NextFoods Merges GoodBelly, Cheribundi Businesses

April 5, 2023

NextFoods expects to grow both product lines by focusing on opportunities in e-commerce and sports nutrition channels.

Functional food and beverage company NextFoods has announced the merger of all-natural sports nutrition brand Cheribundi and gut health brand GoodBelly, seeking to take advantage of synergies in each to push them to the forefront of whole-foods based nutrition and functional food and beverage trends. As a result of the merger, Cheribundi CEO Marcel Bens will step into the role of CEO of NextFoods.

Emil Capital Partners (ECP) is the largest investor in the combined entity. As a combined entity, NextFoods will focus on growing its e-commerce business, as well as using Cheribundi’s success in the sports nutrition channel to help NextFoods grow. In addition, NextFoods offers the scale to support over 20,000 retail locations for GoodBelly and Cheribundi products.

Most recently, GoodBelly introduced its KIDS! Probiotic Beverages and Immune Support Line to promote wellness through gut health for all ages. GoodBelly has also expanded its on-the-go offerings with GoodBelly To Go Fast Melts, shelf-stable probiotic powders. Cheribundi’s line of tart cherry products was recently expanded with its Concentrates line, including a pure tart cherry concentrate joined by an Immunity blend and a Sleep blend for the benefits of tart cherry juice anytime.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.