SEMCAP Food & Nutrition announced it has closed its inaugural Food & Nutrition fund with $125 million in commitments, positioning the growth equity platform to expand its portfolio of “better-for-you” and sustainable food brands across the U.S. and Canada.
The firm said the debut vehicle drew support from a mix of strategic investors and industry participants, including Fresh Del Monte, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Securian Financial through its subsidiary Minnesota Life, along with food industry brokers and management teams from SEMCAP portfolio companies. The group described the investor base as a signal of both growing demand for sustainable, modern-health food offerings and alignment around SEMCAP’s cross-border strategy.
Managing Partner John Haugen attributed the raise to momentum within the firm’s existing portfolio, saying the team is seeing strong performance “across the board.” SEMCAP said it has already completed several investments in the space, naming ALOHA, Fresh Prep, Good Culture, Kite Hill, and Purely Elizabeth, and said the new capital will help it add additional U.S. and Canadian companies while supporting growth and distribution across North America.
Following the close, SEMCAP Food & Nutrition said its total assets under management now exceed $500 million, with the firm noting that the AUM figure was calculated as of Sept. 30, 2025.
The Food & Nutrition investment group is led by Haugen alongside Kate Storey and Ryan Newcom, with offices in the U.S. and Canada. SEMCAP co-founders and co-chief investment officers Walter “Buck” Buckley and Cyrus Vandrevala also sit on the SEMCAP Food & Nutrition Investment Committee, supporting a strategy that targets sustainable, high-growth companies with at least $25 million in revenue. The firm said it focuses on businesses with category-leading products that have demonstrated proof of concept and scalability.
SEMCAP Food & Nutrition said it invests in companies whose products emphasize organic, natural, non-GMO and sustainable offerings, and it highlighted priorities that include efficient supply chains, delivery models, and low-waste packaging. The platform is one of three SEMCAP verticals, alongside health and AI, as the firm positions its growth equity strategy around trends it believes will have broad societal impact.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are thrilled to have raised $125 million for our debut Food & Nutrition fund. Our success has been entirely driven by the tremendous momentum of our portfolio brands who are experiencing strong performance across the board. This successful close, alongside the support of many of the most respected names in the food and nutrition space, is a powerful validation of our strategy and our team. It reflects our ability to drive accelerated growth and outsized returns for investors by leveraging decades of operational expertise and proven growth strategies across every aspect of the businesses we back.”
John Haugen, Managing Partner, SEMCAP Food & Nutrition
“We established this fund to address some of the most critical challenges arising from the dual food and health crises facing the country. The successful close of the fund is a testament not only to the exceptional team led by John, Kate, and Ryan, but also to the remarkable entrepreneurs and brands we are proud to support. Together, the strength of this team and the timeliness of the opportunity position SEMCAP Food & Nutrition to meaningfully capitalize on the urgent needs these crises present.”
Walter “Buck” Buckley, Co-Founder and Co-CIO, SEMCAP
