RAW Nutrition Joins The Quality Group Family

The strategic partnership strengthens RAW Nutrition in the U.S. – uniting two strong players with the same vision.

Elmshorn / Port St. Lucie, FL, April 1, 2025 – The Quality Group, a performance nutrition provider with brands such as ESN and More Nutrition, welcomes RAW Nutrition as a new partner in its corporate family..

RAW Nutrition is one of the fastest-growing brands in the sports nutrition sector and was recognized by Inc. 5000 in 2024 as the fastest-growing consumer goods company. By joining as a strategic partner, The Quality Group lays the foundation for a shared future – with a focus on quality, innovation, and a strong community. BUM Energy, the second brand from RAW Co-Owner Chris Bumstead, will also become part of the joint portfolio.

“Both RAW Nutrition and The Quality Group are deeply connected to their target audiences. While RAW excites athletes in the U.S., we activate a loyal, performance-driven following in Europe through ESN and More Nutrition. This partnership is a true boost for both sides – and we’re excited to collaborate with Dom Iacovone and Chris Bumstead. Chris is already a global icon in our industry – a strong signal for everyone who lives and loves our brands,” says Heikki Takala, CEO of The Quality Group.

Both companies share a clear commitment: athletes come first. And those who want to achieve their athletic goals need products they can rely on. This is exactly where the collaboration comes into play – The Quality Group brings years of experience in product development, quality assurance, and scaling to support RAW Nutrition's further growth in the U.S. market.

Shared Spirit, Shared Growth

As part of the partnership, Dom Iacovone, Co-Founder and CEO of RAW Nutrition, and Chris Bumstead, Co-Owner and six-time Mr. Olympia in Classic Physique, will become co-shareholders in The Quality Group.

In the coming months, RAW Nutrition aims to expand its product portfolio, reach new audiences in the U.S., and bring fresh momentum to the community.

“We spoke with many international performance nutrition companies – but The Quality Group convinced us. They know the opportunities and challenges ahead and have successfully mastered them themselves. For me, it was clear: I don’t want just a financial backer, but a true strategic partner. We have big goals with RAW – and this is the first step toward achieving them,” says Dom Iacovone, Co-Founder and CEO of RAW Nutrition.

RAW Nutrition and The Quality Group will continue to operate as independent brands – while working together to deliver genuine, long-term value to their customers.

Patrycja Nowakowska is the new General Manager of More Nutrition

Hamburg, September 12, 2024 – More Nutrition, one of the leading brands in the "Better-for-You" nutrition and supplements sector, appoints Patrycja Nowakowska as its new General Manager. With her extensive experience in the consumer goods industry and her already deep connection to the brand, she will lead More Nutrition through its next growth phase.

This newly created position is part of a strategic reorganization within The Quality Group, which also includes the ESN brand. As early as June 2024, Philipp Markmann was brought on board as General Manager for ESN. The creation of both positions is a decisive step in further strengthening the More Nutrition and ESN brands and expanding The Quality Group’s market leadership in the supplements and sports nutrition segment.
Patrycja Nowakowska brings over 15 years of international experience in the food and consumer goods industry and was most recently Global General Manager at Lipton. She is particularly proud of her role in the rebranding of More Nutrition, which she successfully supported with her own agency, Alchelab. Her deep understanding of the brand, her international background, and not least her passion for a healthy lifestyle, make her the ideal candidate to elevate More Nutrition to the next level. She reports directly to CEO Heikki Takala.
Patrycja Nowakowska on her new role: "More Nutrition is more than just a brand for me – it's a passion. The development the brand has undergone since 2017 is absolutely impressive, and I look forward to continuing to work with the team on expanding and strengthening the brand. Our goal is to continue developing products that not only taste great but also perfectly support our customers' goals."

More Nutrition - Enjoyment without Compromise

More Nutrition was founded in 2017 by Christian Wolf and quickly became the favorite brand for people looking to achieve their ideal figure sustainably and without compromise. The portfolio includes high-protein products, light foods and beverages, as well as zero- and low-sugar alternatives and "beauty from within" supplements. With these smart, nutritionally beneficial, and at the same time delicious solutions, More Nutrition has gained 1.5 million customers in a short period. Replacing conventional, calorie-dense, and sugary foods with More products doesn’t feel like a compromise and is also sustainable.
More Nutrition's mission is to develop innovative nutrition products that allow consumers to enjoy great taste while saving calories. The brand is committed to supporting weight management and promoting a balanced lifestyle, thus contributing to the reduction of obesity in society. Millions of people in Germany have already saved unnecessary calories, reduced body fat, and achieved their desired figure with More Nutrition – all in a pleasurable way.

Elmshorn, May 27, 2024: Customer satisfaction study by the German Association for Consumer Studies (DtGV): Three top rankings for ESN

Our ESN brand emerged from the latest DtGV study "Germany's Best Brands 2024: Supplements & Boosters" with a total of three first places in the overall ranking. ESN was awarded the highest customer satisfaction in the protein powder, flavor powders and workout booster segments. The score was calculated as a weighted average of the sub-categories of quality, value for money and variety of flavors and product range.

ESN achieved the highest score in all three product groups in the flavor variety sub-category. In the protein powder and workout booster segments, ESN also ranked first for product quality and came a close second for value for money. With the best quality and at the same time the best product range, a podium position for price-performance - we at ESN are particularly proud of this result.

Nico Lother, Chief Product Officer ESN: "We are delighted that our customers have honored our high quality standards in terms of functionality, taste and product safety with this fantastic survey result. The positive feedback is an incentive for us to continue delivering top performance in the development of our products."

