are excited about the prospect of jointly expanding our enlarged portfolio of products to new markets.”
German firm Zertus manufactures the Dextro Energy brand, which it acquired from Unilever in 2005. It also produces tinned candies under the Kalfany brand and acquired personalized confectionery business Süße Werbung in 2007.
Zetar strategy
Zetar’s decision to sell comes soon after its chaiman David Williams announced his retirement in July.
The UK firm recently declared its intentions to shift its focus from seasonal products to branded and private label sales after a difficult Easter.
In August, it agreed licensing rights with Unilever to manufacture Marmite branded nuts.
Zetar established a French sales and distribution subsidiary in Northern France earlier this year where it was looking to to expand in the French and Belgian markets.
