Holland & Barrett (Essenza) put up for sale

1,100 stores in 11 countries

Holland & Barrett is one of the United Kingdom’s largest retail companies with nearly 1,100 stores in 11 countries, including China, Singapore and Malta. It also has stores in Belgium and the Netherlands after it acquired De Tuinen and Essenza, with both chains transforming into Holland & Barrett’s formula. Since 2015, the company also has a Scandinavian presence, thanks to its first store in Sweden.

Holland & Barrett’s turnover grew 12 % over the past year, to 573.5 million pounds (783.9 million euro), while its profit also grew 12 % to 146 million pounds (199.5 million euro). Carlyle now hopes to attract a 1 billion pound (1.37 billion euro) bid for its property.

Carlyle bought Holland & Barrett 6 years ago and recently paid a reported 440 million euro for Dutch lingerie chain Hunkemöller, an acquisition it hopes to finalize later this quarter.