Unilever buys premium Italian ice cream maker GROM

MILAN, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Unilever has agreed to buyItalian high-end ice cream maker GROM, the consumer productgiant said on Thursday adding the acquisition would strengthenits ice cream portfolio with a premium brand.

The Italian company, which has 67 shops in Italy and abroad,was founded in 2003 in Turin, in the Piedmont region wherewell-known food companies Ferrero and Eataly have their homebase.

The GROM business will remain independent and managed by itsfounders from Turin, Unilever said in a statement.

The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. (Reporting by Francesca Landini, editing by stephen Jewkes)

Unilever