"We are excited about this announcement," said Michele Meyer, president of Small Planet Foods. "LaRABAR is an exceptional brand that is experiencing rapid growth because of the quality and uniqueness of Larabar products. We are especially pleased that Lara Merriken, the founder of Larabar, will continue with the business. Lara is clearly the brand champion of Larabar, and we are thrilled to have her join us as we grow the business together."

Humm Foods was founded in 2002 by Merriken, whose idea for her namesake Larabar came to her while she was hiking in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Her vision was to create a business centered on delivering an all-natural nutrition bar made of fruit and nuts, with unique flavors and few ingredients. The business has grown dramatically under her leadership to a category-leading position in the single-serve natural health bar segment.

"I'm pleased to see Larabar joining strong and successful brands like Muir Glen and Cascadian Farm," said Merriken. "I see this move as important to the future, and I'm excited to work with Small Planet Foods to continue to grow the Larabar business."

Humm Foods' brands compete in the single-item, natural and organic category at natural, conventional and specialty grocers across the U.S. and abroad. Larabar makes 14 Larabar brand flavors, which contain fruit, nuts and spices, and six Jocalat brand flavors, which contain chocolate, fruit and nuts.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

From the June 23, 2008, Prepared Foods e-Flash