BEAVER FALLS, Pa.—Sensibility Soaps, an organic personal care manufacturer, was acquired by growth investment firm Renewal2 and a team of veteran consumer product executives. The new company, renamed Sensible Organics, appointed Rick Ruffolo as CEO and President.
Sensible Organics will continue to be headquartered in Beaver Falls with the mission of becoming the leading custom product development and contract manufacturer of certified natural and organic personal care products. The Company has a library of thousands of innovative natural and organic formulations in the skin care, bath and body, hair care, fragrance and baby categories. Sensible Organics also will restage and expand its chemical-free and sustainable personal care brand, Nourish Food for Healthy Skin™, which is currently distributed in Whole Foods, GNC and other retailers across the country.
Renewal2, a growth investment firm in sustainable and socially responsible businesses, and an early backer of Seventh Generation, is the lead investor. Rob Robillard, a beauty and retail industry veteran and CEO of Zoom Eyeworks, has joined the Board. Robillard built and led numerous high-profile, high- growth consumer brands, including serving as the CEO of Living Proof, one of the fastest growing beauty companies. Previously, Robillard was worldwide general manager of Kiehl’s and SVP of marketing for L’Oreal Paris. Additionally, Nir Liberboim, a consumer products investor and entrepreneur with experience at McKinsey & Co., L’Oreal, Goldman Sachs and Polaris Venture Partners, has joined the Board.
“Sensible Organics will honor the heritage of Sensibility Soaps and build on its history and success, continuing to provide innovative leadership to the organic personal care market through its ongoing partnerships with the USDA/NOP, NSF/ANSI 305, and leading retailers such as Whole Foods," said Paul Richardson, managing partner with Renewal2. “We have identified an outstanding Board of Directors to help guide the growth and development of the new company, and we will rely on the vast experience of this Board to drive impact in the company and its community."
Ruffolo, an industry-recognized leader with more than 20 years of consumer goods and retail executive experience at Procter & Gamble, SC Johnson, Bath & Body Works and Yankee Candle, has created and led several billion dollar consumer brands in multiple product categories across nearly all distribution channels.
“We’re at an important inflection point in the organic industry. Our focused business strategy and the team’s technical and operational expertise, along with our ongoing partnerships with key retailers, marketers, and industry organizations, will enable Sensible Organics to provide consumers with attractive offerings that fit their lifestyles and help the organic personal care industry realize rapid growth and greater acceptance and usage over the next five years," said Ruffolo.