Investing
4th & Heart Closes Round to Scale Ghee Platform
Artisanal ghee brand 4th & Heart announced the close of a $7.6 million round of capital today. In a video shot at this summer’s Fancy Food Show, NOSH Editor Carol Ortenberg sat down with CEO Raquel Tavares to discuss her goals for the brand and how she plans to use this capital to expand access and awareness of ghee.
Boston Innovation Lab to Convert Pilotworks to Incubator Model
The new venture, known as Nursery, will serve as an incubator for emerging brands. Founder Adam Melonas told brands he is planning to shift away from a shared kitchen model to one where Nursery will also take an equity stake in the brands using the space.
Soulfull Project Leaves Campbell’s Backing, Spins Out as Independent Brand
Despite having enjoyed rapid growth while under the auspices of CPG giant Campbell’s, breakfast brand The Soulfull Project announced this week that it would spin-off as a unique entity. The shift in ownership comes as Campbell’s refocuses on its core businesses.
ACG Closes $350M Fund to Invest in ‘Rising Star’ Brands
Private equity firm Alliance Consumer Growth announced this week the close of its fourth fund. In an interview with NOSH, Managing Partner Josh Goldin discussed how the industry has changed since the firm’s first fund and what types of investments the firm looks for.
Quietly Building, Cascadia Capital Starts to Spread Its Bets
Just like the brands they seek to partner with, investment banks working the food and beverage space need to stand out from the crowd. Within its consumer and retail practice, Cascadia, based in Seattle, focuses on emerging food and beverage brands and companies involved in contract manufacturing. The group has quietly brokered 50 deals since 2010.
CircleUp Closes $125M Fund Powered by Machine Learning
CircleUp is hitching its growth fund to Helio. The online fundraising platform today announced the launch of a $125 million venture capital fund that will incorporate the proprietary machine learning platform as a tool to help guide investment in early-stage consumer and retail companies.
Premama Raises $3.25M to Birth Maternity Wellness Category
Just as parenting is a capital and labor intensive endeavor, so too is raising a brand — especially one experiencing a growth spurt. Last week prenatal nutrition company Premama announced the official close of a $3.25 million Series B round in March of 2017. In total, the brand has raised $4.65 million over the last 18 months. The Series B round was led River Hollow Partners, while Series A lead investor Cherrystone Angel Group also took part.
5 Industry Highlights From ICR’s Investment Conference
More than 150 public and private companies took the stage during ICR’s investment conference this week — and among its presenters were some of the food industry’s most influential directors.
L Catterton Raises Eighth Buyout Fund Above Target at $2.75 Billion
GREENWICH, Conn.— L Catterton, the largest consumer-focused private equity firm in the world, today announced that it has closed its eighth flagship buyout fund, L Catterton Partners VIII, L.P., at $2.75 billion, including commitments from Limited Partners and the General Partner of L Catterton. The substantially oversubscribed fund received strong support from existing investors as well… Read more »
Food Innovation Nexus Sees Work Come to Fruition
Two years ago, Johnson and Wales University (JWU) along with longtime entrepreneurs and strategic consultants Michael Allio, Ken Levy and Steve Lane, formed the Food Innovation Nexus (FIX) — a food and beverage incubator, angel fund and consulting group.