Eshbal Functional Food Acquires 55% Stake in Dare to Be Different Foods (D2BD)

v2food Acquires Daring Foods in Strategic Partnership with Ajinomoto Co.

August 7, 2025

Food & Beverage

Australia-based plant-based meat company v2food has acquired Daring Foods, the leading unbreaded plant-based chicken brand in the United States, and announced a strategic partnership with Ajinomoto Co., Inc. The deal positions Daring as v2food's U.S. operating brand and provides v2food with a platform to launch its proprietary food technologies across the U.S., while Ajinomoto brings global food-science expertise and scale to accelerate product development and international expansion.

LesserEvil Acquires Majority Stake in R.E.D.D. Bar

April 13, 2022

Food & Beverage

LesserEvil has acquired a majority stake in Portland, Maine–based R.E.D.D. Bar, marking LesserEvil's first acquisition and giving the company an entry into the functional bar category. LesserEvil will move R.E.D.D. production to its Danbury, Connecticut facility, incorporate the R.E.D.D. team (including founder Alden Blease), and integrate the brand into its better-for-you snack portfolio.

NextFoods Merges Cheribundi and GoodBelly; Emil Capital Partners Leads Investment

April 5, 2023

Food & Beverage

NextFoods announced the merger of functional-beverage brands Cheribundi and GoodBelly into a combined NextFoods entity to capture product and channel synergies and scale nationwide. Emil Capital Partners is the largest investor in the combined company and Marcel Bens (current CEO of Cheribundi) will become CEO of NextFoods while Juan Gluth moves to Chief Commercial Officer.

Thrive Freeze Dry (EEP / Mubadala Capital) Acquires Groneweg Group (Freeze-Dry Foods)

June 27, 2023

Food & Beverage

Thrive Freeze Dry, a portfolio company of Entrepreneurial Equity Partners and Mubadala Capital, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Groneweg Group (also marketed as Freeze‑Dry Foods), a Germany‑based manufacturer of freeze‑ and air‑dried ingredients. The add-on deal expands Thrive's global manufacturing footprint (adding operations in Greven, Germany and La Joya, Peru) and broadens its product suite for consumer packaged goods and retail customers; the transaction is expected to close in 2023 subject to customary approvals.

Day-Lee Foods Acquires B and D Foods, Mountain View Packaging and Tamarack Foods

January 3, 2025

Food & Beverage

Day‑Lee Foods, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NH Foods Ltd. (Nipponham Group), has completed the acquisition of B and D Foods, Mountain View Packaging, and Tamarack Foods. The combination expands Day‑Lee’s frozen and prepared foods portfolio and manufacturing/packaging capabilities in the United States to support growth across retail and foodservice channels.

Brothers International Acquires Hosh International

April 18, 2023

Food & Beverage

Benford Capital Partners' portfolio company Brothers International has acquired Hosh International, adding a B2B fruit and vegetable juice concentrate and puree supplier to its ingredients platform. Emad Hosh will remain as a minority owner and both businesses will continue operating under their respective names while Benford/Brothers pursue further add-on consolidation and invest in growth initiatives.