Skip to main content

Starbucks sets up $1000m fund to invest in food and retail startups

| Supplier news

Starbucks Corp is investing $100 million in a newly created fund that will be managed by Tesla Inc investor Valor Equity Partners to promote companies developing new technologies and products for the food and retail industry.

The fund, Valor Siren Ventures Fund, will later seek to raise an additional $300 million, the world’s largest coffee chain said on Wednesday, ahead of its annual shareholder meeting.

“We are inspired by, and want to support the creative, entrepreneurial businesses of tomorrow with whom we may explore commercial relationships down the road,” Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Kevin Johnson said in a statement.

Starbucks is the latest US food company to invest in startups. The largest US meat producer, Tyson Foods, started a fund called “Tyson Ventures” in 2016 to invest in businesses that focus on developing plant-based protein, while a clutch of other food and drink brands including Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo Inc have also set up similar funds.

Starbucks reaffirmed its longer-term revenue and profit targets and said it would buy back $2 billion in shares, as part of a commitment to return $25 billion to shareholders through 2020.

The annual shareholder meeting comes as the coffee chain counters sluggish performance in its U.S. business through a revamp of its stores and introduction of fresher food and cold brews that has driven market-beating same-store sales in the past two quarters.

The company’s shares are up about 11 percent since the beginning of the year, compared with a 13 percent gain in the S&P 500 Index.

Valor Equity is an early stage investor in Tesla and its portfolio includes investments in Chicago-based Roti Modern Mediterranean and Wow Bao.

Reuters




Pin It

Related Articles

By: Lutho Pasiya – IOL News There is probably no other ingredient in the kitchen as versatile as a loaf of bread. When hunger pangs kick in, a slice of bread is most often a favourite choice for a quick indulgence.
Checkers has announced a recall of its 125g and 300g Deli hummus.
By Chetan Vanmali, Partner, Yael Shafrir, Associate Director, Emily Gammon, Associate, Raeesah Shaik, Associate, Sidrah Suliman, Associate, Lauren Jimmy, Candidate Attorney & Danica Jonker, Candidate Attorney from Webber Wentzel
Growing up in the Eastern Cape, becoming a clothing designer was not a prominent career path, but Yamkela Mahlelehlehle still dared to pursue it.
By: Se-Anne Rail - IOL Knorr is recalling its brown onion gravy sachets after manufacturers have discovered some packets may contain traces of cow’s milk and soy.