In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Cal-Maine plans to acquire Echo Lake Foods, a breakfast foods company, for $258 million.
- catchfree, a Swedish plant-based seafood startup, raised 1.3 million Euros in its seed round.
- Eratani, an ag marketplace startup, raised $6.2 million in its Series A round.
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
- Monte's Fine Foods Expanding with Investment
- Functional Beverage Startup Raises $4.5 Million
- Calypso Lemonades Parent Company Acquires Plant-Based Beverage Startup
- Shiru, GreenLab to Produce Food Proteins
- MANE Opens Facility in Ohio to Make Liquid Flavors
- Bunge to Sell North America Corn Milling Business to Grain Craft
- Eat Just Strikes Deal with VFG to Take Just Egg to Europe
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally New England
Members Exclusive Online Workshop: Building Your Financial Model
Tuesday, April 29 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
A well-structured financial model is key to making strategic decisions, securing funding, and driving sustainable growth. In this members-only interactive workshop, participants will walk through the fundamentals of setting up a financial model, covering key components, common challenges, and best practices. Attendees will receive a financial model template to customize for their own business, with ample time for Q&A to ensure you leave with a clear roadmap for building out your model.
Speaker:
- Preeti Bingham, Founder of High Beam Consulting
Naturally Seattle
Raising Money for Early Stage CPG Companies
Tuesday, April 29 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: Venture Mechanics Startup Launchpad, NE 21st Street 14110, Bellevue, WA
Calling all emerging CPG founders! Join Naturally Seattle for an evening of expert insight, candid advice, and real-world experience focused on what it takes to fund your early stage CPG company.
- Learn from investors and seasoned CEOS about raising money for CPG companies
- Get a step by step guide to building your business plan for a successful raise
- Engage in open dialogue about the evolving investment landscape
- Network with the local CPG investment community
With a special innovation showcase featuring Naturally Seattle member brands, this is the perfect opportunity to build connections, gain expert guidance, and learn how to turn your funding dreams into reality.
Naturally Minnesota
CPG Resource Round Up 2025
Wednesday, April 30 | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT
Location: Neighborhood Development Center, 625 University Ave W, St Paul, MN
Join Naturally Minnesota for a unique networking opportunity that connects local food entrepreneurs with expert resource providers, offering essential connections and knowledge crucial for building and sustaining your business.
Who should attend? This event is tailored for early-stage founders in the CPG space—whether you have an idea, are pre-revenue, sell at farmers markets, or have minimal retail presence.
Prepare by bringing your business questions. Think about areas like licensing, regulation, food safety, product development, packaging, labeling, marketing, finances, and more. The more specific your questions, the more valuable your interactions with our resource providers will be.
What to bring? Just yourself, though bringing note-taking materials and something to collect resources like business cards is recommended. If you have product samples or mockups of packaging, bring them along for feedback.
Naturally New York
Spring Fling
Wednesday, April 30 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET
Location: The Spaniard, W 4th Street 190, New York, NY
Join Naturally New York for an evening of springtime celebration and networking with the Naturally New York community!
Enjoy complimentary food and beverages while mingling with fellow members of the CPG industry at The Spaniard in the West Village.
Naturally Colorado
Naturally Colorado & Sanitas Brewing Networking Collision
Wednesday, April 30 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MT
Location: Sanitas Brewing, 3550 Frontier Ave Ste A, Boulder, CO
Welcome to 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 Naturally Colorado's board hosts, Erin & Michelle!
Naturally Chicago
It's a Great Time to Invest in CPG
Thursday, May 1 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT
It is a great time to invest in emerging CPG brands.
The investment landscape is constantly changing. Come hear what these leading CPG industry investors are thinking:
- Arthur Chow, S2G Investments
- Paul Mariani, Mesirow
- Jason Mercer, Cleveland Avenue
- Mollye Santulli, Springdale Ventures
- Eric Schnell, Beyond Brands
- Wayne Wu, VMG Partners
The discussion will be moderated by Jim Slama, founder and managing director of Naturally Chicago. There will be time set aside at the end of the conversation for audience Q&A.
For great background on the topic, please check out Jim Slama's article — It's Time to Invest in Emerging CPG Brands Again, Chicago — which was published in Crain's Chicago Business and on New Hope Network's website.
Naturally New England
Chips, Dips, & Sips
Monday, May 5 | 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Severance Foods / Pan De Oro, 3478 Main Street, Hartford, CT
Join Naturally New England for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Severance Foods, the powerhouse behind some of the nation's top tortilla chip brands. Limited to just 12 attendees, this intimate experience offers a rare look at the co-packing process, from production to packaging. After the tour, the group will head to downtown Hartford for a Cinco de Mayo toast—because what's a chip without a good dip (or sip)?