Whole Foods Invests in Instacart
Instacart has closed an undisclosed round of investment with Whole Foods Market, one of the food chains it distributes. Instacart will now provide delivery services for the store in 17 markets across the United States, starting with Orange County, California, and Baltimore, Maryland. Sources report that the companies have entered into a five-year deal and also suggest that Instacart will eventually take the role of Whole Foods Market’s sole delivery partner for its perishable goods. Instacart sells over 500,000 items on its same-day delivery service platform,
Indian Food Tech Startup Jolly Food Fellow Raises Seed Round
Jolly Food Fellow, an Ahmedabad-based food tech company, has completed an undisclosed seed round led by angel investor Janak Parikh, MD of merger and acquisition advising company Malibu Group. The startup’s goal is to close the gap between vendors and consumers by providing them with data about who their customers are, what they’re eating, and how often they’re patronizing the restaurant. The service is focused on food e-commerce companies that do not have access to the same type of data that retailers have. The SaaS platform helps companies achieve consumer loyalty and conduct analytics-driven engagement at a scale appropriate for each business.
Jain Irrigation Raises $43.2m from Mandala Capital
India’s Jain Irrigation Systems Limited (JAIN) has closed a $43.2 million investment round from existing investor and agribusiness fund Mandala Capital. The funding was raised to repay loans. As the largest irrigation equipment maker in Asia, the company maintains 30 manufacturing sites on four continents, supplying products to over 100 countries. According to the company, over 4.5 million farmers use JAIN Irrigation products. The company uses dealerships and distributors around the globe to service each of its markets.
Meal Kit Delivery Service Marley Spoon Raises $17m Series B
Marley Spoon, a fresh meal kit delivery service, has closed a $17 million Series B round with QD Ventures, European growth equity financiers Kreos Capital, and a number of existing investors including specialized investors Lakestar. The Berlin-based company will use the funding to expand throughout the United States, including a new market launch focused around its San Francisco fulfillment center, an East Coast launch, and a Southern launch. Based in the UK, the company also services Australia, Austria, and the Netherlands.
Deliberry Closes $3.34m Seed Round
Spanish food e-commerce company Deliberry has completed a $3.34 million seed round with numerous investors including Spanish angel network The Crowd Angel, angel network ESADE BAN, Russian and Euro investment firm Sputnik, Samaipata Ventures founding partner Jose Del barrio, and some public funds. Operating in Madrid and Spain, the company promises customers fresh grocery delivery within one-hour of placing an order. Founded in 2015, it offers a wide variety of items including packaged foods, prepared dishes, drugstore items, and fresh produce.
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