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 plans on acquiring LesserEvil, a better-for-you popcorn brand, for approximately $750 million.
- GrubMarket, a San Francisco based food logistics company, has raised $50 million in funding to accelerate the growth of its business, enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) software, and extend the reach of its B2B software solutions for the food supply chain industry.
- Brevel, an alternative protein startup, announced that it raised $5 million in its seed extension round.
CPG Cocrporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is CircleUp Growth Partners.
- CircleUp Growth Partners is an early stage consumer investment fund, founded in 2012, based in San Francisco, California. It has a data-driven, scalable approach to investing. It has invested in companies across a variety of categories ranging from food and beverage to beauty, pet, household products, restaurants, and apparel.
- One of its highlights is the proprietary machine learning platform – Helio, which collects and analyzes billions of data points across more than 1.2 million companies to understand and predict their future success.
- A few of the companies backed by CircleUp include:
- Nutpods
- Kettle & Fire
- 4505 Meats
- Halo Top
- Partake
- Nom Nom
- Pop&Bottle
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Hershey to Buy Healthier Snacks Maker LesserEvil
- Vertical Cold Storage acquires Michigan facility
- Castillo Hermanos to acquire Harvest Hill Beverage
- Ardent Mills to Sell Quinoa Facility
- Brevel Receives $5 Million in Additional Funding
- New Snacks Company Unveiled After Merger
- Kevin’s Natural Foods Founders Launch Second Startup
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally New England
Heirloom Fire Industry Leaders Dinner
Saturday, April 12 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET
Location: Heirloom Fire, 2089 State Road, Richmond, MA
Join Naturally New England for a rare and exclusive dining experience hosted by celebrity chef James Gop. This intimate dinner is designed for a select group of industry leaders, providing a rare opportunity to enjoy firsthand what makes Chef Gop's culinary creations so extraordinary. In an atmosphere of understated elegance, guests will savor an exquisite multi-course tasting menu, meticulously curated to highlight the finest seasonal ingredients, expertly prepared to perfection.
Naturally NorCal
Category Trends with Leading Retail Buyers
Thursday, April 17 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT
Curious about what's trending on store shelves — and how to get your brand noticed? Join this candid conversation with category buyers from some of California's most influential retailers.
In this insider discussion, buyers from Whole Foods Market, Albertsons, and Good Earth Natural Foods will share:
- The trends they're seeing across natural and organic categories
- What they look for when reviewing new products
- How brands can stand out in the review process
- Tips for building lasting relationships and providing meaningful marketing support
Naturally Colorado
Morning Meetup: Nature Hike
Friday, April 18 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. MT
Location: Sanitas Valley Trail, Sunshine Canyon Dr., Boulder, CO
Join Naturally Colorado for a relaxed morning meetup at Sanitas Valley Trail in Boulder! Hit the trails before the summer frenzy and take a walk with friends new and old. Please look for Naturally Colorado's lovely host leading this event, John Simmons.
Naturally New England
Members Exclusive Online Workshop: Unlock Global Growth
Monday, April 21 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Expanding into international markets can be a game-changer for food and beverage brands. Join Naturally New England and Food Export USA – Northeast for an exclusive online workshop designed to help small businesses maximize their export marketing budgets, identify top global prospects, and connect with international buyers.
Learn how to access USDA-backed resources, including funding that reimburses up to 50% of eligible international marketing expenses. Experts will guide you through the application process, provide export education insights, and connect you with key support networks to fuel your global expansion. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock new growth for your brand!
Naturally Colorado
Denver Urban Gardens Volunteer Day
Wednesday, April 23 or Friday, April 25 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MT
Location: Hinkley High School Community Garden, 1250 Chambers Rd., Aurora, CO
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Denver Urban Gardens! During the workday(s) at the Hinkley High School Community Garden we will be rebuilding some plots and raised beds within the garden.
Please register for the morning of the 23rd OR 25th on the DUG website.
Please wear:
- Closed toed shoes
- Clothes you don't mind getting dirty
- Layers/sun protection
Please bring a reusable water bottle and anything else you may need. DUG will provide all of the needed tools, supplies and light snacks. Please arrive with ample time to find parking and check in, we will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.
Naturally NorCal
Showcase Your Brand with Naturally NorCal at UNFI Spark Tabletop Show
Thursday, April 24 | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT
Location: Hyatt Regency Downtown Sacramento
This is an exclusive opportunity for members who do not currently have products in UNFI but are interested in seeking future distribution with them.
Naturally NorCal has been invited to bring a select group of our members to UNFI's Spark Table Top Show — a rare opportunity to get your brand in front of key retail buyers and UNFI decision-makers. If your products aren't yet set up in UNFI's Rocklin warehouse, this is your chance to sample, connect, and spark conversations that could open doors to future distribution.
Whether you're an emerging brand ready to scale or an innovator looking for the right moment to get noticed — this event was made for you.
Naturally San Diego
Naturally Rising Pitch Slam
Thursday, April 24 | 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: Building 177, 2875 Dewey Rd, San Diego, CA
On April 24th, five finalists will go head-to-head in this shark-tank-style live showing of Southern California's most promising group of natural products brands.
Naturally San Diego's in-person Naturally Rising (formerly Pitch Slam) will give natural products entrepreneurs the stage to pitch their up-and-coming companies to a panel of experts and audience members, ultimately winning a suite of prizes from our local San Diego community to help propel their industry growth!
Naturally San Diego
Naturally Rising Pitch Slam After Party
Thursday, April 24 | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PT
Location: THE LOT Liberty Station, 2620 Truxtun Rd, San Diego, CA
Hang out with your Naturally San Diego friends after Naturally Rising Pitch Slam. We'll gather at The LOT in Liberty Station, across the street from the Naturally Rising Pitch Slam venue. No-host bar. No tickets required.