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
Mondelēz to Acquire Tate’s for $500 M
The confectionary giant announced today that it has agreed to buy crispy cookie maker Tate’s Bake Shop from private equity group The Riverside Company as well as other shareholders for approximately $500 million.
Pig Out Launches With Plant-Based Bacon Chips
Add another player to the plant-based fray. Pig Out, a line of plant-based, pork inspired chips launched this month.
Teton Waters Gets Cash, New CEO, Plans Growth
Executing a series of strategic moves, grass-fed beef brand Teton Waters Ranch this month signalled it is ready to expand. The sausage brand announced yesterday that it had brought on CPG veteran Mike Murray as its new CEO and, earlier this month, rolled out a new rebrand and package “reconfiguration.”
Monogram Capital Closes Debut Fund
Yesterday, investment group Monogram Capital announced that it had closed its first fund at $152 million. Monogram has previously invested in food brands including Ellenos greek yogurt, jerky producer Country Archer, frozen food brand Kidfresh and fast casual restaurant concept, Dig Inn.
Scaling Local: Ellenos and Here Gain Investments
This month, the two food brands both made major funding announcements and declared plans to expand their reach nationally. Here’s the latest on both investments.
Impact Group Gains National Presence With Acquisitions
Grocery broker Impact Group acquired two sister East Coast sales and marketing agencies, Wildfire Sales and Epic Natural Sales. The transaction establishes the company’s national footprint in the natural channel.
After Exo Acquisition, Aspire to Grow Cricket Farming Capacity
The acquisition pushes Aspire into a new growth phase: It now needs to scurry to build out a bigger cricket farming facility to meet the demands of all current customers along with the new brand.
Former McDonald’s CEO Invests in Maker of Veggie Fries
Farmwise LLC, the makers of Veggie Fries, Veggie Tots and Veggie Rings, announced Tuesday night that it closed a $4.5 million financing round led by Cleveland Avenue LLC, the venture capital firm founded by Don Thompson.
Seafood Brand Cheating Gourmet Hooks Investment from Former Snyder’s CEO
The value-added seafood company announced last week it had raised $1.3 million from newly established equity firm Arbel Growth Partners, run by Carl Lee, the former president and CEO of Snyder’s Lance, Inc.
New Barn Raises $3.75 M in Series A Round
New Barn, Inc., maker of a line of almond milks and almond-based ice cream alternatives, has raised $3.75 million in a Series A round led by New Food SPV, an investment company created to serve as a funding arm for the company.