In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- JBS S.A., a global meat producer, announced that it plans to go public in the US by listing shares on the NYSE. JBS also plans to go public on the São Paulo Stock Exchange in Brazil.
- Oritain, a forensic traceability business that tracks the origins of food and textile products, announced that it raised $57 million in its Series C round.
- Westrock Coffee Company announced that it, along with its affiliates, plans to make a $75 million investment in the company. The company also plans to open a new $300 million facility in Conway, Arkansas.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is SnackFutures.
- SnackFutures is an early stage innovation and venture hub launched by Mondelēz International in 2018 to take advantage of changing consumer trends and preferences and to unlock growth opportunities in snacking around the world. SnackFutures aims to bring together talent, partnerships and funding across three integrated mandates:
- Invention of new brands and businesses in key strategic areas;
- Reinvention of small-scale Mondelēz brands with large-scale potential, and
- Venturing with start-up entrepreneurs to seed new businesses.
-
Portfolio companies include:
- Hů
- Uplift Food
- Torr
- Additionally, SnackFutures has launched 5 brands:
- CaPao (US)
- Dirt Kitchen Snacks (US)
- Millie ram (US)
- Ruckus and Co (US)
- NoCOé (France)
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Innova Memphis Raises $40 Million to Bring the Rural US ‘Innovations Farmers Actually Want’
- Researchers at Cal Poly Are Studying The Social Impact of AI & Robotics on the World of Food
- Plant-based Co Tattooed Chef to File for Bankruptcy Protection, Seek Asset Sale
- Omeat Announces Novel Approach For Cell-Based Beef Production
- Q2 Startup Roundup: Cultivated Meat and Agtech Make Progress
- Mars to Buy Healthy Meal Maker Kevin’s Natural Foods For an Undisclosed Amount
- Westrock Coffee Announces $75 Million Equity Investment, Opens $300 Million Facility
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally Chicago
2nd Annual Naturally Chicago Women in CPG Celebration (Members Only)
Monday, July 17, 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: Time Out Market Chicago, 916 West Fulton Market, Chicago
This event will be followed by Naturally Network's Women in CPG Summit, which will take place online on July 18 and 19.
Naturally Network
Women in CPG Summit
Monday, July 18 – 19Join Naturally Network on July 18 and 19th for our annual Women in CPG Summit, a 2-day event filled with virtual education, conversation, and national networking.
One of our key priorities as an organization is to support and advocate for the success of diverse-owned businesses and we are excited to host this annual, nationwide summit to inspire and connect women and non-binary CPG professionals and their supporters.
Naturally Los Angeles
Women's Confidence and Courage in CPG: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Tuesday, July 18 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. PT
Location: Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, 3rd Street Promenade 1316, Santa Monica
Women can face many challenges in business; less-established networks, and social constraints that restrict women's participation during their careers. In the natural foods industry, women may face additional challenges such as gender bias and lack of representation in leadership roles. Join Naturally Los Angeles for a panel of women leaders in the Los Angeles area who want to share their stories and experience to help emerging women's brands have the confidence and courage to rise up and become resilient in the face of such adversity!
Naturally Minnesota
Women in CPG: Panel + Happy Hour
(Members Only)
Wednesday, July 19 | 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: ModernWell, South Wayzata Boulevard 2909, Minneapolis
Join Naturally Minnesota to celebrate the incredible women in our ecosystem at the Women in CPG: Panel and Happy Hour. Hear from our impressive panel featuring Women Leaders, featuring Danyel O'Connor - CEO of Cravings by Chrissy Teigen and more. Afterwards, enjoy a celebratory happy hour featuring wine, snacks, and a fabulous assortment of local, women-owned, natural products!
Naturally San Diego
Sales Forum: How Retail Buyers Make Emerging Brand Decisions
(Members Only)
Wednesday, July 19 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. PT
Location: Jimbo's Naturally, Carmel Valley, 12841 El Camino Real Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92130
Join this conversation geared towards emerging brands led by Adam Hertel, Chief Sales Officer at Rudi's Rocky Mountain Organic Bakery, and Jason Murrell, Buyer at Jimbo's Naturally.
Topics that will be covered (and more):
- How do emerging brands set up acceptable distribution for accounts like Jimbo's?
- What agreements and support are expected between Jimbo's and their new suppliers?
- How can brands best position their assortment and packaging for optimal merchandising?