In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Meatable, a Dutch cultivated meat startup, announced that it acquired the cultivated meat platform of Uncommon Bio.
- Post Holdings is selling the pasta portion of its recently acquired 8th Avenue Food & Provisions Division to Richardson Holdings for $375 million.
- Keychain, an AI-powered CPG manufacturing platform, announced that it raised $30 million in its Series B round.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is Pascual Innoventures.
- Pascual Innoventures is an innovation arm of Pascual, one of the biggest Spanish food and beverage corporations. It creates alliances with startups that share the same philosophy; anticipating global food needs and giving back to society.
- Pascual Innoventures launched the first global incubation program for cellular agriculture technologies in the dairy industry called "MYLKCUBATOR."
- The Mylkcubator 2.0 Program aims to support highly innovative startups specializing in the transformation of the food value chain for the production of dairy alternatives using cellular agriculture.
- Each year, most disrupting startups are chosen to join a six-month hybrid incubation program. Once selected, the participants will be able to test their products. The program details are available at mylkcubator.com.
- Portfolio companies include:
- Ergo Bioscience
- Zero Cow Factory
- DeNovo Foodlabs
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Danone to Spend Millions on Ohio Plant Expansion Amid 'Explosive Growth' in Yogurt
- Keurig Dr Pepper to Buy JDE Peet's for $18 Billion to Boost Struggling Coffee Business
- Case Farms Acquires Louisiana Complex From Foster Farms
- Celsius Holdings, PepsiCo Enter Energy Drink Deal
- Private Label Snacks Maker Expanding in Ohio
- John Deere Acquires Semi-Autonomous Sprayer Company GUSS
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally Chicago
Co-Manufacturing: How to Find, Communicate and Audit Webinar
Tuesday, September 9 | 3–4 p.m. CT
In today's competitive food and beverage industry, the right co-manufacturing partner can make the difference between rapid growth and costly setbacks. Join Naturally Chicago for "Co-Manufacturing: How to Find, Communicate, and Audit"—a practical insider's guide to building strong, scalable partnerships.
The discussion will be moderated by William Madden, Co-Founder of Whole Brain Consulting and Chair of the Naturally Chicago Board of Directors. Our panel of industry experts—Pete Cokinos (Palermo's Pizza), Monique Harris (Boston Consulting Group) and Mike Weglarz (87P)—will share first-hand insights on identifying the right partner, setting clear expectations, navigating run sizes and MOQs, and ensuring top-tier food safety and quality.
You'll also learn how to avoid common pitfalls, such as overcomplicating production with multiple co-packers and underestimating transition costs. Whether you're a startup brand or scaling nationally, this session will give you actionable strategies to communicate effectively, audit with confidence, and protect your bottom line.
Naturally New England
The Hidden Costs of Co-Manufacturing: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
Wednesday, September 10 | 1:30–2:30 p.m. ET
What looks like a good deal on paper can quickly unravel due to hidden fees, communication breakdowns, or a co-man's lack of scale-readiness. In this exclusive Naturally New England workshop, Whole Brain Consulting's Will Madden will unpack the most common (and costly) mistakes brands make when engaging with co-mans. You'll learn how to protect your business through smarter vetting, clear documentation, and stronger relationship management practices—so you can grow without losing control.
This workshop is best for: Founders, COOs, and ops leads currently working with a co-manufacturer or preparing to scale into one.
Naturally Colorado
Mentor Program
Wednesday, September 10, 2025–Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Location: Park Hill Innovation Hub, 4965 48th Avenue, Denver, CO
The Naturally Colorado Mentor Program is a 6–8 week cohort program for early-stage startups in Colorado's natural and organic ecosystem. Each cohort pairs two mentors with up to six mentees, fostering a high-trust environment for open conversations and shared insights.
Through mentor-led sessions, participants focus on topics like go-to-market strategy, retail readiness, team building, fundraising, and values-driven growth. The program emphasizes storytelling, active listening, accountability, and peer collaboration on real-time challenges.
It concludes with a reflection session to share insights, celebrate progress, and strengthen connections within the Naturally Colorado community, prioritizing relationships and shared growth over formal instruction.
Naturally NorCal
Straus Family Creamery Factory Tour
Friday, September 12 | 10–11:30 a.m. PT
Location: Straus Family Creamery, 655 Park Court, Rohnert Park, CA
Get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most iconic names in organic dairy.
This exclusive members-only opportunity offers a rare chance to tour Straus Family Creamery's state-of-the-art facility in Rohnert Park. Meet members of the leadership team, learn how Straus is leading the way in sustainable dairy, and see firsthand how their beloved products are made.
This workshop is best for: Founders, COOs, and ops leads currently working with a co-manufacturer or preparing to scale into one.
Naturally Wisconsin
2025 IFT Golf Outing
Tuesday, September 16 | 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. CT
Take a break from the office, and spend a beautiful day outside golfing with your colleagues and industry friends.
Not a golfer? Not a problem! Come to the celebration social hour and dinner! Join your fellow WIFT members and friends for great food, networking, and a preview of the year's coming events!
Naturally NorCal
Sales Forum: Trade Spend Decoded
Tuesday, September 16 | 12–1 p.m. PT
Join Naturally NorCal for an open, collaborative discussion where they'll break down how to make trade spend work for your brand. Whether you're just starting to invest in promotions or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session will help you navigate the numbers, expectations, and realities of investing in growth. They'll unpack retailer and distributor expectations, how to tie spend to your goals (like velocity or awareness), explore deduction management, broker roles, and how to evaluate ROI.
The Sales Forum lead is Adam Biggs, CO-Founder of C2O Coconut Water and Vice President of Sales at Nova Naturals.