The Consumer VC Roundup #86
The Consumer VC Roundup #86
News & Events For the Emerging Consumer Ecosystem
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Hey friends,
I hope you had a great week. I’m currently on a flight to Austin, TX heading to Bill Murphy and Marc Nathans’ Turn Up CPG x Ecomm. Really excited to catchup with Austin peeps. If you live there, come on out! I also have some time before the show begins if you want to hang.
The big news yesterday was MrBeast, Logan Paul & KSI launching a Lunchable competitor called Lunchly. There’s been lots of debate about the brand on LinkedIn, so I have to ask –
Before we dive into this week with other consumer venture news (in which there is a quite a bit) I want to give a quick shoutout to my brother and the creative one in the family – Robert Gelb. Rob has been working for over a year building a pickleball board game called HotShot Pickleball. If you ever wondered why you can’t play pickleball with pickles…well now you can. I’m so proud that this has finally launched on KickStarter. This might not be venture backable…but still is consumer. If you’re a fan of Pickleball, board games…or puns, I think you’ll enjoy the video.
Ok – Now to the news full list of news and events in the world of consumer.
This Week In Consumer
🧃Consumer Brands👚
💰Fundraises💰
🧬 Abolis Biotechnologies, a French startup focused on industrial solutions using microorganisms, has secured €35 million in funding. The investment was led by a global group of investors, including BOLD (L’Oréal's venture capital arm), Evonik Venture Capital, and impact-driven funds like DeepTech & Climate Fonds, Clay Capital, ICOS Capital, and Liberset. TFN
🥩 Novameat, a Barcelona-based sustainable food tech company, has raised €17.4 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. The funds will be used to scale up production of its current plant-based meat alternatives and to launch its new Shredded Nova-b*ef product, expected in mid-September. ESGToday
🍪 Lil Bucks, the gluten-free snacks brand, has raised $3 million in a Series A funding round led by Proterra Investment Partners, focusing on food and agriculture in rural U.S. Founder Emily Griffith started the company after discovering sprouted buckwheat in Australia six years ago, turning it into a range of buckwheat-based products. FoodBusinessNews
🍟 Daily Crunch, a Nashville-based brand known for its sprouted and dehydrated nut snacks, has raised $4 million in a Series A funding round led by Launch Tennessee. The funds will be used to expand its product line, increase production capacity, and scale its retail presence. Daily Crunch has gained recognition for its unique sprouting process in the competitive snack industry. Forbes
💸M&A💸
🛒 THG, the British e-commerce retail company, plans to demerge its technology platform, Ingenuity, to maximize shareholder value. While the structure and timing are still under review, the demerger will leave THG focused on its beauty and nutrition divisions. The announcement follows a 1.6% rise in profits and a 1.7% drop in sales for the half-year ending June 30. RetailGazettte
🥤 Farmhouse Inc. has agreed to acquire Thrown, LLC, the parent company of Nappy Boy Dranks, a functional beverage brand founded by Grammy-winning artist T-Pain. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Farmhouse will acquire all membership interests in Thrown in exchange for about 25% of its total shares post-closing. FoodBusinessNews
🍶 General Mills is selling its North American yogurt business to French dairy companies Lactalis and Sodiaal for a total of $2.1 billion. Lactalis will acquire the U.S. operations, while Sodiaal will take over the Canadian business. The divestitures include yogurt brands like Yoplait, Liberté, Go-Gurt, and Oui, along with manufacturing facilities. The deals, expected to close in 2025, will help General Mills focus on faster-growing sectors such as snacks and pet food. FoodDive
