In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Fresh Del Monte, a fresh fruit and vegetable grocer, is buying a majority stake in Avolio, positioning itself in the growing avocado oil market, which is expected to expand from $637 million to a $1.2 billion business by 2032.
- Aelph Farms, an Israeli cultivated meat startup, has raised $29 million in its latest funding round to scale up their pilot facility for cultivated steaks and launch the first Aleph Cut.
- Wonder, a food delivery company, is acquiring Tastemade for $90 million, which is expected to provide Wonder with access to a content studio, production company, and advertising business. Wonder previously acquired Blue Apron and Grubhub.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is 199 Ventures.
- 199 Ventures is a corporate venturing group for Hormel Foods, a global branded food company inspired to make great food and make a difference for their consumers, customers, team members, business partners, and their communities.
- 199 Ventures partners with emerging food companies and entrepreneurs that create innovative products focused on improving the lives of consumers. Their areas of focus include the following:
- Alternative Proteins
- Food Technology
- Fueling Foods
- Direct to Consumer New Business Models
- Among others, this venture group has partnered with Green Circle Foodtech Ventures and Explore Cuisine.
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Quercus Biosolutions Completes Pre-Seed Round to Deliver AI-Powered Mini Proteins to Crops
- Unilever to Sell Plant-Based Brand the Vegetarian Butcher as it Focuses its Portfolio
- Chobani Makes Biggest Plant Investment in its History by Spending $500 Million to Expand Idaho Facility
- PepsiCo Buys Prebiotic Soda Brand Poppi to Gain a Foothold in Functional Drinks
- New Culture Secures $5 Million Investment
- 3Degrees Launches Low Carbon Fertilizer Alliance to Reduce Agricultural Emissions
- Agmatix & BASF Collaborate on Digital Tool to Detect Soybean Cyst Nematode Infestations
- Lotus Bakeries Teams with Froneri to Grow Biscoff Ice Cream
- Mycoprotein Maker Seeks $15M in Funding, Signs Deal with Meat Giant
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally Chicago
Building a Partnership with a Broker
*Members Only*
Wednesday, April 2 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: C.A. Fortune, 651 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL
The meeting will have two components: a panel discussion on brokers, as well as a social and networking finale to thank all the Mentors and Mentees who participated in the 2nd cohort of our Mentorship program.
Topics we will be discussing are:
- When is the right time to hire a broker?
- What is the role of the brokers vs. sales managers?
- How can brokers help the manufacturer AND the retailer?
There will be time for questions, as well as opportunities to meet with Naturally Network brokers who attend the event.
Speakers:
- Milt Zimmerman – Presence Sales & Marketing, Executive Vice President
- Ali Shouman – C.A. Fortune, Chief Commercial Officer
- Tracy Pernatozzi – Fresh Thyme Market, Category Manager Dairy
Naturally Colorado
20th Annual Pitch Slam
Wednesday, April 2 | 4:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. MT
Location: Social Capitol, 6543 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada, CO
Welcome to Naturally Colorado's 20th Annual Pitch Slam, now called Naturally Rising "The Conscious Business Pitch Competition"! Come cheer on your favorite brands as they compete for a generous prize package and title of Pitch Competition winner! Sample the latest and greatest new innovative products from the local community.
Naturally NorCal
Naturally NorCal Executive Roundtable Forum with Assemblyman Damon Connolly
Friday, April 4 | 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 a.m. PT
Location: Straus Family Creamery, 1105 Industrial Avenue, Petaluma, CA
Join your fellow C-Suite leaders for an exclusive conversation with California State Assembly Member Damon Connolly (District 12) — a key advocate for sustainability, organic agriculture, and environmental policy in California.
This session is exclusively for Naturally NorCal members who are C-Suite executives.
Naturally NorCal
Marketing Forum: April Meeting
Friday, April 10 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT
Connect, collaborate, and grow with Naturally NorCal's Forums-peer networking groups designed to bring together professionals in similar roles for meaningful connections, fresh insights, and actionable solutions to shared challenges.
This session is for paid members of Naturally NorCal (formerly Naturally Bay Area & Naturally North Bay) who are CPG-focused Marketing professionals, as well as CEOs & Founders working in these areas. To join this or any Forum, please fill out this form.
Naturally New England
Spring Meet-Up at Standing Stone Wines
Thursday, April 10 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Standing Stone Wines, 33 Main Street, Winooski, VT
Join Naturally New England for an exclusive spring meet-up at Standing Stone Wines, a woman-owned wine shop in Vermont. Connect with fellow founders, industry professionals, and community members over a curated wine-tasting experience, light bites, and great conversation.
Naturally Los Angeles
Chaos to Control: Stopping Rogue Sellers and Setting Up for Amazon Success
Thursday, April 10 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PT
Location: Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, 3rd Street Promenade 1316, Santa Monica, CA
Join Naturally Los Angeles for an insightful panel discussion on navigating the complexities of eCommerce and Amazon marketplace success.
Sponsored by Brandtrace, this event brings together industry experts and brand leaders who have faced the challenges of unauthorized sellers, price erosion, and loss of brand control online. Our distinguished panelists include Garrett Thompson, CEO of Brandtrace, and Cas Sanderson, Brand Director & Head of Innovation at Cartograph, alongside brand founders who will share firsthand experiences and strategies for overcoming these hurdles.
Gain valuable insights on how to protect your brand, take control of your online presence, and implement effective strategies for sustainable growth in the Amazon ecosystem. Whether you're struggling with rogue sellers or looking to optimize your eCommerce strategy, this discussion will provide actionable takeaways to help you navigate the digital marketplace with confidence.