ALOHA, a plant-based protein brand, announced that SEMCAP Food & Nutrition (a growth equity investment firm focused on helping build the purpose-driven food and nutrition brands of the future) has invested $68 million of secondary capital to buy out early angel investors and attain a significant minority stake in the company.
ALOHA employees and management will retain a significant stake in the company, maintaining the company’s status as an independently operated entity.
As part of the strategic partnership, ALOHA will add SEMCAP’s operating experience and network to support its business’s continuous growth. ALOHA remains focused on scaling its current success via accelerating traditional retail channels and enhancing an already impressive digital presence, solidifying its leadership in the growing plant-based protein market.
Between 2020 and 2023, ALOHA achieved nearly 500% growth while achieving significant profitability and positive cash flow. The company is poised to maintain double-digit topline growth this year and beyond.
Brad Charron, ALOHA’s “Re-Founder” since late 2017, will retain the role as Chairman and CEO. Along with adding SEMCAP’s John Haugen and Ryan Newcom to the Board of Directors, ALOHA is welcomes Paul Kenny (known for delivering remarkable commercial growth at KIND Snacks and Yasso). Along with the backing of ALOHA’s existing independent Board Members, Bart Adlam and Maura Mottolese, and ALOHA’s largest angel investor, Alexander Rittweger, ALOHA will have an experienced governance team to manage the next stage of the company’s trajectory.
KEY QUOTE:
“SEMCAP Food & Nutrition is an ideal partner. Their recognition and buy-in to what we have built thus far at ALOHA comes at a key inflection point. With an impact-driven investment strategy, exemplified by successful partnerships with like-minded entrepreneurial brands such as Purely Elizabeth and Good Culture, SEMCAP completely aligns with our mission to make simple, nutritious food accessible to everyone, while using our business as a force for good. We look forward to many more multiples of profitable growth with their inclusion.”
- Brad Charron, Chairman & CEO of ALOHA
“We’re seeing consumers fuel a massive food revolution; this seismic shift presents an incredible opportunity for our Food & Nutrition platform to identify and help scale the food and nutrition brands of the future. With a proven track record of remarkable digital growth and tremendous retail expansion opportunities ahead, our team recognized ALOHA’s incredible potential as a perfect addition to our portfolio. We look forward to tapping into the operational expertise within our platform and broader network to help ALOHA’s success in this next phase of execution.”
- Ryan Newcom
