Ardian invests in IVB to scale clinical supplements across Europe

Ardian has agreed to acquire a minority stake in Spanish supplements house IVB Wellness Lab, signalling a strategic push to scale the brand across Spain and into other European markets. The investment will pair Ardian’s growth expertise with IVB’s scientific positioning and existing pharmacy footprint ahead of a planned closing in Q1 2026.

Founded in 2021 by Dr. Isabel Viña Bas, Valerio Soto Ferri and Carlos Viña Bas, IVB has built a profile as a science-led dietary supplements challenger from its base in Valencia. The company operates an asset-light model and combines clinical oversight and hospital partnerships with targeted ingredient sourcing to create formulations across everyday essentials (magnesium, omega-3) and specialised women’s health products.

Originally a digital-first direct-to-consumer brand, IVB has rapidly diversified distribution and now reaches approximately c.2,000 pharmacies across Spain while maintaining a strong, engaged online community. Those omnichannel credentials were central to Ardian’s decision, according to the firm’s Growth team, which highlighted IVB’s repeat purchase rates and data-driven marketing as foundations for scale.

The transaction brings together Ardian and IVB’s founders alongside existing minority investor Label Capital. Ardian said it will work closely with management to bolster commercial capabilities, product innovation and international expansion — areas private equity groups frequently target to accelerate consumer health roll-outs. Alexis Saada, Head of Growth & Senior Managing Director at Ardian, and Frédéric Quéru, Managing Director, are named as the deal sponsors within Ardian’s Growth platform.

Label Capital’s founding partners Eléonore Oudea and Gaspard de Sarnez welcomed the move, framing Ardian as a complementary partner for IVB’s European ambitions. IVB’s founders said the deal preserves the company’s mission — emphasising science, community and disciplined expansion — while unlocking the operational muscle needed for cross-border growth.

The European nutraceuticals and dietary supplements market runs into tens of billions of euros and continues to expand on rising consumer interest in preventive health and personalised wellness. Private capital has been active in the space, with growth investors targeting brands that combine clinical credibility, proprietary formulations and scalable D2C economics. For a rapidly growing brand that has already translated online traction into pharmacy reach, the combination of PE backing and category momentum can materially accelerate penetration in adjacent markets.

For IVB the immediate priorities will be to scale data-driven D2C acquisition and retention, broaden product R&D and fortify commercial infrastructure to support distribution beyond Spain. Ardian’s involvement signals that the company is preparing for a rollout phase where operational rigour, supply-chain resilience and regulatory know-how become as important as brand and science. The deal is expected to close in Q1 2026.