In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Hershey announced that it purchased Sour Strips, a sour candy emerging brand, for an undisclosed sum.
- Oceanloop, an indoor shrimp farming startup, received a 35 million Euro loan from the European Investment Bank.
- Molson Coors announced that it acquired a majority equity stake in Zoa, an energy drink brand, for an undisclosed amount.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is Zentis Ventures.
- Zentis, based in Aachen, Germany, is a technology-driven company specializing in the processing and refinement of fruits and other natural raw materials. Zentis primarily serves the food industry, offering products and ingredients for dairy products, dairy alternatives, baked goods, and confectionery.
- Founded in 1893, Zentis has an international presence in 50 countries, allowing it to serve global customers. Its commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability has made it a preferred partner for many companies in the food industry from startups to established brands.
- Portfolio companies include:
- Neggst
- POMOM
- Rettergut
- The Oater
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Blue Evolution and Blu3 Merge to Drive Industry Leadership in Sustainable Seaweed Innovation
- AI-Powered Carbon Robotics Secures $70 Million in High-Profile Series D Round
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally New York
Unveiling Market Shifts: NIQ BASES' 2024 Breakthrough Innovation Insights
Thursday, November 19 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
Join Krystal Dawson from NIQ BASES for an exclusive presentation on the breakthrough products and trends that have redefined success in North America's CPG industry this year. Discover insights from the annual BASES Breakthrough Innovation report, highlighting products of all sizes that have achieved sustained growth, consumer appeal, and innovation. Gain a deeper understanding of market dynamics, evolving consumer preferences, and the driving forces behind these standout innovations. The BASES Breakthrough Innovation report annually highlights CPG products of all sizes that have achieved sustained growth, consumer appeal, and innovation in the latest year. During this session, you will gain valuable insights into market dynamics, consumer preferences, and the key factors driving the success of these standout products.
Naturally North Bay
NorCal Sales + Marketing: AI-Powered Marketing
Thursday, November 19 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT
Join this dynamic 60-minute webinar and learn to harness AI for marketing success in the natural products industry. Through real-world examples and hands-on demonstrations, you'll master practical AI tools to enhance customer engagement, optimize sales funnels, and differentiate your brand. Whether you're a startup or an established company, you'll leave with actionable skills to implement immediately.
Naturally San Diego
Trivia Night
Tuesday, November 19 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PT
Location: The Regal Seagull, 996 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA
Join NSD for trivia night for delicious brews and prizes for the top teams.
This is a fun event to test your trivia knowledge, get to know other people in the NSD community, build our culture and enjoy cold brews together!
Naturally Minnesota
November Founders Forum: Managing Trade Promotions for Scaling CPG Brands
Wednesday, November 20 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CST
Location: Independent Natural Food Retailers Association, Plato Boulevard West 188, Saint Paul, MN
As your Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brand grows, understanding trade spend promotions and deductions becomes crucial to maintaining profitability and efficiency. Join Naturally Minnesota for a series of sessions (education, panel conversation, and founders forum) on navigating the complexities of trade spend, allowances, and deductions in a way that supports your brand's growth.
Topics to be covered:
- Key strategies for managing trade promotions effectively
- Best practices for reducing deduction-related risks
- Real-world examples from industry leaders
- Tools and technologies to streamline your trade management process
- Whether you're just beginning to scale or looking to refine your approach, this event is designed to give you actionable insights to manage your trade spend more effectively and maximize your bottom line.
Who Should Attend:
CPG founders, finance teams, sales managers, and brand managers looking to scale and optimize their promotional strategies.Naturally New York
Friendsgiving Celebration
Wednesday, November 20 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET
Location: Rethink Food, 116 W Houston St, New York, NY
Join Naturally New York and Rethink Food for a Friendsgiving Celebration!
Enjoy complimentary food & beverages, foster connections within the industry, and give back to the community.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Rethink Food's fight against food insecurity and for a sustainable food system.
Register
Naturally Colorado
Naturally Colorado & Johnson's Station Networking Collision
Wednesday, November 20 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MT
Location: Johnson's Station, 1111 Neon Forest Circle, Longmont, CO
Naturally Colorado and Johnson's Station are joining up for a fun and educational event at their venue on Wednesday, November 20th. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Welcome to the latest installment of Naturally Colorado's Collision Series of Networking Events – a low-key, relaxed series of no-registration-required connection opportunities where you'll run into old friends and connect with new contacts. Want a chance to meet more folks in the natural and organic products industry? Wear green if you can to help spot each other. This is a free event; pre-registration is available but not required. Keep an eye out for board host Sindy!
Naturally Minnesota
Bold Growth Minnesota Applicant Information Session
Thursday, November 21 | 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CT
MBOLD is excited to announce that they will be accepting applications for the next cohort of our "Bold Growth Minnesota: Scaling for Success in Food & Ag" program from November 4 through December 3, 2024. Bold Growth is a terrific opportunity for high growth companies to access tailored mentorship from corporate experts within and beyond the MBOLD coalition focused on the issues most important to your company's future success.
Join Bold Growth program leaders in our virtual information session on Thursday, November 21st, 2024, from 12:30-1:30 pm CST to learn more about this opportunity and get your questions answered.
Naturally Bay Area
Raising Capital Part 2: Commercial and Alternative Debt
Thursday, November 21 | 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. PT
In Part 2 of the Raising Capital Series, the focus will be on commercial financing and debt options for CPG companies in the face of shifting market factors. An expert panel will discuss current market conditions and guide you through the steps to improve your chances of securing debt or alternative financing as we head into Q4. We'll dive into:
- Types of funding available to businesses at different stages and when is the optimal time to activate them
- Steps you can take now to improve your chances of raising debt or alternative financing
- Key metrics lenders focus on in today's market
- Alternative sources of debt and equity financing and the challenges of each
Register
Naturally Colorado
Autumn Amble
Friday, November 22 | 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. MT
Location: Wonderland Lake, Wonderland Lake Parking Lot, 4201 Broadway, Boulder, CO
Join Naturally Colorado for a relaxed morning meetup at Wonderland Lake! Hit the trails before the holiday rush and take a walk with friends new and old. Please look for their lovely hosts leading this event, Jenna Fitch and Terra Beaton!