Headlines

NotCo Raises $235M Series D Round

Food tech company NotCo announced today that it has raised $235 million in a Series D funding round led by Tiger Global, bringing its total financing to over $350 million to date. The funding will help the plant-based milk and meat producer to launch its food products in the U.S. and scale its proprietary A.I. technology platform.

Grocery Analyst: The Fresh Market IPO Could Narrow Intro Path for Entrepreneurs

North Carolina-based grocer The Fresh Market filed for an initial public offering this month for the second time in the company’s almost 40-year history. This second IPO could bring significant changes to the grocer’s position in the retail landscape, forcing them to optimize operations at the expense of local and emerging brands.

ZOA Turns On ‘The Rock’ Marketing Machine

Having established a national footprint, ZOA Energy -- the plant-based beverage brand co-founded by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and distributed through Molson Coors Beverage Company -- is preparing to launch its first televised marketing campaign beginning with a 30-second spot during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

IRI: Repurchasing, Service Consolidation Driving E-Commerce Gains

Looking ahead to the second half of this year and beyond, retention of new shoppers, increasing comfort buying CPG online and acceleration of investments by leading retailers in online capabilities is set to drive expansion of online grocery further, representing an estimated 12% of total edible sales.

Investment Roundup: Athletic Greens Closes Funding Round, Zevia Begins Trading on NYSE

Direct-to-consumer powdered beverage maker Athletic Greens announced this week that it has raised its first ever round of outside capital featuring celebrity and institutional investors; Stevia-sweetened beverage maker Zevia debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, offering 10.7 million shares priced at $14 each, raising just under $150 million for the company.

Coke: Q2 Sales Rebound in Post-Lockdown Market

The Coca-Cola Company is experiencing a post-lockdown rebound as net revenues jumped up 42% to $10.1 billion in the second quarter, according to an earnings report this week. Coke reported organic revenue growth of 37% in Q2, including a 26% increase for concentrate sales as the on-premise channel reopens.

Health-Ade Debuts Rebranded ‘Pop’ Line

A year after its launch, Health-Ade’s soda-adjacent Booch Pop product has been redesigned and rebranded. Now known simply as Health-Ade Pop, the company aims to expand its reach with consumers by repositioning the line away from kombucha and towards better-for-you soda.

All Market Inc. Announces Conversion to Public Benefit Corporation

All Market Inc., the parent company of Vita Coco, announced today that it has converted to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) structure, signalling an embrace of ethical, sustainable and better-for-the-planet business practices. According to the company, the PBC model provides All Market with a framework for continuing to expand its charitable initiatives.

Feeling the Weight: Brands Face Headwinds in Recovering Gym Channel

As the pandemic wreaked economic destruction on large portions of the global beverage industry, the fitness channel was among those hit hardest by lockdowns and stay-at-home orders. For sports nutrition and performance beverage brands, a key sales channel was strangled. Now, as the country returns to pre-pandemic mobility, gyms and the brands that rely on them are still looking down a long road to recovery.

Taste Radio: Embrace Being Uncomfortable. Hyper Growth May Follow.

Joshua Ellis, the founder and CEO of super-premium mixer brand WithCo, explained how, despite being the company’s sole employee in early 2020, he weaved together a DIY and paid social marketing strategy that fueled a surge in direct-to-consumer sales, how he’s thoughtfully expanding the brand’s retail footprint and what he means when he says that he’s “building to sell.”