NextFoods
NextFoods is a Boulder-based functional nutrition parent company owning Cheribundi tart cherry beverages (for recovery and sleep) and GoodBelly probiotic products (for gut health), distributed through national retail and e-commerce to health-conscious consumers and athletes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What NextFoods does
NextFoods Inc. is a Boulder, Colorado-based functional nutrition company that operates as the parent entity for two wholly-owned consumer brands: Cheribundi (tart cherry-based beverages positioned for sports recovery and sleep support) and GoodBelly (probiotic beverages, shots, and dairy-free smoothies for gut health). Both brands were combined under NextFoods in 2023 following the acquisitions of Cheribundi and GoodBelly earlier that year. The company's core technology and product development centers on science-backed ingredient formulation — tart cherry compounds for recovery and sleep, probiotic cultures with clinically-relevant CFU counts, and plant-based protein systems — delivered in consumer-appealing formats rather than as supplements or powders. Products are engineered for dosage-driven efficacy with proprietary formulations such as GoodBelly Protein + Probiotics Smoothies (11g plant protein, 1B CFUs per 8oz serving) and Cheribundi tart cherry beverages marketed as "the choice of champions."
The company generates revenue through one-time consumer packaged goods sales across both brands, distributed via national retail partnerships (Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Sprouts Farmers Market, Giant Food, FreshDirect, The Fresh Market) and direct e-commerce through brand-owned websites. Its go-to-market combines channel-partner retail distribution with product-led growth through science-backed differentiation in the functional wellness category. NextFoods targets three primary consumer segments: general health-conscious consumers seeking daily wellness rituals, athletes and active individuals focused on recovery and sleep, and gut health enthusiasts seeking probiotic supplementation in dairy-free formats.
The company has raised approximately $51 million across five funding rounds from 2008 through 2025, including a $10 million Series 3 round led by ECP Growth in December 2025. Leadership includes CEO Marc Seguin, co-founders Steve Demos and Todd Beckman (COO), CMO Lella Rafferty, CFO Mark L. Borden, and recently appointed Board Director Greg Longstreet (former Del Monte Foods CEO). Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, consistent with a portfolio CPG model relying on outsourced manufacturing and concentrated retail relationships.
NextFoods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NextFoods
- Legal name
- NextFoods Inc.
- Website
- https://nextfoods.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NextFoods is a Boulder-based functional nutrition parent company owning Cheribundi tart cherry beverages (for recovery and sleep) and GoodBelly probiotic products (for gut health), distributed through national retail and e-commerce to health-conscious consumers and athletes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NextFoods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Functional Beverages
- NAICS
- Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Probiotic/Prebiotic Functional Beverage Production (Non-Fermented) (AFAFAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Drinkable Yogurt & Kefir Beverages (Probiotic Shots, Smoothie-Style) (AFAHAIAC), Plant-Based Yogurt Drinks & Cultured Alternatives (AFAFAEAG), Dairy-Based Meal Replacement & Nutrition Drinks (RTD Nutritional Shakes, Medical Nutrition) (AFAHAIAG), Functional Foods & Wellness Beverage Retail (Kombucha, Adaptogens, CBD where legal) (CRAHAEAH)
Keywords
Where NextFoods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
NextFoods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Consumer Packaged Goods Sales: NextFoods generates revenue through the sale of functional nutrition products including Cheribundi (tart cherry beverages for recovery and sleep) and GoodBelly (probiotic beverages and shots for gut health). Products are sold through national retail partnerships and direct-to-consumer channels.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
NextFoods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NextFoods develops and markets functional nutrition beverages through two wholly-owned brands: Cheribundi (tart cherry-based beverages for athletic recovery and sleep support) and GoodBelly (probiotic dairy-free products for gut health, including kefir alternatives and protein-enriched smoothies). Products are sold through national retail partnerships and direct e-commerce channels to health-conscious consumers in the United States.
Product overview
NextFoods operates as a parent company for a portfolio of functional nutrition brands. The company owns Cheribundi (tart cherry-based beverages for sports recovery and sleep support) and GoodBelly (probiotic gut health products including dairy-free kefir alternatives and protein-enriched smoothies). These brands are united by a shared focus on science-backed functional wellness ingredients delivered in consumer-appealing formats for everyday use.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cheribundi: The choice of champions. Faster recovery and deeper sleep powered by tart cherry.
- GoodBelly
Products and services
- Cheribundi Tart cherry-based functional beverage brand positioned for faster athletic recovery and deeper sleep, marketed as the choice of champions. Sold through national retail partners and direct e-commerce.
