In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Amara, an organic baby food brand, announced that it raised $20 million in its Series B financing.
- Liquid Death, a fast-growing non-alcoholic brand, announced that it has raised $67 million in funding, bringing the company’s total valuation to $1.4 billion.
- Koppiku, a Malaysia-based coffee chain, announced that it has raised $2.5 million in funding.
- Tierra Biosciences, a California-based startup developing AI-guided cell-free technology, announced that it has raised $11.4 million in Series A funding.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is Amberstone.
- Based in California, Amberstone supports ambitious entrepreneurs who want to grow their consumer product brands by using comprehensive data analysis and leveraging its extensive experience in consumer goods.
- Amberstone’s mission/investment philosophy:
- Build a healthier and more sustainable ecosystem.
- Cultivate an environment where entrepreneurs, investors, brands and consumers achieve positive outcomes through enduring partnership.
- Some of its food and beverage partners include the following:
- Bloom
- Cleveland Kitchen
- Honey Mama’s
- MUSH
- Javy
- Partake Brewing
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- How An Organic Baby-Food Company Raised $20 Million, Despite The Venture Capital Downturn
- CoreFX Ingredient’s Founder Acquires Company From Ornua
- Kroger, Albertsons Court Battle With FTC Set For August
- Major Role Seen For AI in Farming
- BFG Partners Launches $125 Million Third Fund
- Umami Bioworks and Shiok Meats to Merge, Creating Cultivated Seafood Platform
- Opalia Receives Investment from Dairy Supplier Hoogwegt Group for “Cow-Free” Cell-Based Milk
- Sugar Foods Acquires Concord Foods
- Liquid Death Valued at $1.4 Billion After Latest Funding Round
UPCOMING EVENTS
Emerging Food Brands Lab
May 7 – June 20, 2024
Project W and DWT Food + Beverage are excited to announce the return of The Emerging Food Brands Lab for women founders in the food and beverage sector. Developed in collaboration with DWT's Food + Beverage practice, this multi-week program has been crafted to help founders take their brand to the next level through workshops dedicated to scaling production, optimizing distribution networks, and raising capital.
*Apply by March 22
Naturally Minnesota
March Community Day & Founders Forum
Wednesday, March 27 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT
Location: FINNOVATION Lab, Fifth Avenue South 817, Minneapolis, MN
FOUNDERS FORUM 9:30am-11:00am:
John Naturally Minnesota at this casual and fun round table discussion at the FINNOVATION Lab (4th floor) at FINNEGANS Brewery and Taproom on March 27th, 2024 at 9:30am. Naturally Minnesota is excited to have seasoned founders share their experience around a specific topic, answer questions, and then the session will open up for general questions.
The March session will feature Lee Wallace and Alec Davis, of Peace Coffee, and Molly Clark of Taking Stock Food. They will be talking about how they navigated distribution, with a focus on retail strategy so come prepared to discuss and ask questions related to understanding different distributors, when and how to add them, and what to consider before expanding your business's footprint. If you are a Founder don't miss out on this opportunity to connect and learn from your peers!
Speakers:
- Molly Clark, Co-Founder of Taking Stock Foods
- Alec Davis, Sales VP at Peace Coffee
- Richard Gentner, Fractional eCommerce Leader
- Lee Wallace, CEO of Peace Coffee
Naturally Boulder
Networking Collision Series
Wednesday, March 27 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MT
Location: Blind Tiger, 3040 Blake St #131, Denver, CO
Networking Events! This is 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?
Speakers:
- Brandon Hernandez, Co-Founder of Whole Brain Consulting
- Mark Retzloff, Chairman of board at Natural Habitats America
Naturally Boulder
Tour of Boulder County Recycling Center with Eco-Cycle!
Monday, April 1 | 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. MT
Location: Boulder County Recycling Center, 1901 63rd St., Boulder, CO
Join Naturally Boulder on a journey that will shift your perspective on waste, recycling, and our planet.
Guided by Kate Ivory from Eco-Cycle, the self-professed Miss Frizzle of Zero Waste, this unique tour of the Boulder County Recycling Center and the Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials offers an insightful journey. Together, we'll delve into the inner workings of recycling and composting, gaining a deeper understanding of what items can truly be recycled or composted. Prepare to bid farewell to common misconceptions and embrace a more sustainable perspective.
Naturally New York, Chicago & New England
Kerry's 2024 Taste Charts & Trends
Wednesday, April 3 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT
Kerry's annual Taste Charts are your go-to toolbox for long-standing flavor favorites, soon-to-be discovered taste quirks and future taste trends.
In this session, join Amy Devitt, Kerry's Activation Marketing Manager, for:
- A presentation of the Taste Charts, forecasting the trending flavors for 2024 across Savory, Sweet, Salty Snack & Beverage
- An overview of five consumer & market macrotrends that are driving food & beverage category growth.
Speaker:
- Amy Devitt, Kerry's Activation Marketing Manager
Naturally Bay Area
Category Trends with Retail Buyers
Wednesday, April 3 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT
With EXPO West fresh in everybody's mind, Naturally Bay Area has invited buyers from top retailers to reveal the industry trends they are excited about and share tips on how to be successful at their stores. Hear about the trends they're seeing, review timing and criteria, preferred marketing support tactics, and how to set yourself up for success.
Tune in live to submit your questions to our panel and join this exciting discussion.
Speakers:
- Thuy Nguyen, Category Manager at Thrive Market
- Tobi Seriki, National Category Director of Albertsons
- Patrick Wyman, Local Forager at Whole Foods Market