Deals and M&As this week: Benson Hill Biosystems, Spyce

Benson Hill Biosystems has secured $60m through a series C funding round led by GV.

Based in the US, Benson Hill is a crop improvement firm offering advanced tools in seed innovation.

The funding round has also involved participation from Alexandria Venture Investments, Fall Line Capital, iSelect Fund, Lewis and Clark Ventures, Mercury Fund, Prelude Ventures, S2G Ventures, Activant Capital and Tao Capital Partners.

The firm intends to use the funds to upgrade its CropOS platform and improve its product development abilities.

Spyce has raised $21m through a series A funding round led by Collaborative Fund and Maveron.

Founded in 2015, Spyce is a robotic kitchen start-up based in the US. The robotic kitchen restaurant cooks complex meals.

The funding round has also involved participation from Khosla Ventures, Thomas Keller, Jerome Bocuse, and Gavin Kaysen.

The firm intends to use the funds to open new restaurants on the East Coast, as well as for the development of its robotic culinary platform. It will also hire new employees to double its size in 2019.

Delightful Gourmet Pvt Ltd intends to raise up to $30m through a venture funding round led by Brtelsmann India Investments.

Delightful Gourmet is a provider of fresh meat delivery services, including chicken, lamb and seafood, while Brtelsmann India Investments is an investment company.

Both companies involved in the transaction are based in India.

IF&P Foods has completed the acquisition of Cibus Fresh for an undisclosed sum.

IF&P Foods is the portfolio company of Rotunda Capital Partners, while Cibus Fresh is food service firm. Both companies are based in the US.

The transaction enables IF&P to increase its grab-and-go offerings such as chef-curated sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads, salads, snack packs, and parfaits cups.

The acquisition also includes an 11,000ft² kitchen facility.

Wessanen has completed the acquisition of Abbot Kinney’s for an undisclosed sum.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Wessanen is a multi-national food company, while Abbot Kinney’s is a producer of plant-based ice cream and yoghurt.

Founded in 2014, Abbot Kinney’s produces organic almond and coconut-based yoghurt alternatives, and ice creams using coconut.

The acquisition is in line with Wessanen’s strategy and its range of healthy and sustainable brands.

Bakkavor Group has completed the acquisition of Haydens Bakery from Real Good Food for £12m ($15m).

The purchase consideration includes £9.6m ($12.3m) in cash and £2.4m ($3.9m) of existing finance leases.

Based in the UK, Bakkavor Group is a food manufacturing company, while Haydens is a producer of sweet bakery products that are distributed to grocery retailers.

The acquisition enables Bakkavor to improve its in-store bakery products and expand its desserts business, which will be integrated with the expansion of its Newark facility to increase its capacity.

Roquette has acquired Sethness Products Company for an undisclosed sum.

Roquette is a plant-based ingredients provider based in France, while Sethness is an American manufacturer of caramel colours for food and beverage products.

The transaction enables Roquette to strengthen its global leadership in the food and beverage market. It will also create new opportunities for the employees of Roquette and Sethness.

The operations and businesses of both the companies will run independently.

Dr Oetker intends to acquire Wilton Brands from an affiliate of TowerBrook Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum.

Dr Oetker is a baking ingredient producer based in Germany, while Wilton is a baking, cake decorating and candy making company based in the US.

An affiliate of MidOcean Partners has acquired Florida Food Products from Kainos Capital for an undisclosed sum.

Kainos Capital is an American private equity firm, while Florida Food is a vegetable and fruit-based ingredients producer based in the US.

Houlihan Lokey is the financial adviser and Winston & Strawn is the legal adviser to Florida Food for the transaction.