Nestle, the company behind calorie-rich Smarties, Chokito and Fantales, has announced it will soon take over the weight-loss organisation Jenny Craig.

The chocolatier and multinational food company said it would acquire, at an undisclosed price, all shares of the group that controls the Jenny Craig franchise in Australia and New Zealand.

The acquisition next month will complete Nestle's takeover of Jenny Craig, a process which began in 2006 with the US$600 million ($600 million) buy-out of its international arm.

The weight-loss company was founded in Australia in 1983 and so it was fitting to reunite it with the growing international business, Jenny Craig chief executive Patti Larchet said on Tuesday.

"At Jenny Craig, we are committed to addressing the obesity epidemic and helping our clients lead healthier lives," Ms Larchet said in a statement issued by Nestle.