Tej Lalvani sells Vitabiotics, the vitamin company built by his family, to Bain Capital in a deal reported to be worth £1 billion, according to Metro. Lalvani, who sat as an investor on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den between 2017 and 2021, confirmed the agreement in a statement on LinkedIn, describing it as a “defining moment” in his family’s business.
“When my father founded Vitabiotics in 1971, his vision was simple but powerful: to harness the power of science and nutrition to improve people’s health. That belief became the foundation of everything we have built,” Lalvani wrote, according to Metro. He added that Vitabiotics is now the UK’s number one vitamin company, “trusted by millions of consumers and healthcare professionals, with market-leading brands and a growing international presence.”
Vitabiotics was founded in 1971 by Lalvani’s father, Dr Kartar Lalvani, and has grown into Britain’s biggest vitamin business by sales, Metro reported. Lalvani said he had spent more than 30 years building on his father’s vision alongside “an exceptional team who have made Vitabiotics what it is today.”
The younger Lalvani joined the company after finishing university and has denied that his position resulted from nepotism, according to Metro. He said he began his career sticking labels on boxes in the warehouse, adding that his father “expected more of him than other employees.” He became chief executive of Vitabiotics in 2015 and led the company’s international expansion.
Lalvani joined Dragons’ Den in 2017 before stepping back from the show in 2021, saying at the time that he needed more time to focus on growing his various investments, Metro reported. During his time on the programme, he invested in several ventures, including Thortful, an online marketplace for independent greeting card designers, and War Paint For Men, a cosmetics brand aimed at men.
Among his investments, Lalvani and fellow Dragon Jenny Campbell put £130,000 into Look After My Bills, an automatic energy-switching service that was later acquired by GoCompare in 2019 for a reported £8.5 million, according to Metro. In a past LinkedIn post cited by Metro, Lalvani praised the company’s founders, Will and Henry, saying, “They made massive inroads into a huge market. Their company was growing exponentially. They sought investment in the Den. We saw the potential. We invested.”
According to Metro, Tej Lalvani built a reputation as one of the UK’s best-known entrepreneurs through his leadership at Vitabiotics and his appearances on Dragons’ Den. During his time on the BBC programme, he became known for investing in businesses focused on health, technology and consumer products. His business advice and investment strategy helped several startups gain wider recognition after appearing on the show.
Industry analysts say the reported sale of Vitabiotics represents one of the biggest transactions involving a British vitamin company in recent years. Bain Capital’s planned acquisition is expected to support the company’s future international expansion while allowing the Vitabiotics brand to continue operating under its established reputation. The company has built a strong presence not only in the United Kingdom but also across several international markets through its range of vitamins, supplements and healthcare products.
Although the financial terms are reportedly valued at around £1 billion, the transaction is still subject to regulatory approval before it can be completed, according to Metro. If approved, the agreement will mark a significant milestone in the company’s more than five-decade history and further strengthen Tej Lalvani’s position as one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors.
The Vitabiotics-Bain Capital deal remains subject to regulatory approval, Metro reported. News that Tej Lalvani sells Vitabiotics adds to a wider pattern of major corporate deals and regulatory actions making headlines this year, including the European Commission’s decision to fine Google €890 million, detailed in a related Google’s EU antitrust fine.
News Source: Metro
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