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
Sonoma Creamery Cuts Fresh Cheese Biz To Focus On Snacking
Sonoma Creamery is ending 92 years in the fresh cheese business after selling off the division to The Atalanta Corporation, marking a formal shift toward a snack-focused future.
Let’s Get Nuts: Campbell Sells Emerald Brand To Private Label Manufacturer
Campbell Soup Company offloaded its nut and trail mix brand Emerald Nuts to Minneapolis-based, private label manufacturer Flagstone Foods on Tuesday for an undisclosed amount as the legacy soup company prioritizes its more successful snacking labels.
KeHE to Expand West Coast Distribution Footprint Through Acquisition of DPI
KeHE Distributors has entered into an agreement to acquire DPI Specialty Foods, a West Coast food and beverage distributor, the company announced on Wednesday. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Return of the Mac: 8 Myles Rebrands, Puts Comfort Food First
Fresh from raising seven-figures for its line of frozen clean-ingredient mac and cheese, 8 Myles has rebranded to Myles Comfort Foods and relaunched its flagship product with a new look and new SKUs.
Fresh Catch: Wicked Kitchen Acquires Plant-Seafood Maker Current Foods in Cashless Deal
Wicked Kitchen has acquired plant-based “raw” seafood provider Current Foods, a transaction that deepens the company’s food service offerings and grows its portfolio of plant-based products following its 2022 acquisition of Good Catch. Exact terms of the non-cash deal were not disclosed.
The VC Playbook Won’t Work For Regen – So What Will?
Most regen food startups have pioneered their own sourcing networks, starting from the ground up to support seed-to-shelf regenerative agriculture systems – and these operations that take a bit of initial capital to get going. While venture money is already in short supply, it seems even harder to come by in this space.
From Tour Guide To CEO, Ben & Jerry’s Names A New Leader
Ben & Jerry’s has named its longtime CMO as the new top executive, signaling that the company will continue highlighting its role as an outspoken voice for social activism.
Prime Roots Raises $30M To Put Koji Meat In The Deli Case
Prime Roots is one step closer to bringing its sliced-to-order koji-based meats to deli cases and restaurants across the country with today’s announcement of a $30 million in new funding to scale the business for national distribution.
News Roundup: Congress Seeks To Increase Access to Frozen Produce, Motif FoodWorks Launching Foodservice Portfolio
A bipartisan bill in Congress will offer SNAP recipients access to frozen produce, Motif FoodWorks is launching a foodservice portfolio of its plant-based meat products and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ private equity firm RX3 Growth Partners announces a $150M fund II.
On the Rise: Hero Bread Closes $15M to Grow National Distribution
Bakery brand Hero Bread announced today it has closed $15 million in funding to help the brand meet consumer demand and fuel future product innovation. The capital raise comes as the San Francisco-based brand shifts its focus to physical retail.