Consumer Private Placement and M&A Transactions Review Week Ending January 22 2023

EarthOptics: The company raised $27.6 million in Series B venture funding in a deal led by Continental Grain Company on January 18, 2023, putting the company’s pre-money valuation at $40.4 million. Leaps by Bayer, CNH Industrial, Louis Dreyfus Company, CHS, Cooperative Ventures, Rabo Food and Agri Innovation Fund, iSelect Fund, VTC Ventures, Route 66 Ventures, FHB Ventures and S2G Ventures also participated in the round. The company is a soil data measurement and mapping company that provides information for sustainable agricultural management.

Hoplark: The company raised $16 million of venture funding in the form of convertible debt from undisclosed investors on January 18, 2023. The company is a producer of non-alcoholic craft beverages intended to offer the flavor of hops but without the alcohol or calories.

Gastrograph AI: The company raised $7 million of venture funding from Sony Innovation Fund, BASF and Meta Materials on January 20, 2023. Leawood Venture Capital and other undisclosed investors also participated in the round. The company is a developer of sensory analytics software intended to help food producers understand consumer needs.

Runamok Maple: The company raised $3.2 million of venture funding from undisclosed investors on January 18, 2023. The company is a producer of premium and organic maple syrup and other products.

Arkeon: The company raised EUR 2.8 million of venture funding in a deal led by ICL Planet on January 19, 2023. The company’s proprietary technology is a new, innovative approach to produce amino acids and functional peptides for food and lifestyle products by using a one-step fermentation bioprocess.

Moderato: The company raised EUR 1.5 million of venture funding from Eutopia and Bpifrance on January 19, 2023. The company is a producer of low-alcoholic wines based in Paris, France.

Bloomfield Robotics: The company raised an undisclosed amount of venture funding from Kubota, WGD Capital and Yield Lab on January 17, 2023. Pasudeco Investment Management Corporation, M7 Holdings, OENEO and other undisclosed also participated in the round. The company is a developer of an agricultural robotics technology designed to digitalize the health and performance of every plant from seed to harvest.

Hella Cocktail: The company raised an undisclosed amount of venture funding from Pronghorn on January 17, 2023. The company is a manufacturer and supplier of alcoholic mixers and RTD cocktail beverages.

Royal Crown Cola / Macay Holdings: The company, a subsidiary of RC Global Beverages was acquired by Macay Holdings for $21.4 million on January 18, 2023. The company is a manufacturer of bottled soft drinks and concentrates based in Columbus, Georgia.

Calyxt / Cibus: The company reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Cibus through reverse merger on January 17, 2023. Calyxt Inc is a plant-based synthetic biology company.

Harvest Fine Foods / Bidcorp UK: The company was acquired by Bid (JSE: BID) for an undisclosed amount on January 16, 2023. The company is an independently run foodservice supplier to more than 1,000 catering establishments across the South of England.

KYLA Hard Kombucha / Patco Brands: The company was acquired by Patco Brands for an undisclosed amount on January 19, 2023. The company manufactures and supplies hard kombucha.

Menu Extra / Cook it Recipes: The company was acquired by Cook it Recipes for an undisclosed amount on January 19, 2023. The company is a provider of gourmet ready-to-eat food services based in Montreal, Canada.

Willow Park Wines & Spirits / Calgary Co-operative Association: The company reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Calgary Co-operative Association for an undisclosed amount on January 18, 2023. The company is a retailer of wine and spirits based in Calgary, Alberta.

Wine Warehouse / Breakthru Beverage Group: The company reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Breakthru Beverage Group for an undisclosed amount on January 17, 2023. The company is a trade wholesale distributor of fine wine, beer and spirits in California.