In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Agtonomy, a California-based ag robotics company, closed an $18 million Series B round.
- Chobani, a food company specializing in Greek yogurt, raised $650 million, to grow production and support innovation.
- Keurig Dr Pepper has landed $7 billion in capital from private equity firms to finance its $18 billion purchase of JDE Peet's.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is BRF S.A.
- BRF S.A., based in Brazil, is one of the largest global food companies. It has nearly 100,000 employees working out of 120 countries.
- With global performance, BRF builds brands considering the particularities of each market.
- BRF offers more than 3 thousand products with emphasis on flavor and quality.
- Some of the portfolio companies include:
- Calybom
- Banvit
- Deline
- Borella
- Qualy
- Sadia
- Bom Sabor
- Confidence
- Kidelli
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Carbon Robotics Raises Additional $20M
- Symrise Invests in Cellibre's Advanced Precision Fermentation Platform
- Exclusive: France's Nutropy Gets $8M In Funding for Animal-Free Cheese
- Alt-cheese co Stockeld Dreamery closes as flexitarian dream fades
- Andriani opens pasta plant in Canada
- Chobani raises $650 million to help increase growth
- JCB advances $500 million manufacturing facility in San Antonio
- Froneri to acquire Food Union's European ice cream business
- Matr Foods raises €40m to scale up organic, fermented meat alternatives
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally New England
Members Exclusive Workshop: Forecast with Confidence
Wednesday, November 5 | 12–1 p.m. ET
Location: Interlocken Golf Club, 800 Eldorado Blvd, 80021, Broomfield, CO
Whether you're just launching your first SKU or scaling a $200M brand, accurate sales and margin forecasting is the backbone of smart decision-making. Yet for many early-stage companies, aligning the needs of leadership, investors, co-packers, distributors, and customers can feel overwhelming.
In this members-only online workshop, Marc Bloomstein of MLB Advisory Group will introduce a practical, Excel-based forecasting model designed specifically for growing CPG brands. You'll learn how to:
- Project weekly sales and pricing across retail and online partners
- Calculate distributor, retailer, and brand margins with clarity
- Incorporate promotions and pricing strategies to plan for growth
Naturally Colorado
Packaging the Future: EPR & Beyond
Wednesday, November 5 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. MT
Location: Sleeping Giant Brewing, 2500 W 5th Ave, Denver, CO
Sustainable Packaging is one of the hottest topics in today's CPG environment; and specifically the newly introduced EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) laws. Oregon was the first state to implement the program and now Colorado is next on drafting the state's own EPR.
Over 60 countries globally have already established their own sustainable packaging programs. In Colorado it's the "Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act. Colorado's Department of Public Health & Environment has been working on the law since enactment in 2022. As of July 2025, a producer cannot sell or distribute products that use covered materials in Colorado unless they participate in the Producer Responsibility Program.
Speakers:
- Amber Papa, Project Manager at How2Recycle
- Matt Pillatsch, Account Specialist at Circular Action Alliance
- Marina Solis, Project Manager at How2Recycle
Naturally Chicago
Women in CPG Celebration
Tuesday, November 11 | 3–6:30 p.m. CT
Location: BMO, 320 S. Canal St., Chicago, IL
Following upon our hugely successful Women's Leadership Retreat, Naturally Chicago is thrilled to invite you to our Women in CPG Celebration. This live event takes place on Tuesday, November 11, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and is hosted by BMO at 320 S. Canal St. (near Union Station) in Chicago.
Our marquee fall event will be an opportunity to connect, inspire and reflect on the future of women in CPG. Key elements of the program include:
- Ceremony honoring Erica Kuhlmann, President & CEO of the Women's Business Development Center and former longtime food and beverage banking lead at BMO.
- Building a Big Brand—Dynamic panel of women-led CPG leaders including Melissa Tendick, Barilla Americas; Elizabeth Carter, Chomps; and Katie Paul, KeHE.
- Financing Female Founders—A discussion focusing on channeling more capital to women founders. Speakers include Mollye Santulli, Springdale Ventures; Ashley Hartman, Bluestein Ventures; Laura Luckman Kelber, angel investor; and a BMO banker.
- Networking, storytelling and impact.
- Reception with light appetizers.
Naturally New England
Members Exclusive Online Workshop: Greatest Hits Tour with Bob Burke
Wednesday, November 12 | 12–1 p.m. ET
Meet CPG legend Bob Burke—advisor to iconic New England brands and board member of the Specialty Food Association and NNE. He'll share the most powerful lessons from his career to help founders navigate the industry.
Naturally Colorado
Cultivating Connections Social Hour
Thursday, November 13 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. MT
Location: Pour Tap House, 12433 E 104th Pl Unit #2, Commerce City, CO
Consumer demand for transparency in food sourcing is transforming the CPG industry, with Colorado agriculture leading the charge through its top-quality grains, beef, fruit, and more.
Cultivating Connections, hosted by Naturally Colorado and key local partners, offers an exclusive networking event for members to connect with Colorado's producers, food hub operators, and innovators. Taking place on November 13 at Pour Tap House in Commerce City, CO (5:30 PM), this gathering fosters collaboration among farmers, chefs, and brands to drive innovation and strengthen the regional food system—with an emphasis on sustainable growth.
The event precedes the Nourish Colorado Cultivating Connections, Sowing Success conference on November 14 in Brighton, CO. This free, all-day conference—hosted by organizations including Colorado Department of Education and Nourish Colorado—brings K-12 operators, agricultural producers, and strategic partners together for sessions on Farm to School strategies, connections with local producers, and peer-led insights.
Naturally NorCal
From Startup to Standout: Building a Thriving CPG Business
Thursday, November 13 | 5–8 p.m. PT
Baker Botts is opening the doors of their San Francisco HQ for an inspiring evening of learning and connection, featuring a conversation with two leaders from the Patagonia Provisions team. Enjoy networking, Mediterranean bites, and drinks courtesy of the Baker Botts team.