In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- The Protein Brewery raised $35.6M in its Series B round to scale its fungi-based food ingredients platform.
- Finally Foods, a molecular farming startup, raises $1.2M.
- NxtFood, a French startup, raised $58M to scale its alternative meat platform.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is Thai Union Group.
- Founded in 1977, Thai Union has dedicated itself to mastering the seafood value chain, from the initial sourcing of raw seafood materials to the processing and manufacturing of finished products. It has 14 production facilities that are spread across 11 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- In 2016, Thai Union launched its SeaChange 2030 global sustainability strategy. This sustainability initiative focuses on enhancing seafood traceability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing ethical labeling standards, and supporting communities impacted by natural disasters and the pandemic.
- Some of its portfolio companies include the following:
- Genova
- Chicken of the Sea
- John West
- Sealect
- Fisho
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Insignum Closes $2.4 Million Funding Round
- Sweets from the Earth Acquired by Private Equity Company
- Fourteen Ventures Join Unreasonable Food Collaboration
- Shinkei Systems More Than Doubles Size of Headquarters After Strong Uptake of its Processing Equipment
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally NorCal, Naturally Chicago, Naturally New England, Naturally New York
Real Talk: Lessons on Sustainable Sourcing with Paul Rice & Seth Goldman
Tuesday, September 30 | 10–11 a.m. PT
Join Naturally NorCal for an honest, founder-to-founder conversation with Paul Rice, founder of Fair Trade USA, and Seth Goldman, co-founder of Honest Tea and Just Ice Tea, as they unpack what fair trade, organic, and/or sustainable sourcing really looks like on the ground today.
Naturally Minnesota
Bold Growth Minnesota Applicant Information Session
Wednesday, October 1 | 8:30–9 a.m. CT and
Thursday, October 2 | 4–4:30 p.m. CT
MBOLD is now opening up the Bold Growth mentorship program to companies that are based anywhere in the United States or around the world. Bold Growth is targeted to post-accelerator companies with annual revenue of $5 million - $50 million and strong potential for growth. Bold Growth is interested in companies that address climate and sustainability concerns, with a focus on protein sustainability.
Join Bold Growth program leaders for their virtual information session on to learn more about this opportunity and get your questions answered.
Naturally Seattle
From Recipe to Retail: What It Really Takes to Scale Product Development
Thursday, October 2 | 6–8 p.m. PT
Location: CuliNEX Kitchens, Corporate Drive North 360, Tukwila, WA
This panel will explore how growing CPG brands can successfully build and scale their product development functions—not just through creative formulation, but by integrating quality assurance, food safety, and regulatory readiness from the start.
Whether brands are working with consultants, co-mans, or building in-house capacity, the session will unpack the real-world benefits and challenges of each model. Panelists will share what it takes to move from early-stage innovation to commercially viable, compliant, and scalable production—especially in a market where consumer expectations and compliance pressures are rapidly evolving.
Naturally Colorado
Durango Networking Collision
Sunday, October 5 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. MT
Grab a drink, spark a conversation, and get connected in the food, beverage and ag category.
Who is invited:
- Consumer packaged goods + value-added food and beverage
- Agriculture + production
- Food service + food trucks
- Service providers who are the eco-system surrounding our food system
Naturally Network
Navigating the Headwinds: What’s Next for CPG in a Shifting Economy
Wednesday, October 8 | 1–2 p.m. CT
From inflation and tariffs to tightening capital markets, shifting regulations, and mounting retail pressures, today's CPG brands are navigating one of the most complex operating environments in decades. Add to that the changing dynamics of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC)—where customer acquisition costs are climbing, digital ad strategies are in flux, and fulfillment expectations are higher than ever—and the path forward can feel uncertain.
This panel brings together industry leaders to unpack the forces reshaping the landscape—from new packaging and labeling rules to the realities of financing growth, managing supply chains, and competing with private label. We'll explore both the risks and the opportunities, including how digital channels can still be a powerful engine for growth, deeper consumer connection, and brand resilience when leveraged strategically.
More than a snapshot of today's challenges, this conversation is about the road forward: how brands can adapt, build resilience, and find opportunities in the disruption—whether through retail, e-commerce, or direct customer relationships. If you're looking to understand what's driving change—and what strategies will keep your business moving—this is the session you can't afford to miss.
Speakers:
- Heather K. Terry, Founder & CEO of GoodSAM
- Rend Al-Mondhiry, Partner & Co-Chair of the Regulatory Practice Group at Amin Wasserman Gurnani LLP
- Kathryn Peters, Head of Industry Relations at SPINS