Food

A Los Angeles cliche: everyone eats healthily. And while this stereotype might ring true, who cares! Healthy snacking is something to be proud of. It is no surprise that some of the most innovative and delicious new health food brands are born out of LA. Of course, in part, this is due to the wellness focus of the city. But California has always been a pioneering state so it makes sense that Angelenos are putting their enterprising brains to work on making healthy, clean food absolutely delicious, (and really pretty, too)! Here are some of the best and brightest in LA-based snack foods.

Dream Pops

Aiming to be the Willy Wonka of plant-based indulgences, Dream Pops is the first superfood ice cream on the market to leverage proprietary technology, design, a three-star Michelin chef, and plant-based ingredients to rethink the notion of traditional ice cream. All Dream Pops are vegan, less than 100 calories per pop, less than seven grams of total sugar per pop, only use coconut blossom sugar, have zero artificial flavors, dyes, gum, or corn syrup, and are dairy, gluten, and soy free. (And they also taste really good.) Blending innovative design with endless imagination, Dream Pops harnesses unique proprietary technology capable of 3D printing any shape.

Pulp Pantry

Pulp Pantry is creating nutritional abundance from what would otherwise be wasted ingredients, like organic juice pulp. The company is on a mission to build a better food system: one that’s healthy, sustainable and accessible to all. Juice pulp is their “hero” ingredient and contains all of the fiber of whole fresh fruits and vegetables, and is currently what goes into making the company’s signature, plant-based Granola Bites. Another added bonus: with each pound of pulp they upcycle, they save 38 gallons of water from going to waste.

MAGICdATES

MAGIcDATES founder Diana Jarrar grew up eating dates—aka nature’s candy—and wanted to create a clean snack that utilized the nutrient-dense and sustainably-grown fruit in all its glory. Plant-based and gluten-free with no added sugar, these bites are perfect as a treat but also satiating throughout the day—and you’ll never get a sugar crash or surge because of the way date sugar is slowly absorbed into the body.

Split Nutrition

Launched in 2018, Split is the first-of-its-kind, side-by-side PB&J pack made with the best plant-based, simple, non-GMO ingredients for pure energy. Combining the amazing flavors of nut butter (peanut or almond) and fresh jam, the complete on-the-go food provides a quick meal of balanced proteins and carbohydrates for pre- or post-workout, travel, work, or school. From LA-based award-winning chef (Stella Barra and M Street Kitchen) and cycling enthusiast Jeff Mahin, restaurateur Christopher Meers, and elite performance nutritionist Dr. Philip Goglia, Split is made with only four to six ingredients and empowers everyone to honor the craving for something sweet and rich while making the most of their food.

Bright Foods

Bright Foods is a SoCal-based health food company that specializes in new-to-market, refrigerated whole food bars. They’re the first of their kind to combine fresh produce, nuts, and superfoods into a handheld snack bar that’s kept chilled—and can be eaten up to 24 hours out of the fridge. Certified organic, gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO, each is made with whole vegetables and fruits (except for peels and pith)—never from the leftover pulp from juice—maximizing the amount of fiber contained in each bite. Chia, coconut, and dried oranges hold the bars together (rendering the need for stabilizers, gelling agents or gums obsolete) and added superfoods provide an extra dose of nutrition. Lookout for their fourth and newest flavor, sweet potato blueberry orange with ashwagandha, to hit shelves this Spring.

Food

“I’ll be totally honest; I didn’t think it would be as hard as it was. Being an entrepreneur is the hardest job. It’s 24/7 grunt work,” says Sarah Michelle Gellar of the journey she’s taken beyond the big screen and into the business world. Having built a successful career portraying some of the biggest cultural icons of the 90s, the Emmy award winner and Golden Globe nominee made her foray into the startup arena in 2015 as co-founder of the baking kit and mix company, Foodstirs. While her celebrity status opened doors and helped put the brand on the map in its early days, carving out a successful second act came with big challenges for the A-list actress, despite her fame.

