The Consumer VC Roundup #70
Hey everyone,
We’re launching more events. If you’re going to be at Summer Fancy Food in NYC and/or Outdoor Retailer in SLC – come on out to our morning events for coffee, baked goods and good conversation before the shows. We also have our normal programming of monthly meetups as well, which will be expanding to a few more cities in the coming months. These are mostly designed for consumer brand executives, investors, retailers and distributors to help bring together the emerging consumer ecosystem.
Conference Coffees
🏔️☕️ Peak Roast Morning Meetup - Salt Lake City, UT
📆 Tuesday, June 18th
🕗 8:00am-10:00am MTN - SIGN UP HERE
Partners: Founders N’ Funders, Forecastr
🍿☕️ Consumer Brews: Fancy Edition - New York, NY
📆 Monday, June 24th
🕗 8:00am-10:00am EST - SIGN UP HERE
Partners: VHS Ventures, J.P. Morgan, ForceBrands, Secure CPG, Propeller Industries
Monthly Coffees
☕️ Wake Up! CPG - Austin, TX
📆 Thursday, May 23rd
🕗 8:30am-10:30am CST - SIGN UP HERE
Led by Marc Nathan
☕️ Consumer Chi Coffee Club - Chicago, IL
📆 Thursday, May 30th
🕗 9:00am-11:00am CST - SIGN UP HERE
Led by Nikki Gryll
☕️ Consumer Sunrise - Los Angeles, CA
📆 Thursday, May 30th
🕗 8:00am-10:00am PST - SIGN UP HERE
Led by Mike Gelb
☕️ Consumer Brews - New York, NY
📆 Thursday, May 30th
🕗 9:00am-10:30am EST - SIGN UP HERE
Led by Sumeet Shah
On to the latest consumer fundraising update, but first here’s a word from our partner.
This issue is brought to you by Propeller Industries.
Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Thinking about profitability, extending your runway, and improving efficiency in your operations? Managing your company’s finances requires multiple skill sets. Propeller’s fractional model offers a dynamic solution that provides a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time finance talent.
To learn more about The Consumer VC sponsor opportunities, you can email me.
💻Consumer Software💻
🥗 Fay, a startup that connects RDs with insurance providers and patients, has raised $25 million from General Catalyst and Forerunner Ventures, with participation from 1984 and the founders of Grow Therapy and Maven Clinic. Tech Crunch
🛍️Consumer Brands / Inventory-Based Businesses🛍️
🍪 Chip City Cookies, a New York City-based cookie chain, has raised $7.5 million in a Series B investment from Enlightened Hospitality Investments to help grow the company’s brick-and-mortar locations, personnel, services and creative collaborations. Food Business News
🧉 Voyage Foods, a maker of peanut-free spread, chocolate without cacao and coffee without coffee beans, has raised $52 million in a Series A round co-led by Level One Fund and Horizons Ventures. SOSV and Collaborative Fund also participated. Food Business News
🥤 Marcy Venture Partners, the firm co-founded by rapper/mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter; CEO of RocNation Jay Brown, and Larry Marcus, has made a “significant investment in ready-to-drink brand The Finnish Long Drink to support its momentum within the U.S. market. BrewBound
🛒eCommerce & Retail Tech🛒
🚢 Harbor Lab, a Greek maritime software startup that offers the first e-disbursements account analysis software that automatically calculates and evaluates port expenses against real-time port tariffs, has gone on to raise a $16 million Series A funding round led by European VC Atomico. Tech Crunch
💸M&A💸
🍹 Cocktail Courier, the cocktail kit delivery service, has acquired alcohol e-commerce provider Thirstie, which helps alcohol brands create DTC channels through design and distribution compliance as Thirstie’s technology is being integrated into Cocktail Courier’s operations. Modern Retail
🍖 Western Smokehouse Partners, the meat snack producer, has acquired Golden Valley Natural, a fellow meat snack company based out of Shelley, Idaho, to expand its market presence and offerings. Food Business News
🫧 Gostrider, which specializes in building beauty brands for the next generation of music artists, has acquired Āthr Beauty. The brand will relaunch sometime in the summer of 2024. Global Cosmetic Industry
🏪Distribution & Product Expansions🏪
🥦 Nestlé is launching “The Vital Pursuit”, its first major U.S. brand in nearly three decades as the food giant looks to meet the needs of consumers taking GLP-1 medications and other individuals focusing on weight management. The frozen product line will include bowls with whole grains or protein pasta, portion-aligned sandwich melts and pizzas with cauliflower crust. More products are expected in the future. Food Dive
🧇 Kellanova, the snacking, cereal, noodles, and plant-based foods compnay, is lauching Eggo Fully Loaded Waffles, the high-protein breakfast offering which contains 10 grams of protein in each two waffle serving. Food Dive
✨ Fendi, the Roman luxury house owned by LVMH, is returning to the fragrance market with launching a collection of seven very high-end fragrances. Fashion Network
🧴 OneSkin, the skin care brand, has launched its OS-01 Body SPF, a hydrating, daily sunscreen that is said to go beyond UV protection to support the health and longevity of the skin. Global Cosmetic Industry
🔻Bankruptcies🔻
🦞 Red Lobster, the largest seafood chain in the U.S., has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Florida, but it intends to keep its locations open. NBC News