UK and Netherlands-based Arc, the global events, data, and media platform backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, has announced, 16 May, that it has entered into an investment partnership with Bridge2Food, a membership and events business in the plant-based food and proteins industry.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, Bridge2Food operates the largest global collaboration platform for innovation leaders in the food and beverage industry, the Global Industry Plant-Based Foods & Proteins Ecosystem. Bridge2Food is believed to have revenue of €5-10m and operates summits in The Netherlands, America and Singapore, as well as annual summits and training courses, Bridge2Food claims a network of over 10,000 business and technical experts in the food industry.
Bridge2Food founder, Gerard Klein Essink, said “For over 20 years, Bridge2Food has brought together a global network of professionals striving to advance actions for a better food world. We’ve been the go-to platform for research and innovations in the plant-based food community, and we are excited to advance and accelerate our development as part of the Arc network. Together, we will be able to open even more doors for the research and industry professionals in our Ecosystem.”
Arc Group CEO, Simon Foster, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Bridge2Food to the Arc network. Gerard and his team have long-championed the community-focused membership model for uniting industry and driving change. We are enthusiastically supportive of this vision and look forward to working with him and the team to continue this spirit of innovation and transformation both in this sector as well as throughout the wider Arc network.”
Bridge2Food joins Arc’s portfolio of content and event assets in the agriculture sector.
Arc’s existing agricultural portfolio, Agriconnect, includes flagship brands Farmer’s Guardian and LAMMA, as well as Farm Business Innovation, the leading series of rural diversification events.
This is Arc’s first investment in Europe, and fourth deal in the past eight months, following on from last month’s acquisition of Incisive Media.
Canson Capital Partners, a participant in the Arc partnership since its inception, served as financial adviser to Arc. Collingwood Advisory advised Bridge2Food on the transaction.
