ST. LOUIS — Post Holdings, Inc.'s active nutrition business will be named BellRing Brands, Inc. following completion of the previously announced initial public offering (i.p.o.) of approximately 20% of its ownership.
BellRing has publicly filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the proposed i.p.o. of its Class A common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not been determined. The i.p.o. is expected to be completed in the fall of 2019 and is subject to market and other conditions. BellRing has applied for its Class A common stock to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BRBR.”
BellRing Brands will be a holding company operating in the global active nutrition category. Products include ready-to-drink protein and other beverages, protein powders, nutrition bars and other nutritional supplements under the Premier Protein, Dymatize and PowerBar brands distributed in club, food, drug, mass, e-commerce, convenience and specialty retailers. Darcy Horn Davenport has been named president and chief executive officer of BellRing Brands, which will be headquartered in St. Louis.
Net sales of the business reached $827.5 million in fiscal 2018, up from $574.7 million in fiscal 2016, representing a compound annual growth rate of 20%, according to the company. Net income of $96.1 million in fiscal 2018 compared with $19.9 million in 2016.
“We have benefited from the consumer trends driving the rapid growth in the convenient nutrition category,” the company said in its prospectus. “Mainstream consumers are increasingly focused on consuming healthier food and beverage alternatives, and specifically on increasing protein in their diets. Consumers also are eating more frequently throughout the day. These category tailwinds support our convenient, protein-enriched food and beverage products that can be consumed on-the-go as nutritious snacks or meal replacements.”
BellRing Brands plans to expand its presence in international markets and pursue value-accretive acquisitions in convenient nutrition and more broadly in the food and beverage industry, according to the filing.
Retail channel expansion and product innovation also are strategic priorities.
“E-commerce remains a large opportunity for us across all of our brands,” the company said. “Our net sales have grown 52% annually in this channel from fiscal 2016 to fiscal 2018. We already have established a dedicated team to drive sales and deepen our customer relationships in this channel. In the long term, we also believe the food service and dollar channels are attractive markets where our brands are positioned for success.
“Innovating to deliver delicious tasting products with quality nutrition is a key growth driver of our brands. We are an insights-driven organization, and our innovation pipeline is guided by meeting unmet or underserved consumer needs. We employ a dual path innovation strategy with line extensions combined with category disrupting innovation.”