Plenty Secures $400 Million Series E

Rhea-AI Summary

Plenty Unlimited Inc. has successfully raised $400 million in a Series E financing round, marking the largest investment for an indoor farming company. The round was led by new investors One Madison Group and JS Capital, with contributions from Walmart and SoftBank Vision Fund. The funds will facilitate the company’s strategy to sell complete farms directly to partners. Furthermore, Plenty has partnered with Walmart to provide pesticide-free produce, starting with leafy greens sourced from its Compton farm in 2022.

Positive

• Secured $400 million in Series E round, the largest for indoor farming.
• Partnership with Walmart to supply pesticide-free produce enhances market reach.
• Innovative model allows for farm scaling and year-round produce availability.

Negative

• None.

Company expands business model to include selling complete farms directly to partners

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Plenty Unlimited Inc., an indoor, vertical farming technology company that can grow clean produce year-round, anywhere in the world, today announced it has secured $400 million in a Series E financing round, the largest investment to date for an indoor farming company. The round, led by new investors One Madison Group and JS Capital, includes participation from strategic partner Walmart and existing investor SoftBank Vision Fund 1. The funds will support Plenty’s growth strategy, including leveraging its technology platform to sell multi-crop farms directly to partners. At closing of the investment, representatives of both One Madison Group and Walmart will join Plenty’s Board of Directors.

Plenty Farms Tower Robot. Image shot by Spencer Lowell

“The indoor farming sector is at an exciting inflection point, poised to reach its full potential as a new asset class that addresses the significant need to provide access to fresh, nutritious food year round, even in geographies where traditional farming is difficult,” said Omar Asali, Chairman and CEO of One Madison Group. “Plenty has truly ‘cracked the code’ on the technology and economics of indoor farming. It has developed an innovative and scalable model that can deliver fresh, sustainable produce to retailers, growers and governments anywhere in the world.”

Plenty’s architecture is completely different from greenhouses and other indoor farms. Its vertical towers and intelligent platform make Plenty the only vertical farming company capable of growing multiple crops on one platform with consistently superior flavor and yields. While traditional farms and other indoor farming solutions battle the limits of space, crop variation, nature and yield, Plenty’s innovative, modular system makes it possible to scale farms to meet partner and consumer needs.

Plenty is using its robust IP portfolio to create a more sustainable model for agriculture that helps partners achieve their own environmental goals. Plenty’s vertical farms use just 1% of the land required by traditional farming while improving yields 150-350 times per acre. As more Plenty farms are deployed globally, transportation times will decrease, thereby reducing cost and environmental impact due to transportation, while enabling Plenty’s pesticide-free produce to stay fresher longer on store shelves and in customers’ homes.

“We are pleased to work with a strong group of investors who recognize how Plenty’s proprietary approach to building and selling farms delivers a scalable, cost-efficient pathway to bringing fresh, clean produce to market 365 days a year, anywhere in the world,” said Arama Kukutai, Plenty CEO. “Having Walmart, as one of the world’s largest retailers, partner with us demonstrates the rising importance of indoor agriculture to the future of fresh and their belief in Plenty’s unique technology solution.”

In addition to this commitment, Plenty has also entered into a strategic commercial agreement with Walmart to lead a new category of fresh products and bring Plenty farms closer to Walmart customers to offer pesticide-free, sustainable produce year round. The partnership will begin by sourcing Plenty’s leafy greens from its Compton farm for all of Walmart’s California stores in 2022.

“As the global demand for clean and sustainable food continues to increase, indoor growing is an opportunity to provide fresh and nutritious produce that is good for the people and planet,” said Andrew Zloto, Director at SoftBank Investment Advisers and Plenty board member. “With support from leading retailers and growers and a new focus on selling farms directly to partners, we believe that Plenty is at a critical inflection point that will have a lasting impact on the entire industry. We’ve been a long-term partner to Plenty and are delighted to continue to support them as they continue to innovate and rewrite the playbook for indoor growing.”

Citi served as the strategic advisor to Plenty for this transaction.

About One Madison Group LLC

One Madison Group LLC is a permanent capital investment firm founded by Omar Asali, who serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ranpak Holdings Corp. (NYSE: PACK). One Madison Group partners with management teams to invest in a very limited set of opportunities poised for exceptional growth. One Madison’s strategic partners include JS Capital (the family office of Jonathan Soros), Schusterman Family Investments, and Soros Capital.

About Plenty

Plenty is rewriting the rules of agriculture through its technology platform that can grow clean produce anywhere in the world, year round, with unprecedented yield and peak season quality. Plenty’s proprietary approach preserves the world’s natural resources, makes nutritious produce available to all communities and creates resilience in our food systems against weather, location, pests and climate. Plenty's headquarters are in South San Francisco, and the company operates the largest of its kind indoor plant science research facility in Laramie, Wyoming. Plenty is currently building the world's highest-output, vertical, indoor farm in Compton, California. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn, or visit www.plenty.ag.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220125005517/en/

Lizi Sprague

Press@plenty.ag

Source: Plenty Unlimited Inc.

FAQ

What is the significance of the $400 million investment for PACK?

The $400 million investment in Plenty Unlimited represents the largest funding round for an indoor farming company, enhancing its capacity for growth and innovation.

How does Plenty's partnership with Walmart affect PACK?

The partnership with Walmart is crucial as it allows Plenty to supply pesticide-free produce, significantly increasing its market presence and potential revenue.

What technology does Plenty use for farming?

Plenty utilizes vertical farming technology that allows multiple crops to be grown on a single platform, achieving superior yields and flavors.

When will Walmart start sourcing produce from Plenty?

Walmart will begin sourcing leafy greens from Plenty's Compton farm in 2022.

Who led the Series E financing round for Plenty?

The Series E financing round was led by One Madison Group and JS Capital, with participation from Walmart and SoftBank.