Hardware Podcasts

Latest CPG Deals and Market Insights: Drew Fallon, CEO Iris Finance

The Startup CPG Podcast · 4 Jul 2026 · 39m · Episode 333

What this episode covers

Drew Fallon, CEO of Iris Finance and former CFO of Mad Rabbit, analyzes the current CPG acquisition landscape, noting that while headline deals like Groons and Simple Mills create an illusion of activity, the market is actually muted and concentrated in large 'fireworks' deals due to higher interest rates. He explains that strategic buyers like Unilever and Keurig are restructuring portfolios to fill white spaces in emerging categories like wellness and protein, driven by shifts in consumer behavior such as GLP-1 usage. Fallon advises founders to prioritize gross margins and profitability over pure revenue scaling, warning that the bar for exit has risen significantly, with $2 million in profit now being the threshold for serious private equity interest.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Iris Finance, Mad Rabbit, Groons, Unilever, Dr. Squatch, Keurig Dr Pepper, Simple Mills, Alani Nu, Olipop, Aesop, K18, Element, Recess, Nolis, Collab Fund, Salt and Stone
Also
TikTok Shop

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