Kendo, an LVMH company, acquired Bite Beauty, a Toronto‐based beauty brand specializing in natural lip products founded in 2011 by Canadian entrepreneur Susanne Langmuir. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Since its founding, Kendo grew to be distributed in 24 countries.
Bite Beauty is the second acquisition for Kendo, which focuses on unique beauty brands with compelling stories and strong long‐term growth potential. Bite joins Ole Henriksen, an LA‐based skin care brand acquired three years ago, and four Kendo‐created brands: Marc Jacobs Beauty, Kat Von D Beauty, Formula X, and Elizabeth and James fragrance.
“Bite Beauty is an amazing brand that has enjoyed meteoric growth since Susanne founded it three years ago," said David Suliteanu, CEO of Kendo. "It has enormous potential here in North America as well as abroad.”
“I am thrilled to join Kendo, and to work with David and his team, to take Bite Beauty to the next level of growth and success," said Langmuir. "I am confident that, with Kendo’s support, Bite can expand its presence well beyond what we have achieved today, to become a world‐recognized and highly desired brand in the prestige beauty market.”
Bite Beauty’s mission has been to create beauty products that offer high performance and are formulated with ingredients healthy enough to eat. The company’s mantra is “Edgy, Edible, Innovation for Lips.” Its assortment of lipsticks, lip pencils, lip crayons and treatment products are hand‐crafted at the brand’s facility in Toronto. Bite Beauty is currently sold at Sephora, where it has become one of the fastest growing brands in the company’s history. It is also retailed in its brand-owned Lip Lab door in Manhattan.
As part of Kendo, Bite Beauty will continue to focus on innovative formulas and delivery systems, as well as expanding its digital presence and international distribution. Bite Beauty will continue to be based in Toronto, and be led by Langmuir, who will report to David Suliteanu.
