On March 17, 2022, Newfold Digital, backed by investment firms Clearlake and Siris, announced the acquisition of YITH, a leading independent developer of WooCommerce plugins. With over 2.3 million active installations and a suite of more than 100 extensions, YITH joins Newfold’s portfolio to strengthen its e-commerce offerings and serve nearly 7 million customers globally.
YITH: A Premier WooCommerce Plugin Ecosystem
Founded 2011 in southern Italy, YITH grew organically, without outside funding, becoming a go-to provider for WooCommerce solutions covering gift cards, wishlists, and product catalogs. Its flagship plugin, YITH WooCommerce Wishlist, boasts over 900,000 active installs.
Newfold Digital’s CEO, Sharon Rowlands, noted that the acquisition aligns with the increasing need for niche store features that YITH creators excel at, such as:
- Advanced product catalog layouts and filters
- Gift card systems and customer loyalty tools
- Seamless checkout and wishlist capabilities
YITH’s leadership and 46-member team will fully integrate into Newfold Digital, ensuring continuity and ongoing innovation.
Strategic Fit: Amplifying E‑Commerce on WordPress
Newfold Digital’s family includes brands like Bluehost, HostGator, Yoast, and Web.com. The addition of YITH complements previous acquisitions such as Yoast in 2021, fueling a robust ecosystem of WordPress and WooCommerce tools.
With YITH onboard, Newfold can offer:
- A richer suite of e-commerce enhancements for small businesses
- Streamlined integrations across its hosting and plugin stack
- Support and development to sustain both free and premium plugin versions
YITH founder Nando Pappalardo emphasized that the brand will remain intact, and products will continue to be available on WordPress.org.
Charting the Future of WooCommerce Innovation
By integrating YITH, Newfold Digital aims to elevate the customer experience for e-commerce entrepreneurs. Users can anticipate:
- More responsive updates and improved plugin compatibility
- Expanded features tailored to emerging online retail needs
- Deeper synergies across Newfold’s hosting, SEO (Yoast), and commerce offerings
Combining YITH’s product expertise with Newfold’s operational scale promises to deliver a new era of seamless WooCommerce growth.
Looking Forward: Powering Storefronts at Scale
YITH’s acquisition reaffirms Newfold Digital’s commitment to building a full-featured, WordPress-based commerce ecosystem. As user behavior evolves, this move positions WordPress businesses to succeed with best-in-class tools for storefront customization, engagement, and monetization.
Curious about these recent developments in WordPress mergers and acquisitions? To learn more about the latest industry news, visit the WPEdition and explore its M&A section.
See also:
- Explore the WP Edition monthly edition for broader coverage of WordPress M&A trends.
- For community insights, check WordPress news updates.
- Want to compare tools? Our Drag‑and‑Drop WordPress Page Builders guide offers a detailed overview.