Key Highlights
- Strategic Partnership: Fresh Del Monte joins SEMCAP Food & Nutrition as an investor, enhancing SEMCAP’s inaugural Food & Nutrition investment strategy.
- Successful Collaborations: Before the fund’s launch, SEMCAP partnered with Fresh Del Monte on investments in rapidly growing, sustainable food brands Purely Elizabeth and Good Culture.
- Future Ventures: Fresh Del Monte is also a strategic investor in SEMCAP’s upcoming transaction, the details of which will be announced soon.
- Broad Support: SEMCAP’s strategy attracts prominent investors from the food and agriculture sectors and prominent family offices, highlighting strong industry confidence.
SEMCAP Food & Nutrition has announced Fresh Del Monte (NYSE: FDP) as a significant investor in the first closing of the firm’s Food & Nutrition investment strategy. This move strengthens the collaborative efforts between the two companies, having previously joined forces on investments in Purely Elizabeth and Good Culture, both leaders in sustainable food innovation.
Strategic Investments and Future Plans
The partnership with Fresh Del Monte, a global leader in producing and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables, marks a pivotal step in SEMCAP’s journey, which launched its Food & Nutrition platform in 2021. SEMCAP is also gearing up to announce a new transaction with Fresh Del Monte as a strategic investor in the coming weeks, indicating an ongoing relationship that extends beyond initial collaborations.
Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman & CEO of Fresh Del Monte, emphasized the shared goals of the partnership, stating, “At Fresh Del Monte, we are fueled by innovation, sustainability, and our ongoing mission to nourish millions across the world with healthful foods. By further cementing our partnership with SEMCAP and supporting the launch of their fund, we can help identify and support the next generation of innovative food brands.”
SEMCAP’s Vision and Industry Support
Founded in 2020 by Walter “Buck” Buckley and Cyrus Vandrevala, SEMCAP focuses on sectors that significantly impact humanity and are ripe for innovation and investment, such as food, health, and education. Buckley expressed the firm’s ambition, saying, “Consumers are fueling a massive food revolution…We are thrilled to be part of this seismic shift, by identifying and helping to build the food and nutrition brands of the future.”
The Food & Nutrition investment strategy has attracted a variety of investors from the food and agricultural sectors, along with numerous prominent family offices, demonstrating broad support for SEMCAP’s approach to investing in sustainable and innovative food companies.
Investment Goals and Leadership
The SEMCAP Food & Nutrition team, led by John Haugen, Kate Storey, and Ryan Newcom, aims to invest in environmentally sustainable, high-growth businesses with over $25 million in revenue. Their focus is on companies with category-leading products that have achieved proof of concept and evidence of scale.
Haugen, reflecting on Fresh Del Monte’s support, remarked, “With Fresh Del Monte’s support in the first close of our investment strategy, we can focus on truly following the consumer. We can reimagine where the food system is going and make investments that I think can drive great returns for our shareholders and also create a really positive impact on the future of food.”
Shared Commitment to Sustainable Practices
SEMCAP and Fresh Del Monte uphold deeply ingrained values around making fresh, healthy food accessible to all and focusing on sustainable growing practices. Their collaboration signifies a commitment to leveraging resources and expertise to create a meaningful impact across the food supply chain, supporting regenerative agriculture practices, and reducing emissions and waste.
