In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Meati Foods, an alternative protein foodtech company that utilizes mycelium, raised $22 million in its extension round. The company used the funds from the extension and funds raised last year to open a new production facility.
- Former executives of Kind launched an incubation and investment firm named Camino Partners.
- Milo's Tea Company plans to invest $130 million to open a fourth production facility in the US.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund is This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is AF Ventures.
- AF Ventures (formerly AccelFoods, founded in 2013) manages over 30 portfolio brands across the consumer landscape of food & beverage, health & wellness, beauty, personal care, and pet. Advocating for emerging growth brands.
- AF Ventures offers its portfolio companies a proprietary suite of resources to achieve large-scale impact, improving the health of future generations.
- AF Ventures invests in visionary founders building authentic, next-generation consumer brands driving omnichannel innovation.
- Portfolio companies include:
- By Heart
- Cirkul
- Gainful
- Ready.Set.Food!
- Hello Cake
- Tea Drops
- Yumi
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Metropolitan Market Joins The Shelf Technology Movement: The Pacific Northwest Grocer Will Use AI to Track On-Shelf Availability
- Former Kind Execs Launch Incubation and Investment Firm Camino Partners
- Meati Opens Up ‘Mega Ranch’ Production Facility, Plans to Produce “Tens of Millions of Pounds” of Fungi-Based Meat
- Ridgemont Recapitalizes Worldwide Produce
- SJW Robotics Raises $2 Million as It Eyes Launch of Autonomous Robotic Restaurants This Spring
- The ISH Company Raises Over $5 Million in Oversubscribed Round to Accelerate Plant-Based Shrimp and More
- Rumin8 Raises US$12 Million Seed Funding From Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy and Harvest Road
- Milo’s Tea Company to Invest $130 Million in Fourth U.S. Production Plant
- Guayaki Raises $75 Million, SEC Filing Shows
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally Bay Area
Quick Bites: Generating Actionable Insights from Data Harmonization
Thursday, February 9, 12 – 12:45 p.m. PT
In this Quick Bites session, you'll hear from Bedrock Analytics along with several CPG sales & marketing leaders about how unifying multiple data streams can save time and improve outcomes. You'll learn how syndicated data, retail portal data, eCommerce, and distributor reports can be pulled together to get a clear picture of your performance and uncover insights that will help your business grow.
Naturally Bay Area
Sales & Marketing Forum Kickoff Meeting
Thursday, February 9, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. PT
Location: Bedrock Analytics, 350 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 500, Oakland, CA, US, 94612
Naturally Bay Area is kicking off the first session of their new Sales & Marketing Forum with an in-person meetup at Bedrock Analytics in Oakland. This session will be a great opportunity to network with fellow sales and marketing professionals and learn about resources that can support your professional activities.
Albertsons Innovation Launchpad 2023 at Expo West
Wednesday, March 8, 8:30 – 10:45 a.m. PT
Location: Natural Products Expo West
Brands compete before the show opens in a 10-minute fast pitch environment to one of our groups of judges. We will award 3 grand prize winners with prizes over $170K in cash and industry service value. The top 10 brands will also get a guaranteed appointment with the national team and a consultation package with SPINS (including data) to build their story. There will also be a lot of industry recognition to the winners.
Qualifications/eligibility criteria include:
- Must be exhibiting or walking EXPO
- $5M in 12-month trailing retail sales
- Categories/Trends: low sugar, low carb, global flavors, premium pet, functional beverages, healthy prepared, etc (no deli, bakery, GMHBC, meat categories this time).
Karen Ivanis-Rogers’ LinkedIn post with the RangeMe link has everything needed to apply.
January 31st is the last day for application
Naturally Network
Expo West Kick-Off Party
Wednesday, March 8
VIP Hour: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. PT
General Admission: 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. PT
Location: Hilton Anaheim, West Convention Way 777, Anaheim, California, Pacific Ballroom
Join Naturally Network on March 8th for the Expo West Kick Off Party, presented by SPINS, in partnership with New Hope Network and Polsinelli. Get your Expo experience started right by connecting, networking, and mingling as a natural products community.
The facts, laws, and regulations regarding COVID-19 are developing rapidly. Since the date of publication, there may be new or additional information not referenced in this advisory. Please consult with your legal counsel for guidance.
DWT will continue to provide up-to-date insights and virtual events regarding COVID-19 concerns. Our most recent insights, as well as information about recorded and upcoming virtual events, are available at www.dwt.com/COVID-19.