In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Unilever reached an agreement to combine the majority of its food business with McCormick for $44.8 billion.
- Constellation Branches announced that it has entered into an agreement to buy Hopwtr.
- Standing Ovation, a company developing dairy proteins through precision fermentation, announced that it raised $34.2 million in its Series B financing.
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
- Van Camp's
- John West
- Sealect
- Fisho
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Chobani to Invest $567 Million in US Expansion of La Colombe RTD Coffee Facility
- CK Snacks Acquires Keystone Food Products
- Foreverland Raises €6 Million to Expand Cocoa-Free Chocolate Internationally
- Three Rivers Expands Processed Meats Production in Oklahoma
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally Chicago
April Morning Mingle
Thursday, April 9 | 8–9:30 a.m. CT
Location: Chicago French Market, 131 North Clinton Street, Chicago, IL
Join Naturally Chicago at Chicago French Market and be one of the first to know the six rising-star brands whom their expert judges have chosen to compete in their May 27 Pitch Event!
Naturally San Diego
Coffee + Convos at Seaside Market
Friday, April 10 | 9–11 a.m. PT
Location: Seaside Market Cardiff, 2087 San Elijo Ave., Encinitas, CA
Join your fellow Naturally San Diego community members for a Coffee & Convos meetup at Seaside Market in Cardiff. This gathering is especially supportive for San Diego brand founders and operators who want to connect with peers, compare notes, and share real-world lessons over our morning coffee.
Naturally Chicago
Mentorship Celebration Reception and Networking Event
Wednesday, April 15 | 5–7 p.m. CT
Location: InvestBev, 222 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL
Naturally Chicago proudly invites you to join in their celebration of their Mentorship program, which pairs experienced industry leaders and experts with founders of rising-star emerging brands.
Naturally NorCal
Sales Forum: April Round Table
Thursday, April 16 | 12–1 p.m. PT
Location: Online Webinar
This month's Sales Forum meeting will be a roundtable discussion to cover your pressing needs—everything from trade show prep to distributor management best practices to trading tips on getting into your target retailer. The floor is yours!
The Sales Forum lead is Adam Biggs, CO-Founder of C2O Coconut Water and Vice President of Sales at Nova Naturals.
Naturally Colorado
Women in CPG: Coffee Chat
Friday, April 17 | 8–8:50 a.m. MT
Location: Online Webinar
Join Naturally Colorado for their April Women in CPG Coffee Chat, a facilitated virtual gathering designed to foster meaningful conversation and connection across the CPG community.
This month's theme explores something many of us are navigating in real time: how to protect our energy while doing meaningful work.
In industries built on passion, it can be easy to say yes to everything—opportunities, requests, collaborations, and commitments. But sustainable careers often require something harder: setting boundaries, recognizing burnout before it builds, and getting clearer about what deserves our time and attention.
Together, participants will reflect on questions like:
- What does a healthy boundary look like for you right now?
- Where are you learning to say no—or say yes more intentionally?
Speakers:
- Kara Janowsky, Principal Accountant & Fractional CFO at Sonder Accounting
- Susan Fecko, Principal & Chief Communications Officer at Black Dog Studio | Brand Communications
Naturally Los Angeles
2026 Trivia Night
Tuesday, April 21 | 6–9 p.m. PT
Location: Umbrella Club, 7465 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA
Join Naturally Los Angeles and put your knowledge to the test at their upcoming CPG Trivia Night! Whether you're a CPG guru or just curious about the industry, gather your friends for an evening of challenging questions, networking, and fun.