Investment

Smearcase has secured Chicago-based venture firm Listen as its first institutional investor as the three-year-old company works to scale and support its growing natural channel distribution footprint.

High protein ice cream maker Frozen One announced it has raised a $2 million seed round led by Supernatural Ventures and The Angel Group with additional participation from Tonic Ventures and Lucinda Capital.

Laird Superfood has acquired vertically integrated wellness product platform Terrasoul Superfoods for $48 million, continuing its strategy to grow through M&A.

This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Brad Avery discuss Unilever’s acquisition of Grüns, Suja Life’s initial public offering, Ithaca Hummus’ plans for category domination, and Mark Anthony Brands’ purchase of Finnish Long Drink.

After more than a year marked by lower deal counts but rising enterprise value, the food and beverage M&A market is both cautious and selective, though deals may accelerate if macro conditions stabilize.

After a brush with bankruptcy and a last-ditch bet on TikTok that flipped its trajectory overnight, low-sugar gummy brand BEHAVE is rolling into nearly 2,000 Target stores this week.

With new funding and a brand refresh, Rip Van is focused on expanding in grocery retail after establishing a base in club and ecommerce.

Ripi has raised $2.4 million in a seed funding round led by growth equity firm Cutting Horse. Great Circle Ventures, Paperboy Ventures, SuperAngel.Fund and “a bunch of other angels” also contributed, said founder and CEO Ian Tecklin.

Less than three years after launching, supplement gummy brand Grüns has agreed to be acquired by personal care and beauty multinational Unilever.

This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard discuss recent disruption at freeze-dried candy maker Sow Good, the new celebrity faces in supplement spaces, Khloud’s expansion into a bigger salty snack set, and protein bars made with beef tallow.