NextFoods Inc., the Boulder, Colorado based parent of functional nutrition brands GoodBelly and Cheribundi, has raised $10 million in a new funding round led by growth equity firm ECP Growth, strengthening its push in the fast expanding everyday wellness market.
Founded in 2006, NextFoods has built its business around science backed nutrition aimed at gut health, immunity and functional hydration. The fresh capital is expected to support brand building, product innovation and wider consumer reach as demand for functional foods continues to rise across the United States.
The company’s flagship brands, GoodBelly and Cheribundi, are positioned at the intersection of convenience and clinical credibility. GoodBelly is known for its probiotic drinks and shots formulated to support digestive health, while Cheribundi focuses on tart cherry based beverages linked to muscle recovery, sleep support and inflammation management. Together, the brands are distributed through more than 20,000 retail locations nationwide, alongside direct to consumer and online channels.
Industry data shows the US functional food and beverage market growing at a high single digit rate annually, driven by consumers seeking preventive health solutions that fit into daily routines. NextFoods has capitalised on this shift by offering products that are shelf stable, widely accessible and grounded in nutritional research rather than trend driven claims.
ECP Growth, the lead investor in the round, has an established track record in scaling purpose led consumer brands. Its portfolio includes names such as Aloha, Base Culture, Murphy’s Naturals and Milk + Honey, reflecting a focus on clean label, wellness oriented businesses with national expansion potential.
For NextFoods, the investment signals renewed momentum after nearly two decades in the category. With strong retail penetration, recognizable brands and increasing consumer focus on gut health and recovery nutrition, the company is positioning itself to deepen market share while broadening its product portfolio.
As competition intensifies in functional nutrition, the funding provides NextFoods with additional firepower to invest in research, marketing and operational scale, reinforcing its ambition to make science based wellness part of everyday consumption.
