Advent Acquires Salt & Stone, Fueling Premium Body Care's Global Push

BOSTON & LOS ANGELES – March 24, 2026 – Global private equity firm Advent International has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Salt & Stone, the fast-growing premium body care brand born from the active lifestyle of a former professional athlete. The move signals a significant investment in the burgeoning wellness and premium body care sector, providing the Los Angeles-based brand with the capital and strategic expertise to accelerate its already impressive global expansion.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the partnership underscores mounting investor confidence in a market where consumers are increasingly prioritizing high-performance, ingredient-conscious self-care. Founded in 2017 by former professional snowboarder Nima Jalali, Salt & Stone has rapidly carved out a leadership position by merging a sophisticated aesthetic with formulas built for performance.

From Snowboard Slopes to Sephora Shelves

The story of Salt & Stone is inextricably linked to the journey of its founder. Nima Jalali spent years traveling the world as a professional snowboarder, an experience that exposed him to extreme elements and instilled a deep appreciation for the natural world. After a knee injury prompted him to explore natural healing methods, his focus shifted from what he was doing with his body to what he was putting on it.

Jalali discovered a significant gap in the market: personal care products that were both effective enough for an active lifestyle and formulated with clean, natural ingredients. He found that many products either failed to perform under pressure or were laden with ingredients he sought to avoid. This personal quest led to the creation of Salt & Stone, a brand built on the ethos of "wellness in movement."

From its inception, the brand has been committed to ethical and sustainable practices, including using naturally derived actives from the sea and mountains, cruelty-free testing, and investing in recyclable packaging made from ocean plastic and other recycled materials. This authentic origin story and commitment to quality have resonated deeply with consumers, allowing the brand to build a loyal community that values both performance and purpose.

The Anatomy of a Breakout Brand

Salt & Stone's commercial success has been nothing short of meteoric. The company reported more than $165 million in revenue in 2025, with double-digit growth across all its sales channels. This rapid ascent is powered by a product lineup that has achieved cult status, most notably its best-selling natural deodorant. The deodorant is currently the top-ranking product in its category at both beauty retail giant Sephora and e-commerce behemoth Amazon, with the company reporting that one is sold every five seconds.

This success highlights the brand's savvy omnichannel strategy. While it dominates premium retail, a remarkable 40% of its business comes from its direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. This powerful DTC presence demonstrates a direct and deeply engaged relationship with its customer base, built around its signature scents and high-efficacy formulas. The brand's global footprint already includes a presence in Sephora stores worldwide, with recent expansions into Sephora Europe and the UK's Space NK.

The brand's rise is perfectly timed with a major shift in the beauty industry known as the "skinification" of body care. Consumers are no longer satisfied with basic hygiene products, instead seeking body lotions, washes, and deodorants with the same high-quality, active ingredients typically found in facial skincare. Salt & Stone has masterfully capitalized on this trend, offering sophisticated, transportive scents and clinically effective formulas that appeal to wellness-focused millennials and a growing cohort of younger, fragrance-savvy consumers.

Private Equity's Bet on Premium Wellness

Advent's acquisition is a strategic move that reflects broader trends in the investment world. Private equity firms are increasingly targeting high-growth, founder-led brands in the consumer space, particularly in the resilient and rapidly expanding beauty and wellness sectors. The global luxury bath and body products market, estimated at over $19 billion in 2025, is projected to soar to nearly $33 billion by 2033, demonstrating the immense potential that firms like Advent are keen to tap into.

With over $100 billion in assets under management, Advent has a long history of partnering with distinctive consumer brands to help them scale globally. This acquisition is a vote of confidence in Salt & Stone's unique market position.

“We are thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Salt & Stone, a truly exceptional brand that stands apart in the premium body care and wellness space,” said David Paresky, a Director at Advent. “Nima and the Salt & Stone team have built something rare – a brand with deep consumer loyalty, outstanding products, and an authentic purpose that resonates with today’s consumer all around the world.”

Charting the Course for Global Expansion

Under the new partnership, Salt & Stone is poised to enter its next chapter of growth. The infusion of resources and expertise from Advent is expected to fuel further product innovation and dramatically expand the brand's presence in both DTC and premium retail channels across the globe.

Crucially, the deal ensures leadership continuity. Jalali will remain as CEO and a significant equity holder, preserving the founder's vision that has been central to the brand's identity. Key executives, including President Meagan Rosson and Chief Marketing Officer Abby Tellam, will also continue in their roles. This structure is designed to maintain the creative and strategic momentum that has driven the company's success.

Adding to the brand's strategic firepower is the appointment of Chris Elshaw as the new company Chair. Elshaw brings a wealth of industry experience, having previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Revlon and chaired other successful beauty businesses, including Paula’s Choice and Medik8. His deep operational expertise in scaling global beauty enterprises will be invaluable as Salt & Stone navigates its expansion.

For Jalali, the partnership is the key to fulfilling his long-term ambitions for the company. “From day one, I set out for Salt & Stone to be a legacy brand, built to last for the next hundred years and beyond,” he stated. “With our incredible team and Advent's partnership, I have never believed in that future more than I do today. This is just the beginning for Salt & Stone.” The transaction also marks the successful exit of Humble Growth, a minority investor that backed the brand in 2024, a typical step in the lifecycle of a rapidly scaling company.