Hecto Healthcare buys stake in supplement maker Novawells as revenue nears $73M
What's the deal? Hecto HealthcareDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired an equity stake in NovawellsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a South Korean maker of health functional food ingredients, in a deal announced in September 2026. Terms were not disclosed. Hecto Healthcare chief executive officer Kim Seok-jin will join Novawells as an inside director.
What does Novawells do? The company develops supplement ingredients extracted from sources such as white kidney beans and bamboo leaves. Its revenue jumped from US$503K in 2021 to US$10.6M last year.
What's the endgame? The deal brings Hecto Healthcare's supplement affiliates to two, alongside BiotwelveDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Hecto Healthcare is the cash cow of the Hecto GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and is pushing deeper into South Korea's health functional food market.
Why now? The company is expanding its product lineup and pushing overseas. Building on its De Simone probiotics and last year's inner-beauty brand Onlyritual, it has rolled out probiotics for women, infants, and pets, and this year exhibited at trade shows in China, Vietnam, and Bangkok to target Southeast Asia.
By the numbers: Hecto Healthcare's revenue rose nearly 50% in four years, from US$48M in 2022 to US$71.6M last year, while operating profit climbed from US$68.8K to US$8.13M. Eugene Investment & SecuritiesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → expects annual revenue of US$85.9M this year, up 20%.
What they're saying: The company said it is strengthening "competitiveness in probiotics and functional ingredients" and expanding across domestic and overseas healthcare markets through brands including Onlyritual. (translated from Korean)
The signal: Hecto's move reflects consolidation in South Korea's supplement sector, as companies snap up fast-growing ingredient makers to secure supply and broaden their reach into Asia's wider wellness market.
