Investment
Dive into the latest stories, interviews, and discussions relating to investment, funding, and mergers and acquisitions throughout the natural food industry. Explore what the financial future looks like for natural food entrepreneurs in terms of capital availability, deal terms, lending, and the strategic marketplace in order to help shape your planning strategy for the short and medium term.
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Featured Investment Content
Whole Foods Evolves As Natural Merges Into Mass
Amazon is planning to absorb all 100,000 Whole Foods employees, including frontline staff, into its core business structure, per a report this week from Business Insider.
BranchOut Food Gets $2.5M To Expand Production
BranchOut Food received $2.5 million in funding through a common stock sale as it moves to expand its production facility.
Smash Foods Closes Seven-Figure Round To Fuel Further Growth
Smash Foods has closed a seven-figure funding round to expand availability of its superfood spreads and snacks, according to co-founder and chief operating officer Steve Ford. The round was led by Eclair Partners with participation from Label Capital and The Family Fund, alongside a strategic supply chain partner.
Additional Content
Investment Firm KDSA Buys NW Regional Cold-Chain DSD House Williams
Food-and-beverage focused firm KDSA Investment Partners has acquired Spokane, Wash.-based direct-store-delivery house Williams Distributors, a significant provider of ice cream and other frozen foods throughout the Northwest.
CPG Week: UNFI SNAFU And Beckham’s Buzzy Business Bet
This week, the podcast team digs into the disruption caused by a cyberattack on wholesaler UNFI’s information technology systems last week. Next, the hosts discuss Taste Tomorrow Ventures’ first food investment and why sour candy is whetting investor appetites lately. Finally, the podcasters highlight a soccer star’s foray into the consumer packaged goods field and a beverage brand’s latest partnerships.
This Saves Lives Goes ‘All In’ On New Brand With A Fresh $4M
Kristen Bell’s snack brand, f.k.a. This Saves Lives, is now All In Foods. The company emerged with its new moniker this month alongside announcing a fresh, $4 million cash infusion.
Molly Baz’s Ayoh Secures $4.5 Million to Ramp Up Distribution, Announces ‘Dream’ Retail Partnership
Ayoh, the modern mayo brand created by cookbook author and food writer Molly Baz, announced today the closing of a $4.5 million funding round led by Imaginary Ventures.
Mealogic Raises $16 Million To Scale ‘Food As Medicine’ Delivery Platform
Mealogic, a white-label meal delivery platform, has secured $16 million in a funding round led by S2G Investments, with participation from Dohmen Company Foundation, U.S. Venture Partners and Unilever Ventures.
Taste Tomorrow Ventures Marks First Food Investment With Better Sour
Taste Tomorrow Ventures, the early-stage investment fund established by beverage incubator L.A. Libations, has taken a minority equity stake in better-for-you candy brand Better Sour. Financial terms were not disclosed; however, Better Sour’s founders confirmed the startup is raising a seven-figure round to support new product launches and expanded distribution.
Sustainability-focused Paine Schwartz Invests in Chex Finer Foods to ‘Deepen Impact’
Paine Schwartz Partners is deepening its footprint in the sustainable food chain, announcing today its investment in specialty food distributor Chex Finer Foods.
CPG Week: The Case Against David. Plus, Is Vegan Cheese In Crisis?
This week, the podcast team explores an antitrust lawsuit centered around protein bar David’s acquisition of its supplier Epogee. Next, the hosts look toward regulatory headwinds in hemp drinks and why there are signs of optimism despite retail setbacks. Finally, the team looks at candy maker Joyride’s new $30 million funding round before discussing the future of plant-based cheese.
Food-as-Medicine Startup Raises $3.6 Million To Scale GLP-1 Solution
Lembas, which describes itself as an artificial intelligence-powered peptide discovery company, aims to offer a more accessible alternative to high-priced injectables sold under brand names like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy with its first solution, GLP-1 Edge.
Trump-Era SBA Eliminates DEI, Tightens Underwriting And Citizenship Requirements
The Small Business Administration (SBA) under the second Trump term does not seem to be signaling support for its core constituents: small businesses.