Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., announced the closing of its acquisition of CytoSport Holdings Inc., Benicia, Calif. The purchase price was approximately $450 million. The deal includes the Muscle Milk brand of shelf-stable, ready-to-drink protein beverages; a manufacturing facility in Benicia, Calif.; as well as several manufacturing and distribution agreements both domestically and abroad, according to Hormel Foods.

CytoSport Inc. debuted the first organic line for its Muscle Milk brand of ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes.

CytoSport Inc., Benicia, Calif., debuted the first organic line for its Muscle Milk brand of ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes.

Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CytoSport Holdings Inc., Benicia, Calif., for approximately $450 million. The deal includes the Muscle Milk brand of shelf-stable, ready-to-drink protein beverages; a manufacturing facility in Benicia, Calif.; as well as several manufacturing and distribution agreements both domestically and abroad, according to Hormel Foods. Total 2014 annual sales for the Muscle Milk brand are expected to be approximately $370 million, it says.

CytoSport, Benicia, Calif., announced that its board of directors elected Rob King as chief executive officer of the corporation, effective immediately.

CytoSport’s Muscle Milk partnered with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw in a charitable marketing partnership.

Last year offered the sports and protein drinks category a big marketing opportunity through the London 2012 Summer Olympics, says Jennifer Zegler, beverage analyst at Chicago-based market research firm Mintel.

Cytosport, the Benicia, Calif.-based parent company of Muscle Milk and Muscle Milk Light, launched Muscle Milk Light Peach Mango in 14-ounce ready-to-drink bottles. Peach Mango is the first Muscle Milk Light beverage option to be naturally flavored and sweetened with stevia, monk fruit and cane sugar, the company says.