Leading private equity firm Inflexion has agreed to sell its investment in Lintbells, a globally recognised leader in YuMOVE pet supplements, to American company Vetnique Labs.

Hertfordshire-based Lintbells was founded almost two decades ago by Dr John Howie and John Davies, to provide pets and their owners with scientifically supported supplements to support chronic health conditions. 

Lintbells’ products are sold under the YuMOVE brand umbrella, encompassing the UK’s number one joint mobility supplement for dogs and cats, as well as supplements to support digestive health, anxiety, skin and coat, and dental.   

Since the 2017 investment, Inflexion’s in-house teams have supported Lintbells across a range of growth opportunities, including its expansion of the highly successful direct-to-consumer channel.  

Inflexion has also supported the successful expansion of Lintbells into the US both organically and through the acquisition of Walkin’ Pets. Earlier this year the firm achieved B Corp accreditation, reflecting its impressive ESG achievements. 

The investment period also facilitated the planned succession of co-founder John Howie, who set the business up in 2006, with Fiona Hope brought in as Chief Commercial Officer shortly after the Inflexion investment and taking over as CEO in 2022.   

Fiona Hope said: “Lintbells’ journey over the last few years has been one of high-quality growth. Inflexion’s backing and partnership enabled us not only to achieve our goals more quickly but to aspire to even greater ones. Their network was invaluable in expanding our digital capabilities and bringing our supplements to the US.”

She will continue to serve as CEO of YuMOVE, with responsibility for the UK, Europe, and rest of the world.

Malcolm Coffin, Partner and Head of Enterprise Fund, Inflexion, commented: “Lintbells has achieved tremendous growth during our investment, and we are particularly proud to have supported their successful entry into the US market. We wish Fiona and the team all the very best for the continued growth of the business.”

Vetnique develops a range of specialty pet products, which are vet-founded, vet-formulated and vet-recommended, including supplements and topical solutions for digestive health, allergy and dermatological support, and ear care. The company is best known for its Glandex supplement, which is North America's number one solution for anal gland disease.