Insights
Food + Beverage

Food Venture Financing News – Weekly Issue No. 288

07.28.26
Print this page

In This Issue:

  • Snack maker Utz Brands entered a $2.9 billion go-private deal with Intersnack.
  • IM8, the subscription vitamin and longevity drink brand co-founded by David Beckham, secured $1 billion in growth financing from General Catalyst's Customer Value Fund.
  • Final Boss Sour, maker of gaming-inspired sour snacks, raised $4 million in a strategic funding round.

CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund

This week's featured program is Rutger's Food Innovation Center.

  • The Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University is a unique food business incubator and accelerator that is a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES). The Center supports established early stage entrepreneurs and existing food companies from concept to commercialization.
  • Rutger's Food Innovation Center provides business, marketing, food safety, product design, and scale up expertise within FDA- and USDA-certified facilities to help companies successfully build and grow their businesses.
  • Some of the Center's clients include the following:
    • Pure Indian Foods
    • Angel Planet
    • Jalma Farms
    • Sundial Foods

ARTICLES

UPCOMING EVENTS

Naturally New York
SHORELINE SOCIAL - A Connecticut Networking Event

Thursday, July 30 | 5:30–8 p.m. ET
Location: Woodway Beach Club, 95 Hobson Street, Stamford, CT

Join Naturally New York and the Naturally New England community for a Shoreline Social at the Woodway Beach Club in Stamford, CT.

Escape the city for a summer kickoff by the water and connect with founders, operators, investors, and partners across the CPG industry.

Enjoy a relaxed evening of networking, complimentary food and beverages, great conversation, and a fresh coastal vibe just outside NYC.

Register

Naturally Colorado
Naturally Colorado Farm Dinner

Thursday, July 30 | 5–9 p.m. MT
Location: Yellow Barn Farm, 9417 North Foothills Highway, Longmont, CO

On Thursday, July 30, Naturally Colorado invites you to Yellow Barn for a summer evening celebrating the people, businesses, farms, and relationships that make Colorado's natural products community so unique. Set on a working farm rooted in regeneration, collaboration, and community, guests will gather for incredible food, meaningful conversation, live music, and storytelling in one of the Front Range's most beautiful settings.

Register

Naturally San Diego
Night at Petco Park: Padres vs. Giants

Thursday, July 30 | 5–8 p.m. PT
Location: Gallagher Square - Petco Park, 840 K Street, San Diego, CA

Join the Naturally San Diego community at Gallagher Square at Petco Park (Park at the Park) for the Padres vs. Giants game on Thursday, July 30 at 6:40 PM. We'll gather in an area of Gallagher Square where you can watch the game, network, and enjoy a summer night at the ballpark with the San Diego natural CPG community.

Register

Naturally Chicago
Morning Mingle

Wednesday, August 5 | 8–9:30 a.m. CT
Location: Chicago French Market, 131 North Clinton Street, Chicago, IL

Naturally Chicago's Mingles are lively and laidback opportunities to catch up with natural products industry friends...make new ones...and share your stories and photos about your business and summer adventures.

Register

Naturally Colorado
Morning Meetup: Nature Hike at Chautauqua Park

Friday, August 7 | 8:30–10 a.m. MT
Location: Chautauqua Park, 80302 Kinnikinnick Rd, Boulder, CO

Soak up one of Colorado's best seasons before summer starts to slip away. Whether you're squeezing in one last adventure before back-to-school schedules kick in or simply looking to connect with fellow members outdoors, Naturally Colorado would love to see you for a morning hike at Chautauqua Park.

Register

Related Articles