Bloom Launches Soda, Del Monte Seeks Buyer 🥫

GM and Happy Thursday, folks. Here’s what we’re covering this morning:

  • Valeo buys Italian specialty baker 🎂

  • Odele raises nearly $3M 💰

  • Cosmoss shutters 📉

  • Nowadays unveiles LTO flavor 🍋

  • Versed lands at Ulta Beauty 💄

Due to the 4th of July there will be no newsletter on Saturday. Enjoy the long weekend!

Deals 💰

Mergers & Acquisitions 

  • Del Monte Foods, the canned fruits & vegetables giant, filed for bankruptcy protection and secured over $900M in debtor-in-possession financing as it seeks a buyer. In 2024, Del Monte Foods generated $4.8B in net sales but gross profit was a paltry $358M. WSJ

  • Valeo Foods Group, one of the fastest-growing food companies in Europe, has acquired Melegatti, an Italian producer of panettone, pandoro, and other specialty baked goods. Valeo does north of €1.8B in annual revenue and operates 30 manufacturing facilities across the UK and Europe. Business Wire

Fundraising

  • After naming beauty vet Zach Rieken as its new CEO last week, masstige haircare brand Odele secured $2.9M in fresh equity funding. Two partners from growth equity fim Stride Consumer Parters are listed on the Form D, so presumably they led the round. Odele was founded in 2020 and sales in 2024 were reportedly around $30M. SEC

  • Rapper Gunna has joined Flerish, a clean hydration brand, as an investor and co-owner. Avery Johnson Jr. and Nick Nevins launched the beverage brand in late 2024. Flerish is free of artificial dyes, flavors, and sweeteners. Instagram

  • Shore Capital Partners raised over $450M for its third food & beverage fund. The close brings Shore’s total assets under management to approximately $13B. Their previous investments in the space include Sweetmore Bakeries, Whetstone Distributors, and FirmaPak. Business Wire

What’s New 🤩

Apparel, Cosmetics, and Wellness

  • Cosmoss, the skincare & wellness brand founded by supermodel Kate Moss, has entered liquidation proceedings three years after launching. The brand also apparently owes lenders nearly £3M. Cosmoss launched a small skincare collection, two herbal teas, and one fragrance product. The Industry

  • Daily nutrition brand Grüns launched their Superfoods Greens Gummies in a limited edition flavor, Raspberry Lemonade. Looks like the flavor is an online exclusive. Grüns was valued at $500M earlier this year after raising $35M from Selva Ventures and other investors. Instagram

  • Sacha Bostoni, the co-founder of DTC eyewear brand Jimmy Fairly, co-founded a French skincare brand called Firn. Bostoni launched Firn alongside Clémence de Stabenrath, formerly of L’Oreal, and Raphaële Four, the founder of lingerie brand Girls in Paris. Firn will focus on bringing high-performance skincare products to market at affordable prices. The company will open two retail stores in Paris this year. Fashion Network

Food, Beverage, and Alcohol

  • The new better-for-you soda range from Bloom is officially live and hitting shelves at Walmart as we speak. The branding is excellent and five flavors are currently available: Classic Orange, Strawberry Cream, Shirley Temple, Raspberry Lemonade, and Watermelon Lime. Bloom has already sold 35 million cans of its energy drink in less than a year so I’m particularly bullish on their BFY soda range. Instagram

  • Premier Protein, the #1 RTD protein shake brand in the US, introduced three new shakes that are made with almond milk. You can find the new line at Amazon and Target. PR Newswire

  • THC-infused beverage brand Nowadays launched a limited edition summer flavor — Lemonade. The LTO flavor is available in multi-serve bottles and 12 oz cans. Nowadays has been on a tear lately. Twitter

  • Jacobsen Salt Co. collaborated with Snake River Farms on a new product: Sage and Rosemary Infused Salt. The new product is available exclusively via Snake River’s website. NOSH

  • Brooklyn-based Faccia Brutto Spirits is launching in a number of European markets including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, and The Netherlands. The Spirits Business

  • Coastals is a new spiked coconut water brand from Australia. The product is made with coconut water, added fruit juice, and pure rice vodka. Two flavors are available and the branding is great. Food & Drink Business

Less Searching, More Selling 📈

Finding the right co-man doesn’t have to mean endless emails, calls, or cold outreach.

Chapter Foods quickly connects you with manufacturing partners tailored to your exact product, volume, and standards.

We’ve built a vetted network of manufacturers and suppliers (that is growing weekly) across the U.S., Turkey, and Asia — helping fast-moving brands and retailers launch products smoothly and at scale.

 70+ partners across candy, snacks, bakery, supplements & more

✅ Multi-region sourcing means stable pricing and flexible logistics

✅ Used by leading challenger brands, distributors and retail buyers to build stronger supply chains — and launch faster.

Post your project, get matched, and find your ideal manufacturing partner — fast.

Data 🖥️

  • Scottish spirits producer Edrington reported a 10% decline in FY sales. The owner of Macallan, Wyoming Whiskey, and Highland Park attributed the decline to a challenging economic environment and reduced consumer demand. The Spirits Business

Distribution News 🚚