- By SeedInvest
- September 8, 2018
- 6 minute read
Food technology and innovation are currently top of mind here at SeedInvest because we have a number of food and beverage startups currently fundraising on our site. Here are some of the most exciting recent food startup exits: acquisitions, mergers, public offerings, and deal announcements.
1. Campbell’s buys Snyder’s in its largest acquisition to date:
In December, Campbell Soup announced plans to purchase Snyder’s-Lance, which makes Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, Cape Cod and Kettle potato chips, and Pop Secret popcorn. This deal is worth almost $5 billion, marking Campbell’s largest purchase ever.
2. Conagra Brands closes deal to buy Pinnacle Foods:
Last month, Conagra Brands announced a deal to buy Pinnacle Foods in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at around $8.1 billion, $10.9 billion with debt. Analysts at RBC Capital Markets suggest that the joining of Conagra and Pinnacle would build the second-largest American frozen food company behind Nestle.
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3. Following its 2017 acquisition of Plated, Albertsons plans to sell the startup’s meal kits in hundreds of stores:
Albertsons, which bought the 2012-founded Plated last summer, shared plans in April to add Plated products to hundreds of stores by the end of 2018. The grocer also intends to make Plated meal kits available for same-day Instacart delivery.
4. Kellogg acquires Rxbar for $600 million:
Kellogg made a move to broaden its snack reach with its 2017 purchase of Rxbar, a Chicago-based protein bar company. Since its acquisition, Rxbar has started to expand its products beyond protein bars by launching a nut butter spread. The startup, which was established in 2012, also has plans to sell its products internationally for the first time.
5. Delivery Hero has a successful public debut:
When the online food delivery service Delivery Hero went public in June 2017, its shares jumped as much as 8% on the first day. The Berlin-based firm, founded in 2011, possesses a market capitalization of 4.7 billion euros ($5.3 billion) following its successful debut on the Frankfurt stock exchange.
6. Hershey purchases Amplify Snack Brands, the maker of SkinnyPop popcorn:
Candy giant Hershey picked up Amplify Snack Brands, which makes SkinnyPop (launched in 2010), for $1.6 billion. This deal is the latest move within Hershey’s strategy to expand beyond the confectionery business; the company purchased Krave, a 2009-founded jerky company, in 2015.
7. HelloFresh IPO helps the company soar above its chief competitor, Blue Apron:
Shares in HelloFresh, founded in 2011, rose as much as 4% on their first day on the stock market last November. The valuation of the German meal-kit delivery company jumped to more than double that of Blue Apron, an American competitor.
8. Unilever goes on a food startup acquisition spree:
The M&A department of the British-Dutch consumer goods company has been busy lately. In the past year and a half alone, Unilever has acquired specialty condiments producer Sir Kensington’s, herbal tea and supplement business Pukka Herbs, natural and organic food company Mae Terra, Starbucks’ Tazo tea brand, and the Romanian ice cream maker Betty Ice.
9. Amazon acquires Whole Foods:
No discussion of food deals would be complete without mention of Amazon’s 2017 decision to buy Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, more than it has spent on all other previous purchases combined. Amazon is betting on physical stores and the food sector by picking up the grocery chain, which kept its name, CEO, and headquarters.
This post was written by SeedInvest on September 8, 2018
