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Journey Health & Lifestyle
February 8, 2023
Journey Health & Lifestyle Acquires LifeWalker Mobility
Journey Health & Lifestyle, a leading manufacturer and distributor of innovative products and services to help seniors live more comfortable, active and connected lives has added another category-leading brand to its portfolio through the acquisition of LifeWalker Mobility, the manufacturer and distributor of the UPWalker® family of products.
Richmond, VA and San Diego, CA – [February 8, 2023]– Journey Health & Lifestyle Brands Inc. (“Journey”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired LifeWalker Mobility Products (“LifeWalker”), the manufacturer and distributor of the revolutionary UPWalker® family of products, including the original UPWalker®, UPWalker Lite® and UPWalker® Premium Lite products. The acquisition, and additional growth capital for the combined companies, was provided by Peloton Equity and other existing investors in Journey, including Escalate Capital.
UPWalker® is the only clinically tested, ISO-certified safe, and FDA registered upright walker with a patented balance center of gravity design to provide users with a significant safety advantage over other upright walkers. The UPWalker® Lite and UPWalker® Premium Lite models are also among the lightest upright walkers on the market. The unique UPWalker® design enables users to walk upright in a safer, more secure posture – allowing them to walk farther with less effort and greater confidence.
LifeWalker expands the growing Journey portfolio of branded products by adding the leading upright walker in the healthcare market. The complete line of UPWalker® products can be purchased online, as well as through healthcare providers and distributors throughout the United States, including the Veterans Health Administration.
This acquisition continues the growth of the Journey Health & Lifestyle platform, initially formed in May 2021, concurrent with the acquisition of FirstStreet. Journey, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, develops and distributes direct-to-consumer, premium mobility, sleep, comfort, and safety products and services for senior consumers. The company’s products provide customers an enhanced quality of life and enable them to continue safely, independently, and gracefully on their “journey” in life.
“We are excited to bring LifeWalker’s revolutionary UPWalker® products into the Journey family” said Journey CEO Mitch Yoel. “This acquisition will enable us to broaden and deepen our product portfolio with a world-class product line that can now scale using Journey’s robust marketing, sales, and distribution channels. Ultimately, the two companies together allow us to positively impact more consumers’ lives and bring more value to our retail partners.”
Craig Shugert, Co-Founder and CEO of LifeWalker, added, “We are thrilled to join forces with Journey and see the UPWalker® product line gain more scale and reach through the Journey platform.”
About Journey
Journey Health & Lifestyle creates innovative products and services to help seniors with daily mobility, comfort, sleep and safety so they have more freedom to enjoy every moment of life’s journey.
Journey was formed in May 2021 as a partnership between Peloton Equity and a management team led by Harvey Diamond and Richard Kolodny. The company’s mission is to help seniors live healthier, more comfortable, active and connected lives by providing them premium, innovative products and services. The company’s products include the Zoomer®,Zinger®, the Perfect Sleep Chair®, the So Lite™ line of ultralightweight mobility products, the Journey Air Elite, the UPBed®, and many more.
For more information on Journey, visit www.shopjourney.com
About LifeWalker
Having sold more than 100,000 UPWalkers since its inception in 2016, the revolutionary, clinically tested UPWalker® is the only ISO 11199-3 certified upright walker on the market. The UPWalker® was so well received by customers that it has become the leading platform for this new category of customer focused walkers/rollators.
The original UPWalker®, along with the lighter weight models, including the UPWalker® Lite and UPWalker® Premium Lite models, are stylishly designed with concealed brake cables and represent a revolutionary break-through in assistive mobility products. The products contain adjustable-height armrests, suitable for a variety of heights, easy folding for transport, brakes with 8-to-10 inch wheels and padded sit to stand handles for both indoor and outdoor use. Standard accessories include a personal carry bag, beverage holder and backrest with a variety of optional accessories, such as a phone holder. According to clinical research, the patented design of the UPWalker® with forearm support reduces pain in the wrists, back and leg joints as compared to traditional walkers, and the upright position enables the user to walk farther with less effort.
For more information on the UPWalker®, please visit www.upwalker.com.
About Peloton Equity
Peloton Equity, LLC (pelotonequity.com) is a private equity firm focused exclusively on growth capital investments in the healthcare industry. Peloton was formed in 2014 as the successor firm to Ferrer Freeman & Company (“FFC”) and invests in companies with between $10 million and $200 million of revenue that have the management team, market opportunity and business model to grow revenues significantly over the life of its investment. Peloton seeks to be a significant investor in companies with high-growth potential, driven by a clear value proposition to the healthcare industry. Peloton’s investment team has invested in over 35 unique healthcare companies and has deployed over $800 million in capital. Recent investments include AeroSafe Global, ClearSky Health, Friday Health Plans, Grenova, and Journey Health & Lifestyle.
Media Contact:
Charles Valentine
Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer
press@journeyhl.com
www.shopjourney.com