![\"VITHIT](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/402489_vithitbottles_68479_crop.jpg\")
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Vimto manufacturer Nichols<\/a> has pounced on Irish vitamin drink brands VitHit in a \u20ac75m (\u00a364m) cash-only deal.<\/p>\n Founded in 2001, VitHit offers a range of low-calorie still and sparkling drinks fortified with vitamins and minerals. It took \u20ac26.5m in sales in the year to 31 December 2025.<\/p>\n The brand has grown rapidly in recent years thanks to growing consumer concern over nutrition, averaging 9.5% growth over the past three years and nearly doubling in size overall since 2021.<\/p>\n It made an adjusted operating profit of \u20ac4.2m and adjusted PBT of \u20ac4.1m last year, and like Nichols uses an asset-light operating model.<\/p>\n Nichols said the acquisition<\/a> \u2013 subject to approximately \u00a32.5m of transaction costs \u2013 would immediately boost its bottom line.<\/p>\n VitHit\u2019s Dublin office has been retained in the acquisition, and Nichols will be supported by the company\u2019s management team, some of whom will then depart after a \u201csmooth transition\u201d.<\/p>\n VitHit chairman and founder Gary Lavin has stepped aside.<\/p>\n \u201cWith its established market position, alignment with our asset-light operating model, proven profitability and significant headroom for growth, VitHit perfectly fits the acquisition profile we have been looking for and is fully aligned with our long-term growth strategy,\u201d said Nichols CEO Andrew Milne.<\/p>\n He added the brand had built \u201cstrong market positions\u201d in both the UK and Ireland, supported by a differentiated consumer proposition, high customer loyalty<\/a> and \u201cabove all, a great-tasting portfolio\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cNichols is ideally placed to accelerate VitHit\u2019s development through our commercial capabilities, customer relationships, route-to-market expertise and international infrastructure,\u201d Milne added. \u201cA significant opportunity exists to expand distribution across the group\u2019s existing customer base.\u201d<\/p>\n Lavin said he was proud of VitHit\u2019s achievements after more than 25 years at the helm.<\/p>\n \u201cWe consider Nichols the ideal partner to support the next stage of the brand\u2019s development,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNichols brings proven brand-building expertise, strong customer relationships and significant commercial capabilities, while sharing our long-term approach to growth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA single-brand story just became two,\u201d said Singer Capital Markets analyst Sahill Shan.<\/p>\n \u201dNichols signposted M&A at its November 2024 capital markets day. Less than two years on, it has delivered. VitHit is asset-light, profitable, health-focused, and Nichols has the distribution to drive it.\u201d<\/p>\n