In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- DWT Advisory Blog
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- A recent report by Deloitte and FMI-The Food Industry Association indicates that while food and beverage companies have set diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, women and historically marginalized groups only held 35% of director-level positions of food and beverage companies in 2020.
- Myelin, a venture capital firm, recently launched its second fund and plans on investing in early-stage foodtech companies.
- The USDA predicts that food prices will increase by 2.5-3.5% for food consumed at home and 3.5-4.5% for food consumed outside the home this year, with food prices continuing to increase next year.
- Chobani announced that it will begin selling its Single-Serve Oat Blend yogurt in paper-based cups rather than plastic-based cups in an effort to focus on sustainable packaging.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- This week's featured group is Plant Chicago.
- Plant Chicago was established in 2011 as the anchor for the project known as The Plant, a collaborative community of food businesses on the southwest side of Chicago. Plant Chicago equips people and businesses with the tools to live more sustainably through community-driven, hands-on programs and innovative research projects.
- Plant Chicago offers the following programs:
- Education
- Farmers Market
- Local Food Box
- Indoor Victory Garden
- Small Business Support
DWT Advisory Blog
by Kaj Rozga and Jesse D. Lyon
The Biden Administration's Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy is bringing some unexpected attention to the alcoholic beverages industry. The long-term impact will be determined by what the federal agencies responsible for carrying out the President's edict decide to do in the coming months, but the directive has already put beverages under the microscope.
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Direct-to-Consumer Meal Company Exceeds $100 Million in Revenue, Eyes $1.5 Billion in Sales
- Coco Raises $36 Million Series A for Teleoperated Robot Delivery
- Insects-as-Feed Startup Beta Hatch Raises Another $10 Million as It Builds Out the 'Future of Farming'
- Taika Raises $2.2 Million in Funding, Launches Functional Matcha Latte
- AmplifiedAg Inc. Completes $40 Million in Capital Raise, Expanding Vertical Roots Indoor Farms Across the Southeast
- Sound Agriculture Obtains $45 Million Investment to Advance Novel Tech Platforms
- Carbon Software Agtech Regrow Raises $23.5 Million Series A
- Seattle Agtech Startup iUNU Acquires Pest Management Company CropWalk
- Future of Work: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Food Industry
- Myelin Launches Second Venture Fund to Target North America, Europe, Latin America
- USDA Predicts Higher Food Prices on Top of Existing Hikes – Calling Into Question Consumer Reactions
- Chobani Launches Paper Yogurt Container as It Moves Away From Plastic
EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Naturally Bay Area's 2021 Quick Bites Series:
Is Sampling Back?
How Emerging Brands Can Drive Awareness & Trial at Whole Foods
Wednesday, September 1, 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. PST
Just when it seemed demos were making a comeback, retailers are postponing the rollout of in-store sampling as a response to the ever-changing COVID environment. What does this mean for emerging brands?
Join this Quick Bites discussion led by Mary Tarczynski of Parabolic and representatives from shelf stable and perishable brands who are addressing these questions as they plan for Q4 and beyond.
Naturally Bay Area's 2021 Quick Bites Series:
CPG Corporate Venture Funds: How Big Food Invests in Emerging Brands
Wednesday, September 15, 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. PST
Hear how the venture investment arms of leading global food companies are supporting emerging food brands with investment capital and both strategic and operations resources.
Join this Quick Bites discussion moderated by Don Buder of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP with Tapan Shah, Director of Venture Capital, Snack Futures at Mondelēz Interational, and Simon Burton, Managing Director, eighteen94 Capital (Kelloggs' corporate venture capital arm).
Naturally Network: Harnessing the Power of Community
by Naturally Network
Friday, September 17, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. PDT
Learn how to develop yourself and grow your business from the most successful entrepreneurs in the Natural & Organic industry.
Join us - and industry veterans, Ayeshah Abuelhiga of Mason Dixie Foods, John Foraker of Once Upon A Farm, and Pete Speranza of Wicked Foods as they share tips on how they tapped into their communities to gain success and how you can do the same.
We’ll be joined by leadership from Naturally Network communities across the U.S. as they share their programming and how to get more involved to grow and thrive in your business and advances conscious business practices for the natural and organic products industry.
Please check out DWT's newly re-launched Startup Law Blog
At DWT, we are proud to have one of the largest Food & Beverage legal practices in the country, with over 40 attorneys representing food innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors at every level of the food chain, from Farm to Label.
The facts, laws, and regulations regarding COVID-19 are developing rapidly. Since the date of publication, there may be new or additional information not referenced in this advisory. Please consult with your legal counsel for guidance.
DWT will continue to provide up-to-date insights and virtual events regarding COVID-19 concerns. Our most recent insights, as well as information about recorded and upcoming virtual events, are available at www.dwt.com/COVID-19.