Ontex has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of Grupo P.I. Mabe, a leading Mexican maker of disposable hygiene products in a move that will add a high quality, growth business that is a strong stategic fit with its existing operations. Based in Puebla, Mabe’s annual sales are about €400 million. Of these, about 60% are conducted in Mexico, the fifth largest personal care market in the world. The remainder are exported, mainly to the Americas region, where Mabe  has a strong foothold in the U.S. market. Ontex’s entry into these new markets, as well as the establishment of a new Americas division will extend the group’s growth moving forward.

In Mexico, Mabe offers a full product portfolio that includes baby diapers, feminine hygiene items and adult incontinence products and it has become the second largest player across all of i ts personal care categories with a number two position in baby care and a number three spot in the smaller but quickly growing adult incontinence market. It has been in operation for 38 years with leading brands including Chicolastic and BBtips as well as a number of retailer brands. It has been growing about 10% per year, well ahead of the Mexican market which is growing about 7%.

“We are delighted to welcome Grupo Mabe into the Ontex family. Grupo Mabe is an Ontex style business. Built on strong foundations and a team of highly capable people, Grupo Mabe has established solid market positions, built strong brands through consistent innovation and created lasting connections with its customers and consumers,”Ontex CEO Charles Bouaziz says, “Grupo Mabe also adds a new and exciting platform for growth for Ontex in the Americas, and we intend to propose to our shareholders that Grupo Mabe Founder and Chairman Gilberto Marín Quintero joins our board, so that his wealth of experience can help us to deliver on future attractive opportunities.”

“Joining the Ontex Group represents an exciting moment in the development of Grupo Mabe,” says Mabe founder and chairman Gilberto Marin Quintero. “Ontex’s complementary heritage and culture is extremely important to our customers, consumers and employees, and we look forward to working within Ontex to extend the reach and penetration of Grupo Mabe across its markets.”