Investment

A manufacturer brought a brand in house, and a brand house invested in a manufacturer today. Snack brand Snyder’s-Lance announced today that it made an investment in Natural Foodworks Group (NFG) while incubator Fresca Foods acquired Open Road Snacks.

Last week Miyoko’s Kitchen, a producer of non-dairy, plant-based, vegan cultured cheeses, announced it closed a Series B round of investment. The round was lead by JMK Consumer Growth Partners, with Obvious Ventures, Stray Dog Capital, and the CircleUp Growth Fund also taking part.

Jacqueline Claudia always dreamed of being a marine biologist so she could save the world “one fish at a time.” So now, when the all-grown-up co-founder and CEO of Love The Wild Seafood was presented with an opportunity to work with Aqua-Spark, the first investment fund focused exclusively on sustainable aquaculture, she headed straight for the bait.

With the increasing demand for healthier, alternative snacks, brands made from fruit and vegetables have been growing in popularity. And not just with consumers, but with investors, as well — two growing companies have announced new financing rounds this week alone.

More than 150 public and private companies took the stage during ICR’s investment conference this week — and among its presenters were some of the food industry’s most influential directors.

After five investments that have ranged from jerky to grass-fed dairy to pancake mixes, Sunrise Strategic is taking a bite of the youth-facing snack set with a minority investment in new brand Pure Growth Organic.

After launching in July 2016, eighteen94 capital, the venture arm of CPG giant Kellogg Company, has announced Kuli Kuli, a moringa-based brand of bars, powders and shots, as its first investment.

Longtime Founder and CEO Keith Robbins sold Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream to Kenex Holdings, a Chicago-based investment company, after almost 32 years of business. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.