Often dismissed by potential investors and industry insiders who questioned her credibility, the former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star needed to first convince skeptics that she brought more than a bold-faced name to the venture. “I probably got meetings with big VCs that other people wouldn’t get right off the bat. But it was a novelty. It was, ‘Let’s see what Buffy has to say.’ But there was no real interest, and it was really about us having to sell once in that meeting,” she says. Gellar credits the hard-won lessons learned in building a successful Hollywood career as her greatest entrepreneurial advantage in rising above rejection and proving those critics wrong. “ You’re always going to get the ‘no’s, no matter what job you’re in. That was the one thing that the entertainment industry prepared me for,” she says.

Gellar’s entrepreneurial ambitions were inspired by a desire to channel her creativity and leverage her platform outside of Tinseltown. “I’ve always wanted to do something else, but I didn’t know what that space was. I didn’t know where my talents were, because I had only ever worked in one industry,” she says. Seeing a mass-market void in baking brands dedicated to modern, health-minded consumers, she teamed up with fellow co-founders Galit Laibow and Greg Fleishman to transform the traditional grocery store aisle. Foodstirs was their organic, non-GMO solve that offered a reimagined baking process and a family-friendly kitchen experience that motherhood had made her crave.

As Foodstirs continues to expand its retail footprint and build a loyal following, Gellar has navigated a steep learning curve in cultivating her entrepreneurial know-how and business savvy. Her most powerful lesson to date? “Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you. For every person that doesn’t want to help you out, there are so many people that just want to offer advice and who have been through it ,” Gellar counsels. “Make sure you have people around you that can talk you off the ledge and who can also pick you back up.”

I recently sat down with Gellar to discuss her journey from Buffy to businesswoman, the challenges presented by fame, and her best advice to aspiring founders. Edited highlights below.

On Second Acts

“If you would have told me five years ago this is where I’d be sitting, I would’ve said, ‘I highly doubt that.’ I don’t say never, but the beauty of having the success of a show like Buffy so early is that you achieve more than you ever think possible.”

“I have two young children, and I love the lesson that they’ve seen, that Mommy had a great career, Mommy could’ve been doing that forever, but Mommy had an idea, Mommy wanted to try something new, and Mommy wanted to challenge herself.”

On Proving Herself

“I would have loved to have been taken more seriously as an entrepreneur. But I also hadn’t earned that right yet. Now I hope that the headlines aren’t necessarily that, because I feel like we’ve proven ourselves, and I’ve proven myself, and we have proof of concept. But in the beginning, you know, whatever gets them to notice, right?”

On The Challenges Of Fundraising

“I was extremely shocked at how tough it was being female out there, raising capital. I would say I definitely had a false bravado, and I think I was quite shocked at the difficulty that the road ahead entailed.”

“The biggest disappointments were the female funds. I think that it’s so hard to be a female fund and they’ve worked so hard to get there, that they’re still a little standoffish. And we actually wound up having more success with the traditional route.”

On The Power Of Personal Connections When Pitching

“What are the ways that they [investors] can connect to this product, that makes it something that they see the value in, as opposed to just, is it a money making opportunity? Especially with male investors, do they have kids? Do they have grandkids? Is there a wedding band on? Is there a dog on their desk? Because at the end of the day, when you’re investing money, especially when you’re investing someone else’s money, you need that personal connection. It can’t just be about the history of the founders, or the concept. You need all of the different facets to get you all the way to the top.”

On Her Best Advice To Aspiring Entrepreneurs

“Make sure you have those people around you that can talk you off the ledge, and can also pick you back up.”

On The Value of “Smart Money”

“At the end of the day, you want smart money. I think that’s something that we were all very well aware of in the beginning, which is you don’t take the first check that comes around. Because what do they have to offer in the long run? Is it someone you can work with? Is it someone whose experience is an asset to what you’re doing? And is it someone that will support you when you need it, but also be hands off? You want to really look for not just money, but smart money.”