The study "Germany's Best Brands 2024: Supplements & Boosters" was conducted by the independent German Association for Consumer Studies (DtGV) for the first time this year. The focus was on 66 brands from German suppliers, segmented into six product groups. The study is based on almost 50,000 individual ratings, which were collected via an online access panel.

ESN (Elite Sports Nutrition)
As the German market leader for sports nutrition, ESN has been the brand for high-performance sport since it was founded in 2007. ESN offers a wide range of products such as protein powders, protein bars and sports supplements to support ambitious training goals and increase individual athletic performance. As an established brand with its own production facilities in Germany, ESN offers only the highest quality foods and supplements, Made for Athletes.

Elmshorn, May 6, 2024: Heikki Takala to become new CEO of The Quality Group

The Quality Group, Germany’s leading provider of sports nutrition, dietary supplements and low-sugar, high-protein products, has appointed Heikki Takala as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Heikki Takala, who has been a member of The Quality Group’s Advisory Board since CVC became an investor in the company in 2022, takes over from Stefan Smalla, who is leaving the company by mutual agreement after two successful years at the helm.

During Stefan Smalla’s leadership, the company has more than doubled its revenues and completed the transformation from a founders-led startup to an independently structured organization. With its two strong brands, ESN and More Nutrition, and outstanding products, the company has established itself as a market leader in the DACH region whilst initiating international expansion.

As The Quality Group embarks on its next developmental phase, the company welcomes Heikki Takala, a seasoned leader with a global perspective and a track record in building "Billion Dollar Brands” and global organizations. Heikki first spent 18 years with P&G in various pan-European and global leadership roles, followed by eleven years as the CEO of Amer Sports where he delivered industry-leading results and shareholder returns with the company’s portfolio of world-class sports and sports lifestyle brands, including Arc’teryx, Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, and Peak Performance.

With Heikki Takala’s experience and backed by a strong and passionate team, The Quality Group is poised to further accelerate its growth trajectory, building on its unique business model of outstanding products and innovative marketing, whilst pursuing expansion opportunities into new consumer segments, omni-channel, and international markets.

22.04.2024: Strategic Partnership between ESN and Thomas Müller: Joint Launch of the New High Protein Ready-to-Drink Meal RDY in May

ESN, the German leader in sports nutrition, and World Cup champion Thomas Müller are entering into a long-term strategic and business partnership: Together, they are launching the High Protein Ready-to-Drink Meal RDY in four flavors, marking the start of the new product range THOMAS MÜLLER | ESN. Priced at 3.99 euros, the products will be available from May 1st on the ESN online shop at esn.com/RDY, and from May 6th at REWE as the exclusive retail partner.

With the RDY drink meal, ESN is tapping into a new product category that will complement its existing portfolio of high-quality protein powders, bars, and sports supplements. This expansion helps ESN broaden its target audience and capitalize on a dynamic market segment that, according to the market research institute GfK, grew by nearly a fifth in Germany in 2023 alone. Available in four varieties - Chocolate Milk, Vanilla, Banana, and the ESN Signature Flavor Cinnamon Cereal - the product is a full, balanced meal replacement that satisfies hunger for three to five hours. RDY is lactose-free, contains no added sugars, and boasts a high protein content of 38 grams per 500 milliliters. The drink also covers an adult's daily needs for essential micronutrients and minerals and features MCT oil from coconuts as a high-quality functional energy source, instead of just relying on rapeseed and sunflower oil. The fat content is only 19 grams, with 12 grams of fiber per serving. A 500-milliliter bottle has just 495 calories. With its balanced nutritional profile, RDY offers a healthier alternative to ready meals or fast food, saves time in everyday life, and provides a practical, uncomplicated meal replacement especially on busy days, whether at work, at home, or on the go. "We didn’t just develop RDY for athletes – our goal is to make tightly-scheduled days easier for a much broader audience. With RDY, we aim to reach not only our regular, very sports-focused ESN clientele but also to make a mark in a new market segment. We are particularly proud to have Thomas Müller as a business-minded partner with high potential for identification in this endeavor," says Stefan Smalla, CEO of ESN.

Perfect match for Thomas Müller and ESN: Long-term collaboration planned

As a high-performance athlete and football icon, Thomas Müller not only represents an active and healthy lifestyle but also brings a strong awareness of healthy eating to the table. He had already been a regular consumer of ESN products before initiating contact last fall, which kicked off the collaboration that has been ongoing since September 2023.

"Being able to perform at my best despite a full schedule is routine for me – here, RDY is a helpful and especially tasty solution. I was involved in the product development, particularly in the nutrient compositions and flavor profiles. Now, I look forward to a long and successful business partnership with ESN," says Thomas Müller, who is currently part of the German national squad for the upcoming Home Euro 2024 and now also an official ESN athlete.

RDY - High Protein Ready-to-Drink Meal ESN (Elite Sports Nutrition)

• Flavors: Chocolate Milk, Vanilla, Cinnamon Cereal & Banana

• 38g Protein per bottle

• 26 Vitamins and Minerals

• Lactose-Free

• Satiates for 3 to 5 hours

• 495 kcal per 500ml

• MSRP: €3.99

• Available from May 1st at esn.com/RDY

• Exclusively at REWE stores from May 6th

As the German leader in sports nutrition since its founding in 2007, ESN has been the brand for high-performance sports. ESN offers a wide range of products including protein powders, protein bars, and sports supplements to support ambitious training goals and enhance individual athletic performance. As an established brand with its own production in Germany, ESN provides only the highest quality foods and supplements, Made for Athletes.

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