A Nelson spa-pool company, the world's largest dedicated spa retailer, been acquired by US brand Jacuzzi.
Vortex Leisure managing director Andrew Pullen Photo: Supplied
Vortex Leisure and its retail arm Spa World has an annual turnover of just over $100 million
The company was previously owned by Australian and New Zealand shareholders.
Vortex managing director Andrew Pullen said the acquisition will allow the company to expand its horizons.
"In many countries, Jacuzzi is the generic name for spa strong brand proposition and prominence.
"We can utilise everything that they bring to continue to grow us in our home markets but we also have a combined desire to push out into Asia."
Pullen said spas were unknown in Asian markets.
"If we can crack spas in Asia then mutually I think we'll do very well from that."
Pullen said the company first struck up a relationship with Jacuzzi just over two years ago as a supply partner.
"In our first full year of working with Jacuzzi we became their largest international distributor."
Jacuzzi first developed a spa pool for the mass market in 1956, and became a well-known brand partly due to its appearance on the popular United States daytime television show, Queen for a Day.
Vortex moved its headquarters from Australia to Nelson in 2017, and its products are manufactured in China.
Pullen said most specialist spa dealers were small shops, but Vortex, through its retail arm Spa World, sold its products to 20 different countries, including parts of Europe, North America and India.
He said the company will remain in Nelson despite the takeover from Jacuzzi.