On Her Juggling Act

“I’m a mom, I’m an actor, I’m an entrepreneur, and I’m a juggler. That’s what I do, I juggle. I can actually juggle, and I juggle careers, and life, and family, and kids, and different jobs.”

On The Power Of Feedback

“My husband and I always say, if you’re going to believe all the good reviews, then you have to give the negative reviews the same equal amount of attention and authenticity.”

On Her Acting Legacy

“If you, as an actor, have a role that’s indelible in people’s minds, that’s an honor, and that’s what you hope for.”

Food

Food

Once Upon a Farm, a US-based start-up producing cold pressed baby foods, has received US$20m in financing from a group of investors led by private-equity fund CAVU Venture Partners.

As part of the transaction, CAVU co-founder and managing partner Brett Thomas and the private-equity firm’s senior associate Jared Jacobs will Once Upon a Farm’s board. The other participating investors in the B-series round of funding were S2G Ventures and Beechwood Capital, along with unnamed series A investors, according to a statement. The A financing in 2017 was led by Cambridge SPG. 

Berkeley, California-based Once Upon a Farm was co-founded by John Foraker, its chief executive, and Jennifer Garner. The company, which is B-corp certified, offers baby foods, apple sauce and smoothies.

Garner said: “This latest round of funding allows us to continue to help busy parents give their children the most nutritious foods possible and make life a little bit easier for families across the country.”

Once Upon a Farm said it has expanded from 300 retail outlets to more than 8,500 and now counts Target, Whole Foods, Kroger, Publix and Walmart among its stockists. 

Thomas at CAVU added: “The baby food category has lacked real product innovation for quite some time. We’re thrilled to partner with John, Jen and the rest of the Once Upon a Farm team to disrupt and lead in this space.”

Food

Once Upon a Farm – a fresh baby, toddler, and kids food brand on a mission to transform the category – has closed a $20m Series B financing round led by CAVU Venture Partners.

Link to article :

https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2018/10/10/Once-Upon-a-Farm-closes-20m-Series-B-round-We-want-to-build-out-a-trusted-brand-moms-and-dads-can-follow?utm_source=copyright&utm_medium=OnSite&utm_campaign=copyright

Food

Food

CAVU Venture Partners has led the $20 million Series B for Once Upon a Farm, which sells organic, cold-pressed baby food in 8,500 grocery stores in the U.S.

The Berkeley-based startup was originally founded in 2015 by serial entrepreneurs Cassandra Curtis and Ari Raz. Today, it lists actress Jennifer Garner and former General Mills president John Foraker as co-founders, too.

Both Garner and Foraker — who was the chief executive officer of the popular organic mac & cheese brand Annie’s Homegrown for more than a decade — joined the company in September 2017. Foraker had been an angel investor in Once Upon a Farm and, after conversations with Garner, decided to accept the role of CEO. Garner, widely known for her roles in Alias, 13 Going on 30 and the upcoming HBO original series Camping, was already somewhat of a Once Upon a Farm evangelist when she signed on as chief brand officer a little over a year ago.

“I am proud of the innovative business that we have built,” Garner said in a statement. “It is incredibly exciting to see so many families embracing our products. This latest round of funding allows us to continue to help busy parents give their children the most nutritious foods possible and make life a little bit easier for families across the country.”

Foraker told TechCrunch that since he and Garner joined, the business has grown 10x. Last fall, the company’s products were for sale in 300 stores; today, as mentioned, they are available in more than 8,000.

“Because she has global celebrity, the power of that, she can really help us get the message out and help lots of moms and dads find [Once Upon a Farm],” Foraker said.

Once Upon a Farm sells smoothies and applesauce for kids up to age 12 directly to consumers through its online marketplace and in stores. Pouches of its signature baby food, smoothies and applesauce are $2.99 each.

As part of the deal, CAVU’s co-founder and managing partner Brett Thomas, along with CAVU investor Jared Jacobs, will join the company’s board. S2G Ventures and Beechwood Capital also participated in the round for the startup, which raised a $4 million Series A in June 2017.