- GoodBelly Probiotic gut health brand offering dairy-free products with trusted probiotic benefits in consumer-friendly flavors, including kefir alternatives and protein-enriched probiotic smoothies. Sold through national retail and direct e-commerce.
- GoodBelly Protein + Probiotics Smoothies Dairy-free smoothie delivering 11 grams of plant protein and 1 billion CFUs of probiotics per 8-oz serving, positioned as 10% more plant protein than leading kefir brands. Targeted at gut health enthusiasts seeking dairy-free probiotic and protein supplementation.
- UNITY x Cheribundi: Shirley Temple Limited-edition kombucha beverage combining SYNERGY Kombucha with antioxidant-rich tart cherry juice, marketed to combine gut health support with muscle recovery benefits. Targeted at health-conscious consumers and Cheribundi's existing customer base.
Quantifiable outcome
- GoodBelly Protein + Probiotics contains 11g plant protein (10% more than leading kefir brands) and 1 billion CFUs of probiotics per 8oz serving
Companies that use NextFoods
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
NextFoods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
NextFoods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- GT's Living FoodsflagshipGT's Living Foods collaborated with NextFoods brand Cheribundi to launch UNITY x Cheribundi Shirley Temple, a limited-edition kombucha combining SYNERGY Kombucha with antioxidant-rich tart cherry juice. The partnership brings functional beverage benefits combining gut health support with muscle recovery properties.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
NextFoods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Olipop: Functional, science-backed soda positioned around gut health — directly comparable to GoodBelly's probiotic functional beverage strategy and shelf placement in Whole Foods and Target.
- Poppi: Prebiotic soda brand competing for the same gut-health functional beverage shelf space in mass and natural retailers; directly overlaps NextFoods' GoodBelly positioning.
- Health-Ade Kombucha: Premium functional kombucha brand distributed through Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Target — closely comparable to the GT's Living Foods collaboration and GoodBelly's probiotic beverage positioning.
- Suja Life: Organic, cold-pressed functional beverages with national distribution in Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Target; comparable in category (functional wellness) and channel mix to NextFoods.
- GT's Living Foods: Largest independent kombucha brand in the US and NextFoods' actual collaboration partner; directly comparable in functional beverage category, retail footprint, and ingredient-led positioning.
- Hum Nutrition: Functional wellness brand focused on gut, beauty, and sleep via ingestible products — overlaps NextFoods' gut health + sleep category with comparable millennial/Gen-Z wellness consumer.
Emerging players
- Tart Cherry / Cheribundi competitors (e.g., Traverse Bay Farms): Tart cherry juice suppliers targeting recovery and sleep use cases — overlaps Cheribundi's recovery/sleep positioning, though typically at smaller scale and without NextFoods' national retail footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Del Monte Foods: Large diversified CPG portfolio (fruits, vegetables, broths) and former employer of NextFoods' new board director Greg Longstreet — useful comparable for CPG scale, distribution, and exit benchmarks.
- Keurig Dr Pepper: Diversified beverage conglomerate with growing functional/health-forward portfolio; comparable as a potential strategic acquirer given overlapping distribution and CPG operating capabilities.
- PepsiCo: Global beverage and snack conglomerate with active functional/health portfolio expansion (e.g., Poppi acquisition rumors, probiotic platforms); benchmark for distribution scale and acquisition comp.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NextFoods social profiles
Digital presenceNextFoods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NextFoods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
NextFoods subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
NextFoods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NextFoods M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NextFoods
What does NextFoods do?
NextFoods develops and markets functional nutrition beverages through two wholly-owned brands: Cheribundi (tart cherry-based beverages for athletic recovery and sleep support) and GoodBelly (probiotic dairy-free products for gut health, including kefir alternatives and protein-enriched smoothies). Products are sold through national retail partnerships and direct e-commerce channels to health-conscious consumers in the United States.
Is NextFoods a public or private company?
NextFoods is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was NextFoods founded?
NextFoods was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NextFoods based?
NextFoods is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does NextFoods make money?
One revenue line is on record: consumer Packaged Goods Sales.
Who are NextFoods's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Olipop, Poppi, Health-Ade Kombucha, Suja Life, GT's Living Foods and Hum Nutrition. Tart Cherry / Cheribundi competitors (e.g., Traverse Bay Farms) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Del Monte Foods, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo.
Does NextFoods have an API?
No public API is recorded for NextFoods.
What industry is NextFoods in?
NextFoods's product category is Functional Beverages. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAFAE, Probiotic/Prebiotic Functional Beverage Production (Non-Fermented), with a secondary code of AFAHAIAC, Drinkable Yogurt & Kefir Beverages (Probiotic Shots, Smoothie-Style). Its NAICS code is 312111 and its SIC code is 2080.