Article - October 22, 2026
Featured Professionals: Ed Arkus, Brent Spiller, Konstantin Molinari, Bernardo Villar, Jeremy Zucker
Despite declining birth rates around the world, spending on each child keeps rising. In fact, fertility numbers are at historic lows across both the U.S. and the E.U., yet the global infant and juvenile products market is expanding at a 6.4% CAGR through 2033.1
Demand is particularly strong for premium consumable items with quality materials, differentiated science, clean-label positioning, safety credentials, modern design, and multifunctionality. “These premium features bring more value to parents and help lift prices across a large list of products that every child needs,” says Ed Arkus, a managing director.
Below, our Consumer Group shares more about what this space offers investors, the business traits to seek, and how our recent client Béaba-Suavinex became a standout opportunity.
Non-Discretionary Demand, a Focus on Quality
Baby and childcare products, including feeding, hygiene, and safety related items, are staples of many households. Consumables that need to be bought regularly are especially attractive to investors, and because parents are always looking to prioritize their children’s care, price is often secondary.
“Quality is often more important to families than cost, and many parents pick brands they believe in and feel good about,” says Brent Spiller, a managing director.
Leaders in the space are building parent-approved reputations with a premium experience every step of the way, from product design and packaging to strong customer service and innovative digital offerings. Credibility can be further strengthened through best-in-class safety features, science-backed benefits, healthy and eco-friendly materials, positive online reviews, and mentions in popular publications.
“All these elements are critical for building trust with families as well as retailers, hospitals, and pharmacies, giving established brands a distinct advantage,” notes Konstantin Molinari, a director. “Plus, if a hospital or pharmacy chooses to stock a certain product, that goes a long way for parents, too.”
While premiumization and trust are key for success, many top businesses also use omnichannel strategies to drive growth across different geographies and bring new products to market. Direct-to-consumer tactics, for example, bring convenience to shoppers while helping brands forge tighter connections with customers, build more control over their go-to-market strategies, and gain valuable data.
Different channels play different yet meaningful roles, explains Bernardo Villar, a director: “E-commerce drives accessibility and frictionless purchasing, department stores and specialty retailers help with customer awareness and education, and pharmacies can build greater credibility and access,” he says. “Each is an important part of the equation for leading infant and juvenile brands.”
Illustrating the Opportunity: Béaba-Suavinex
Béaba-Suavinex is a premium baby care platform that brings together complementary brands under a unified growth strategy. Béaba simplifies modern parenting through feeding, meal preparation, nursing, and infant care products, while Suavinex specializes in baby bottles, pacifiers, and baby personal care items, with a top position in the pharmacy channel and an emerging international presence. Harris Williams is advising Béaba-Suavinex, a portfolio company of Bluegem Capital Partners, on its pending sale of a majority stake to Portobello Capital.
A key element of Béaba’s success is its strong reputation. The company has built a recognized brand through thoughtfully designed products that blend function, convenience, safety, and aesthetics, while developing scalable digital capabilities that improve customer engagement. Its established international footprint naturally supports continued expansion, allowing the brand to reach parents in Europe and beyond.
Béaba’s growth is further enhanced by its relationship with Suavinex. Together, the brands operate across multiple product categories, distribution channels, and countries, supported by manufacturing facilities in Spain and Slovakia and an experienced management team. “The platform combines research and development, production, and digital expertise, helping it introduce innovative and differentiated products to attractive markets,” says Jeremy Zucker, a director.
As Béaba-Suavinex enters its next phase of growth with Portobello Capital, it's well positioned to continue building its global presence. “We look forward to watching the company expand internationally and pursue strategic M&A opportunities, all while supporting evolving parent needs through deeper online capabilities and a broader product offering,” says Arkus.
Grand View Research