The company plans to use the funds to expand its direct to consumer business, partner with more U.S. grocers and build out a wider assortment of baby products.

“You can buy fresh pet food now in almost 20,000 stores in the U.S.,” Foraker said. “We think fresh baby food has a long way to go.”

Original link to this story available here : https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/09/jennifer-garners-baby-food-company-once-upon-a-farm-raises-20m-series-b/

Food

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Foodstirs Modern Baking, the most sustainable organic baking mix brand modernizing the industry, proudly announces that all three of its bake-your-own Organic chewy oat bar mixes have been certified by The Detox Project as Glyphosate Residue-Free, making Foodstirs the only nationally distributed organic food brand to receive this trailblazing certification. Additionally, the remaining portfolio of Foodstirs products are currently being tested to ensure their entire line of products receive this groundbreaking certification.

Food

A Popsicle is an indulgence. It’s also a startup success story, if you can believe it. Dream Pops are plant-based, non-dairy, gluten and soy free. And they apparently taste as good as ice cream and look good on Instagram.

They’re not cheap, at least in bulk. A tray of 10, shipped frozen to your doorstep in a couple of days, will set you back $45. But if you can find one at a Starbucks, and you’re in Los Angeles or Portland, Oregon, the price is a little more palpable at $3.95 each.

These don’t look like regular Popsicles (a trademark for flavored ice frozen around a stick). Dream Pops are a proprietary shape that comes from a 3-D printed mold. Besides lacking dairy, gluten and soy, they’re also said to be free of artificial flavors, dyes, gum and corn syrup. What’s left? Each pop is less than 100 calories, sweetened with coconut blossom sugar and blended with lush ingredients. And the flavors — with names like Chocolate Lion, Berry Dreams, Mango Rosemary, Coconut Latte and Vanilla Matcha — are a little more advanced than what you might find in the frozen food section of your local supermarket.

The Dream Pops team includes two Davids. They’re CEO and Cofounder David Greenfeld, a former investment banking associate, and “Chief Pop Hustler” and CoFounder David Cohen, previously a business development associate for Los Angeles’ first bagel truck.

Why did they choose to go with Popsicles, of all things?

Greenfeld says he was intrigued by paletas stands during a trip to Cartagena, Colombia, and also trying to curb an appetite for late night pints of ice cream “with terrible ingredients.”

“We mainly took inspiration from the pressed juice market and wondered why the same model couldn’t be applied to frozen novelties and plant-based ice cream,” Greenfeld said in an email. “I called my close friend and cofounder David Cohen who had experience in the food space working for a company called Yeastie Boys Bagels (as I had no knowledge nor experience operating food companies) and we began iterating and toying around with the idea of healthy popsicles.”

The pops were created by Michelin-starred chef Juan Amador and food scientist David Marx.

As noted by Entrepreneur, Dream Pops projects it will generate $500,000 in revenue by year’s end, and they’d done it largely without selling to consumers. They’ve gone business-to-business instead, partnering with big brands like Beats by Dre (for a Coachella party) and earning up to $50,000 per event. It makes sense: Try the treat of the elite!

The company compares the taste of these ‘sicles to ice cream.

“We have heard people say Dream Pops taste as good as they are pretty,” Greenfeld says. “They are creamy and rich-tasting, much like traditional dairy ice cream, but they are 100% plant-based.  Thanks to the creamy tapioca and rich coconut milk, and our other real ingredients they’re vegan-approved but not just for vegans.”

What do you think about these? Delicious on their own and maybe perfect as gifts?

Greenfeld says online orders have been pouring in since Dream Pops went nationwide on July 15, National Ice Cream Day. “We are on track to double our sales in 2018 and e-commerce is experiencing strong month-over-month growth,” he said.

In case you’re worried about the carbon footprint of a $45 tray, the company uses a green packaging company for cold shipping called vericool.

These have gone nationwide at a good time, as Instragram-y items are in demand. NBC recently reported on “Instagram playgrounds” popping in U.S. cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. #dreampops