Forward Consumer Partners acquires Welly brand from Unilever
Forward Consumer Partners has agreed to acquire US first-aid brand Welly from Unilever, expanding the private equity firm's consumer products portfolio, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
Forward Consumer Partners has reached an agreement to acquire the US first-aid brand Welly from Unilever, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The deal aims to broaden the private equity firm's consumer products lineup. Financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed. The transaction is anticipated to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2026, pending customary closing conditions.
Welly, established by entrepreneur Eric Ryan, specializes in producing adhesive bandages, first-aid kits, and other healthcare products. Unilever took a majority stake in Welly in 2021. Following the acquisition, Ryan is projected to rejoin Welly as a strategic adviser and board member. This acquisition marks Forward Consumer Partners' foray into the consumer health sector.
The deal is part of Unilever's ongoing portfolio restructuring, as the consumer goods giant shifts focus to investing in higher-growth beauty, wellbeing, and personal care businesses. Forward Consumer Partners already holds stakes in consumer brands Justin's, Firehook, and Xochitl. The sale comes in the wake of several portfolio adjustments at Unilever, including the separation of its ice cream business and divestitures of non-core brands.
Written by urgent.news from Private Equity Wire's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
