In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Mondelēz International’s corporate venture capital arm has announced that it purchased a minority stake in Urban Legend, a UK-based fresh doughnut and pastry business, for an undisclosed sum.
- PepsiCo announced that it will acquire Siete Foods, a popular Mexican-American food brand, for $1.2 billion.
- Cayena, a B2B inventory marketplace for the Latin American food industry, announced that it raised $55 million in its Series B round.
- Helaina, a fermentation technology startup to produce proteins found in human breastmilk, announced that it raised $45 million in its Series B round.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is Minerva Foods.
- Minerva Foods is one of the leaders in the production and sale of fresh beef and its byproducts, live cattle exports and beef processing in South America. Besides Brazil, Minerva Foods has productive units in Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia and Uruguay.
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Some of the highly recognized Minerva Foods brands include:
- Estância 92, a Brazilian brand
- Minerva Angus, a Brazilian brand
- Frigomerc, a Paraguayan brand
- Cabaña Las Lilas, an Argentine brand
- Pul, an Uruguaian brand
- Minerva Foods in Brazil rolled out a venture-capital fund called MF92 in August 2020.
- MF92 made its first investment of $4 million in San-Francisco based Clara Foods, a maker of plant-based protein ingredients for food and beverage products.
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Seaweed Packaging Pioneer Notpla Secures £20 Million to Replace Single-Use Plastics in USA
- Helaina Raises $45 Million to Speed-Up Commercialisation of Human Bioactive Proteins
- New York-Based Ecovative Has Secured $28 Million in a Growth Equity Round to Expand its Mycelium-Based MyBacon Product and Introduce New Sustainable Leather Materials
- Series A round ‘Fueling Growth’ for Daily Crunch
- Danone Offers to Buy Kefir Maker Lifeway Foods for $283 Million
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally Minnesota
Food, Ag, Ideas Week
October 7-9, 2024
Location: 300 2nd St SE, Minneapolis, MN
Food | Ag | Ideas, led by Naturally MN has become a must-attend gathering for farmers, entrepreneurs, brands, industry professionals and companies alike, focused on food and ag innovation, drawing attendees from across the US and internationally. Immerse yourself in a dynamic lineup of sessions, panels, networking events, and interactive experiences. This year, we're diving headfirst into regenerative agriculture supply chains, focusing on how we can ensure the health of both people and the planet.
If you are a part of the regenerative supply chain, join Naturally Minnesota to help shape this crucial conversation.
Naturally Minnesota
Regenerative Agriculture Alliance and Tree-Range® Farms at Salvatierra Farms
Tuesday, October 7 | 11:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. ET
Location: Tree-Range® Farms at Salvatierra Farms, Baldwin Avenue 8400, Northfield, MN
Join Naturally Minnesota to kick off Food | Ag | Ideas Week with an immersive and inspiring event hosted by Naturally Minnesota and Tree Range Farms at Salvatierra Farms, in Northfield, MN. Dive into a day of exploration, education, and dialogue centered on regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices.
Event Highlights:
- Delicious Lunch: Enjoy Tree-Range Chicken and vegetarian options while networking and learning about climate-smart agricultural practices from our science team.
- Farm Tour: Discover the innovative Poultry-Centered Regenerative Agroforestry System and witness the transformation from conventional farming to sustainable practices.
- Panel Discussion: Engage in a dynamic conversation with industry leaders on scaling up regenerative practices with integrity, followed by an interactive Q&A session. In this panel, industry leaders and PCRA ecosystem members will explore both the opportunities and challenges facing the regenerative agriculture movement. They will discuss how this farmer-driven model can scale effectively while maintaining its core principles of integrity and environmental stewardship. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the future of regenerative agriculture and its impact on our ecosystems.
Don't miss this pivotal event that promises to be a platform for learning, collaboration, and advocacy, reinforcing Naturally Minnesota's commitment to innovation in food and agriculture.
Naturally Bay Area
Naturally Bay Area + Food Funded Happy Hour Meetup
Wednesday, October 9 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: Almanac Beer Co., West Tower Avenue 651, Alameda, CA
Naturally Bay Area is partnering with Food Funded to bring the Oktoberfest spirit to Almanac Brewing in Alameda on Wednesday, October 9, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.! Whether you're a seasoned natural products pro or just getting started, this is your chance to mix, mingle, and enjoy some great craft brews with your fellow community members.
What's on tap:
- Lively conversations with industry insiders
- Opportunities to grow your network in a relaxed, fun atmosphere
- Insights into what's brewing next for Naturally Bay Area and Food Funded
- Local beers to kick back and enjoy (we'll have wine too!)
Naturally New York
Diverse Innovators: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Thursday, October 10 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET
Location: Farm Fresh Rhode Island, 10 Sims Avenue, Providence, RI
Join Naturally New York for a panel featuring Miguel Leal and Rodrigo Zuloaga, Co-Founders of SOMOS Foods! Learn about their journey of scaling their brand to retail and establishing a strong presence in the marketplace. Lorena Tapiero, Founder of Conscious Consulting, will moderate the panel, followed by an audience Q&A.
Additional Highlights:
- Networking opportunities: connect with fellow professionals and industry leaders.
- Brand Sampling: enjoy a selection of products from Hispanic-owned brands within the NNY community!
Naturally Los Angeles
Scaling Success: Key Strategies for Growing Your Brand
Thursday, October 10 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PT
Location: Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, 3rd Street Promenade 1316, Santa Monica, CA
Naturally Los Angeles proudly presents an exclusive panel discussion tailored for leaders of CPG brands in the natural space. This event promises a night of insightful dialogue and networking, offering attendees practical advice and strategies from industry veterans on scaling their businesses effectively. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with fellow leaders in the natural CPG sector.
Panelists:
- Oral Caglar, Senior Counsel at Stubbs Alderton & Markiles
- Ian Kang, Principal at BDO
- John Moser, Account Executive at Justworks
- Jeff Smaul, Founder of Mile 9 Agency