Dive Brief:
加利福尼亚农场宣布it raised more than $50 million in a funding round led by Ambrosia Investments, along with existing investors Sun Pacific and Stripes Group. The Los Angeles-based maker of plant-based beverages said it would use the money to bolster manufacturing capacity at its plant in Bakersfield, California. It also plans to continue commercializing innovations, such as non-dairy creamers, cold-brew coffees and its recent lineup of probiotic dairy-free yogurt drinks.
The investor group includes Academy Award-winning actors Jared Leto and Leonardo DiCaprio, model Karlie Kloss, Olympic athlete Shaun White and musicians Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of the band Florida Georgia Line.Leto has also invested in Blue Bottle Coffee, and DiCaprio has bought stakes in Beyond Meat, natural energy drink maker Runa and chickpea snack brand Hippeas,根据bevnet。两者都投资了organic beverage maker Suja Juice.
Califia还宣布任命Sandeep Patel为首席财务官。帕特尔（Patel）在投资银行业工作了20年，担任巴克莱（Barclays）和高盛（Goldman Sachs）的董事总经理。他将负责公司的财务状况以及一些运营，法律，技术和战略领域，Califia Farms首席执行官兼联合创始人Greg Steltenpohl在一份新闻稿中说。
Dive Insight:
这项最新投资应有助于巩固Califia在非乳制咖啡饮料，奶精，植物性饮料以及最近的益生菌酸奶饮料中的市场领导地位。超过5000万美元的新资金来了after previous rounds, which brought in $15 million last fall from CapX Partners and $50 million in October 2015 led by Stripes Group.
The company hopes to pull ahead of the pack with probiotic yogurt drinks in the same way it managed to win over customers with its popular lineup of almond milks. CEO and cofounder Greg Steltenpohl告诉食品导航器当Califia的产品出来时，该类别中只有两个著名的玩家，而这些产品在货架稳定的过道中 - 在冷藏案例中，可以找到Califia的植物性饮料。
在益生菌饮料方面，事情更具挑战性。成熟的竞争对手，例如达能，救生城，凯维塔，西吉和好业力 - 已经在生产科菲尔，康普茶和乳制品和基于植物的酸奶饮料。Califia希望通过提供吸引人和创新包装的高质量产品来脱颖而出。该产品还由特殊的BB-12菌株Califia Culture Blend融合，该公司表示以增强消化健康而闻名。
在最新一轮中，名人投资者将星光熠熠的专注于Califia的流行产品，尤其是因为其中一些以前已经购买了创新的食品和饮料公司。他们的参与是其他证据表明，基于植物的饮料和乳制品替代品越来越受欢迎。
Califia还赞助了贾里德·莱托（Jared Leto）的摇滚乐队（Mars）30秒，参加了夏季巡回演出。它将用90秒的视频关于该公司的神话同名，加利福尼亚皇后。旅游赞助和营销宣传可以帮助为品牌及其产品组合增添嗡嗡声。
Newly appointed CFO Sandeep Patel's background in investment banking should also inform the company'sstrategic long-term growth trajectory. CEOGreg Steltenpohl said that Patel has deep expertise in helping high-growth companies "develop strong financial frameworks and access to capital compatible with a long-term vision."
借助人才和联系，加上额外的财务资源，Califia可能会组织销售或收购，尽管该公司迄今尚未放弃任何相关提示。看到Califia的下一个产品创新以及它的目标是“成为领先的植物驱动食品和未来的公司”，这将很有趣。