🍳 Cal-Maine, the largest U.S. egg producer, has acquired a majority stake in wrap and crepe maker Crepini, forming a new joint venture called Crepini Foods. Cal-Maine holds a 51% stake and will invest $6.75 million in additional equipment and assets. Crepini, known for its carb-free and keto-friendly egg wraps, also offers protein pancakes and other ready-to-eat products. The new venture will be based in Hopewell Junction, New York. FoodDive
🌎 T. Hasegawa USA acquired Abelei Flavors to expand its flavor portfolio in North America. The acquisition, details of which were not disclosed, enhances T. Hasegawa’s geographical reach and technical capabilities. Abelei Flavors specializes in sweet brown, citrus, fruit, and other flavors for various industries, providing additional flavor tools to the California-based company. FoodDive
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansion🚀
🛁 Lush, the British cosmetics retailer, has launched a new collection reimagining The Body Shop’s best-selling products in hair, body, and skincare. The line honors Lush founder Mark Constantine’s early work with The Body Shop and its founder, Anita Roddick, on iconic formulations. RetailGazette
👄 Goop Beauty by Gwyneth Paltrow has launched Hydra-Barrier Gel Gloss, a 5-in-1 product that functions as a balm, gloss, plumper, mask, and oil. This follows the recent release of the brand's first-ever mascara. BeautyPackaging
🤖 Osmo, a digital olfaction company, has launched Fragrance 2o, an initiative combining perfumery with advancements in chemistry and AI. Aiming to bring transparency and innovation to the traditionally slow-moving fragrance industry, Osmo invites U.S. and European fragrance brands to submit creative briefs to its Fragrance 2o Beta Program. BeautyPackaging
✨ Carolyn Aronson, CEO of It's a 10 Haircare, is launching Cloud, a new mass-market haircare brand debuting in January 2025. Cloud offers affordable luxury with its Nourishing and Volumizing Collections, packaged in 90% PCR, eco-friendly materials. BeautyPackaging
🗽 Oscar de la Renta has launched a new fragrance, New York, celebrating the city's spirit. The packaging, including the bottle and carton, draws inspiration from New York’s iconic Art Deco architecture. BeautyPackaging
🧴 Prada Beauty has launched its skincare and color products on prestige retailer Lookfantastic. Meanwhile, Kulfi has expanded to all North American Sephora stores, and Polish dermocosmetic brand Pharmaceris is now available in the U.S. through Walgreens, both in-store and online. GCIMagazine
🍬 Hershey’s Jolly Rancher brand is debuting an addition to its candy products. Jolly Rancher Ropes is available in two flavor combinations: green apple and watermelon and blue raspberry and cherry. FoodBusinessNews
🪮 Innersense Organic Beauty is expanding into Asia through a new partnership with Mash Beauty Lab. The brand’s clean hair care products will be introduced to luxury and specialty retail stores, professional salons, and spas across Asia under the name Innersense Asia. FashionNetwork
🥤 PepsiCo’s Gatorade is expanding beyond its traditional athletic focus with the launch of Gatorade Hydration Booster, an electrolyte powder designed for everyday hydration. This new product aims to meet the growing demand from everyday consumers seeking more from their beverages. FoodDive
🍶 Kraft Heinz’s Philadelphia cream cheese is launching a new cream cheese frosting in October. Made with milk and cream, the frosting addresses demand for products without artificial ingredients and simplifies baking. FoodDive
🍝 Nestlé’s Stouffer’s is launching its first shelf-stable product, Supreme Shells & Cheese, available in Cheddar Cheese and Three Cheese flavors. This move aims to tap into the $3 billion shelf-stable market and complement the brand’s strong presence in frozen comfort foods. Additional innovations are expected in 2025. FoodDive
🪇Collabs🪇
🫧 AllSaints has partnered with Scent Beauty to launch a 30th anniversary Eau de Parfum trio, crafted by perfumer Gabriela Chelariu. The fragrances come in recyclable glass bottles with "leather jacket" designs. BeautyPackaging
🍫 Logan Paul, MrBeast, and KSI have launched Lunchly, a healthier Lunchables competitor aimed at their young fan base. The meal includes Prime Hydration, a low-sugar energy drink by Paul and KSI, a Feastables milk chocolate bar by MrBeast, and a choice of pizza, nachos, or turkey and cheese with crackers. CNNBusiness
