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
EPIC Founder Talks General Mills Acquisition
Today consumer foods giant General Mills announced that it has acquired upstart meat snack company EPIC Provisions. The brand will operate under General Mills-owned Annie’s Organics. Both Taylor Collins, Epic’s co-founder, and John Haugen, General Mills’ VP & General Manager of 301 Inc, spoke with NOSH about the acquisition.
Distributors, Suppliers Consolidate at Year-End
As the year winds to a close, the wallets remain open, with a spate of high-profile distributor and supplier acquisitions announced in the past two weeks. Many of the companies acquired have a focus on “better-for-you,” fresh, and specialty, underscoring the ongoing importance of consumer interest in natural and unique products.
Bolthouse Farms President: C-Fresh Plans to Add Up to 20 Categories
At this year’s BevNET Live, Scott LaPorta, the president of Campbell-owned Bolthouse Farms described the C-Fresh mission and growth strategy.
Neat Foods Acquired, Founder Discusses Deal
Just three years after its launch, neat foods, which markets plant-based, meat-alternative foods, has been acquired by Atlantic Natural Foods, a subsidiary of AFT Holdings. In an interview with Project NOSH, Phil Lapp, neat’s co-founder and CEO, spoke with Project NOSH about the deal.
Pinnacle to Buy Boulder Brands In Quest to Reach LOHAS & Millennial Consumers
Pinnacle Foods Inc. announced today that it would purchase Boulder Brands for approximately $710 million dollars. While Pinnacle has a large stable of classic American brands, including Birds Eye, Aunt Jemima, Duncan Hines and Vlasic, the acquisition will add a slate of “better-for-you” products popular with the growing segment of LOHAS shoppers.
CircleUp Rounds Up Funding and Partners with General Mills’ 301 Inc
Crowdfunding platform CircleUp announced it has raised a $30 million round of funding to support its own growth and has launched a new fund through 301 INC, General Mills’ business development and venture capital unit.
With Cash in the Tank, Perfect Fuel Revs Engines
Perfect Fuel, a functional chocolate brand, quietly announced this week that it had closed an initial seed round of funding. This most recent round will be used to launch their products more widely, as well as test out new line extensions.
Investors Bet on Banza with $1.3M Investment
Chickpea pasta producer Banza announced this week that the company had completed its first seed round of a $1.3 million dollar raise from institutional and angel investors. Project NOSH spoke with co-founder Brian Rudolph to find out what the funds will be used for and details of the raise.
Talking Cash: Christopher, Oza, and Brett Thomas form CAVU; Primozich Leaves Boulder Brands
Three well-known investors and entrepreneurs are coming together for a proposed $100 million fund while one of the leaders of another high-profile fund is leaving its parent company.
AccelFoods Showcases Their Newest Graduates in Packaged Food Innovation
A new class of innovators in food and beverage are ready to showcase their progress at AccelFoods’ Demo Day III, held on October 27, 2015 in New York City. The selected entrepreneurs will present their companies to industry insiders, tastemakers, and investors. Co-hosted by United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), AccelFoods’ Demo Day III will feature a keynote speech from UNFI’s President and CEO, Steven Spinner.