Cash Flow: Planted Raises $18m, Kevin Hart Invests In Sports Nutrition, Another Nestle Acquisition

The game-changing investment, acquisition and funding news impacting the industry and driving the business of wellness this week.

Kevin Hart invests in sports nutrition company Nutrabolt

Comedian Kevin Hart has taken an equity stake in sports nutrition-maker Nutrabolt. Financial terms have not been disclosed.

Hart, who made the purchase through his private investment firm will also join the brand as an ambassador for Nutrabolt’s C4 beverage brand, in a bid to expand its presence.

Nutrabolt CEO Doss Cunningham told CNBC that retail sales for the C4 beverage line surged by 163% in 2020. Overall, Nutrabolt saw retail sales reach nearly $650 million last year.

Class-ify to award 100 wellness and fitness instructors with shares in the business

100 independent wellness and fitness instructors are set to be awarded shares in Class-ify, a new platform that gives trainers the potential to increase their earnings and launch their own business online.

With the aim to revolutionise the wellness and fitness industry, Class-ify offers a unique take on the fitness scene and was created to help instructors build their own business online, monetise their audience and create a global community, all from the use of a laptop or smartphone.

Having previously received a £350,000 figure investment via Angel funding, Class-ify has already secured 40 wellness and fitness instructors located in seven different countries worldwide, with plans to grow exponentially over the next six months.

Planted raises $18m for meat-alternatives

Planted, a startup making a vegetarian chicken alternative, has raised $18m in a round led by Vorwerk Ventures and Blue Horizon. The capital has been earmarked to expand its product offerings and international footprint.

The Zurich-born company can currently be found at approximately 3,000 food retail locations across Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, in addition to having a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site for those markets. 

wellness investment news
Image: Mindright
Celebs back brain-boosting nootropics brand Mindright

Mindright, a startup making brain-boosting snack bars packed full of superfoods and nootropics has secured investment from a roster of celebrities including Joe Jonas, Travis Barker and co-founder Rob Dyrdek. Terms of the round were not disclosed.

The company, which launched this year is currently operating as a direct-to-consumer brand. However, it hopes to launch into retail locations immediately.

Icon Health & Fitness Eyes IPO

Icon Health & Fitness, a maker of exercise equipment and software, is eyeing an initial public offering that could value the company at more than $7bn, according to Bloomberg

It is said to be working with Morgan Stanley and Bank of America on a potential listing that could happen later this year. In 2020, Icon raised $20m in a round by L Catterton.

Nestlé acquires functional water brand Essentia

Nestlé USA has acquired Essentia Water – a premium functional water brand, as part of the continued transformation of its global water business.

The company, which is sharpening its portfolio to focus on international premium and mineral water brands and healthy hydration products, such as functional water argued that Essentia gives it an immediate strong presence in the high-growth, functional water segment and supports its efforts to capture opportunities with emerging consumer trends such as healthy hydration.