🧬 Beiersdorf is partnering with Macro Biologics to develop biodegradable antimicrobial peptides, a market projected to reach $7.85 billion by 2029. Beiersdorf will also invest in Macro Biologics through its Oscar & Paul Corporate Venture Capital Unit. GCIMagazine
💫 Hunter, the British boots and lifestyle brand, has teamed up with London-based creative agency Gung Ho for its new brand platform, "Hunt The Feeling." The campaign, showcasing the versatility of Hunter products and reaffirming the brand's status as a British cultural icon, will be featured on Hunter's website and social media channels. FashionNetwork
🍹 Coca-Cola and Bacardi are partnering to launch a ready-to-drink cocktail featuring both brands. The Bacardi Mixed with Coca-Cola RTD cocktail will debut in Mexico and select European markets in 2025, with plans for a broader global rollout. FoodDive
↪️Rebrands↩️
🍲 Campbell Soup plans to rebrand as The Campbell’s Company, dropping "soup" from its name. Shareholders will vote on the change at the annual meeting in November. Although soup still contributes over $1 billion in annual sales, recent acquisitions and growth in snacks and sauces have made it a smaller part of the company's operations. FoodDive
💻Consumer Software💻
💰Fundraises💰
🥗 Delli, a London-based online platform for independent food and drink, has raised $6 million in Seed funding. The round was led by existing investors Balderton and HV Capital, along with founder and Chief Creative Officer Simon Beckerman. The funds will be used to expand the platform's offerings and introduce more convenient delivery options for buyers. Finsmes
📅 Howbout, a social calendar startup founded in 2020 by university friends Neil Tanna, Jake Jenner, and Duncan Cowan, has raised $8 million in Series A funding, led by Goodwater Capital. With most users aged 25 or under, the platform allows friends to share their full calendars to find time to meet up. The round included participation from FJ Labs, Sequel, footballer Harry Maguire, and existing investors Boost Capital and Angel Invest. Howbout has now raised over $13 million in total. TechCrunch
🛒eCommerce & Retail Tech🛒
💰Fundraises💰
🌐 Two Boxes, the best way for brands and 3PLs to streamline returns and capture critical data from the process, has successfully raised $5.3 million. The oversubscribed funding round led by Peterson Ventures more than doubled the company's valuation and saw participation from new investor Assembly Ventures, alongside renewed support from existing backers Vinyl, Range Ventures, and Matchstick Ventures. PRNewswire
🤖 Cavela, an AI-powered platform that optimizes product sourcing and supplier negotiations, has officially launched. The platform helps brands and businesses save 40% by connecting them with premium manufacturers worldwide at the best costs. Cavela also announced a $2 million funding round led by XYZ Venture Capital, with participation from Propel Ventures and Go Global Ventures. PRNewswire
💸M&A💸
🍸 Flaviar, a leader in beverage-alcohol eCommerce, has acquired competitor Speakeasy Co. The merger is effective immediately, with both companies continuing under the Flaviar brand. The acquisition expands Flaviar's resources, adding Speakeasy’s bicoastal US warehouses and increasing its client base to over 600, about half from Speakeasy. Forbes
Morning Consumer Series
Culver City, CA → ☕️ Consumer Sunrise
📆 Friday, September 20th
🕗 10:00am-12:00pm PDT- SIGN UP HERE
Toronto, Ontario –>☕️ Cuppa Consumer
📆 Thursday, September 26th
🕗 9:00am-11:00am EDT - SIGN UP HERE
Austin, TX –>🌞 The Consumer VC Wake Up! CPG Austin
📆 Thursday, September 26th
🕗 8:30am-10:00am CDT - SIGN UP HERE
Chicago, IL –>☕️ Consumer Chi Coffee Club
📆 Thursday, September 26th
🕗 9:00am-11:00am CDT - SIGN UP HERE
Nashville, TN –>🎸 Nashville Consumer
📆 Thursday, September 26th
🕗 9:00am-10:30pm CDT - SIGN UP HERE
New York, NY –>🍻 Consumer Brews
📆 Friday, September 27th
🕗 9:00am-10:30am EDT - SIGN UP HERE
Thanks for reading!