Investment

Starting a company is a bit like having a child. Months of gestation, a lot of painful tooth-gnashing to get it out into the world, and then nights of sleeplessness hoping you’re doing everything right. Milkmakers and Anchor Bar Two (two brands that are still in their youth, and coincidentally catering largely to the mommy market) recently announced that they’ve moved on to the next phase of their development via acquisition.

After seeing their initial natural foods venture fund, Boulder Brands Investment Group (BIG) marginalized by its parent conglomerate’s spiral into a takeover, the fund’s three former leaders, Duane Primozich, Carole Buyers, and Bill Weiland, set to work raising a new fund, christened Boulder Investment Group Reprise, or BIGR Ventures.

Today 4th & Heart, a producer of grass-fed, spreadable clarified butters, announced the closing of a Series A funding round totaling $1 million. The round was completed through website CircleUp, a crowdfunding platform for consumer brands to raise money from accredited investors.

New Orleans has always been known as one of the top U.S. cities for chefs, restaurants and gastronomical adventures. Now the Big Easy has the potential to be known for the products found on supermarket shelves with the launch of food and beverage incubator Ceres 504.

In 2002 Phil Anson founded what would become EVOL Foods and quickly turned it into a leading multi-category frozen foods brand. In 2013 Anson sold the brand to Boulder Brands, which in turn was acquired by Pinnacle Foods in 2015. Anson remained with Boulder Brands until this summer. Just a few weeks into his “retirement” from the brand, Anson spoke to Project NOSH about his time with the company and what’s next for his career.

The past year has been busy for contract manufacturer Ideal Snacks and PopCorners producer Medora Snacks. In July 2015, the two brands, were acquired by global private equity firm Permira and consolidated under the moniker Better For You (BFY) Brands. Now the company, under CEO Paul Nardone, is unveiling a new, global, consumer-facing identity. The brand, Our Little Rebellion, will house five year-old PopCorners (a line of popped corn chips) along with two other brands.

Last week natural products distributor United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) announced the acquisition of Gourmet Guru, a natural and organic food distributor and merchandiser serving the Northeast. Project NOSH spoke with Gourmet Guru CEO Jeff Lichtenstein about the sale, why it was the right time, and what the future looks like

Plant-based food and beverage private equity firm Powerplant Ventures today announced the closing of a $42 million fund. The fund is led by Mark Rampolla, founder of ZICO Coconut Water, Kevin Boylan and T.K. Pillan, co-founders of the Veggie Grill restaurant chain, and Dan Beldy, former Managing Director of Steamboat Ventures (the venture capital division of Disney).

The deal will nearly double the size of Danone’s North America footprint, increasing it from 12 to 22 percent of the company’s total portfolio and align it with several fast-growing brands focused on healthy and sustainable lifestyles.

This week The Kellogg Company announced the launch of Eighteen94 (1894) Capital, an internal venture capital fund with roughly $100 million to invest in entrepreneurial brands. Managing Director Simon Burton told NOSH that the group is keeping initial investment criteria broad.